When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
· Zone 3-8
· Full Sun, Part Sun
· Height 12”-14”
· Bloom SeasonSummer to First Frost
· Annual
· Features Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds,Butterfly’s
· Life CyclePerennial, Annual
· Soil Well drained
If you are looking for variety, you have come to the right flower.There are over 700 species of this plant that originated in warm and temperateclimates. There are annual and perennial varieties aplenty.
Spiky flowers are borne on bushy plants. Sizes generally rangefrom 10\" to 60\", with most varieties below 36\". You most likelyknow, and readily recognize, the bright red and scarlet Salvia. But, theflowers are also found in most colors, including blue.
·Sow indoors10-12 weeksbefore the last frost.
·Barely press the seedsinto seed starting formula.
·Keep the soil evenlymoist at 70 degrees F.
·As soon as seedlingsemerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbswill not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plantsrequire a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours.
·If you are growingsalvia in small cells, you may need to transplant the seedlings to 3 or 4 inchpots when seedlings have at least 2 pairs of true leaves before transplantingto the garden so they have enough room to develop strong roots.
·Before planting salviaout in the garden, seedling plants need to be “hardened off”. Accustom youngplants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for aweek. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frostthreatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out againin the morning.This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cellstructure and reduces transplant shock and scalding.
·Direct sow after alldanger of frost infull sunin awell-drained but moisture retentive soil
·Remove weeds and workorganic matter into the top6-8 inches of soil;then level and smooth.
·Sow seeds evenly andthinly and barely cover with fine soil.
·Keep evenly moist.
·Thin to12-18 inches apartwhen seedlings are about 2inches tall.
Keep weeds under control duringthe salvia growing season.Weedscompete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by eithercultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their germination.
·Until plants becomeestablished, some protection from extreme winds and direct, hot sunlight may benecessary. Good air movement is also important.
·After new growthappears, a light fertilizer may be applied.Keep granular fertilizers awayfrom the plant crown and foliage to avoid burn injury.Use lowrates of a slow release fertilizer, as higher rates may encourage root rots.
