has anyone wintersown blue bedder salvia with success? thanks

Hi Errol,

'Blue Bedder' is a Salvia farinacea seed strain. Since Salvia farinacea is a warmer climate plant, it doesn't really need cold stratification. Your climate is warm enough that it might work okay, but you'd probably have the best luck putting the seeds out in very late winter/early spring rather than now. It gives less of a chance for seed rot or premature germination in a warm spell followed by a freeze. Our southern winters are tricky like that! You could use the same milkjug/container that you would with the wintersowing method but just place them out later. Do be sure to surface sow the Salvia seeds and tamp lightly because they won't germinate if planted too deeply. You can use a very thin layer of fine vermiculite or such over them but don't get it too deep.

Oh, another note, many Salvia seeds develop a mucilaginous coating when they are exposed to water. The seeds become sticky so if you need to lightly tamp the seeds do it before the seeds absorb water or you'll end up with them stuck to your hand (or whatever you are using as a tamp.)

I usually start my Salvia seeds inside, so hopefully someone else with Salvia-wintersowing-experience will pop in with some more info.

My is more northern , While I have had Hummingbird sage , lady in red , self sow here , That happens rarely and very few , it is a more hardy plant were you are
We get that freeze , thaw warm spell action weather also ,, That warm back to freeze makes it tough on a lot of seedlings ,
Very few Salvia will overwinter here ,
Even the Mint type sage has difficulty here ,, I would say try march with a few seeds just to try , and as above ,, your usual spring sow might be better , and probably .
A few Biennial type Agastache is usually all I get to return ,

thank you both for the replies and info, I will try just a few, and then will start some in my heated shop , then will also direct sow some with a protective covering like chicken wire to keep our many birds and squirrels from digging up the seed!