When your plants are growing vigorously, and getting rather bushy, it will be easy to see where a bit of thinning and pruning would not hurt. If you collect just enough for the current meal, you should do no harm.

Try to thin the plants out enough that they do not self-shade and cause wastage by shading out their own leaves. If stalks are getting long and spindly, shorten them and keep the trimmings for your own pleasure.

Just don't trim off for use what grew in the nursery, as it may have spray treatments on it. Also, most here say not to harvest more than a third of a plant at any one time.

Sage does tend to grow rather slowly at first, but if you have a vigorous plant you could probably get away with stealing a few leaves from time to time. Plants that receive optimal growth conditions will be least harmed.

Thanks eibren! I actually started these from seed this spring. I will try to take only what is needed this year for meals and such.

I generally let first year perennials go unclipped. Second year, I lightly harvest if the plant can support it. Third year I usually harvest as I would a mature plant of that type. I try to make sure the plant has a chance to establish itself because I want to be harvesting from for years.

FataMorgana