oh... you just said 2 things about sage that it doesn't like... fertile soil and water. :o) Sage likes it on the dry side... and the soil, well, don't feed it! :o) I feed my potted sage maybe once a year. Edible sage comes from a sub-desert/mediterranean climate... so it likes it on the dry side.

I live in your area, Brizzie, and I can tell you that by and large, Heathen is correct. But once your sage gets going, it can take quite a bit of water and humidity (it has to, here in the subtropics!) - just make sure you give it excellent drainage - it absolutely will not tolerate constantly wet feet. I suggest you build up a mound, and plant it on top of the hill to accommodate those torrential summer downfalls. Don't allow the soil to dry out completely, but make sure it's not soggy. Certainly, it will do better in poorer soil, so don't feed it for at least another year.

If you have other Mediterranean herbs like thyme, rosemary, santolina, lavender, treat them in the same way. These are all fairly slow to take off, especially in their first year. Also make sure not to crowd them up too much. In our humidity, they need a bit of air circulation.

If your plant is still very small, you might need to protect it from the fierceness of our summer sun a little. Just in its first year, until it toughens up a bit. Once it's up and running and past the infancy stage, it'll take the hottest afternoon sun we can give it.

I third the water thing. We had a prolonged drought this year with temps up to 105 F (I believe 99F=37C for reference) regularly, I maybe watered my sage 2-3x (I did water it more when I first planted it from a 4" pot, for like the first say 2 weeks, and I transplanted in at least 95F weather), and it flourished. I really doesn't seem to need much water (we do have clay soil that retains water), but when it wants it it will wilt. I learned that when I moved one, to a new location, but after watering it recovered no problem and its flourishing now too. I believe some on this forum say 'loving neglect' that's what sage seems to like.

Thank you so much for your responses. It was my first post so it was great to have your replies. I will take your advice on board and neglect my sage a little more.