Hello,

I would appreciate all input on the planting of several (lots) of Salvia seeds. The Salvias came from Robin's Salvia seed site from England. Very expensive seeds but he does not give planting directions. Also, there are some seeds that I've harvested this past year from plants that I purchased from Salvia by the sea.

I generally know that Salvia seeds need light to germinate and warmth (some) but that is the rub as some need a bit of a cold spell. And I don't want to loose my very expensive seeds.

Below is a listing of the seeds:

Salvia x 'Elk Lemon Light' This is a perennial hardy to zone 6 ( I got very few seeds from this plant but what a plant:)

Salvia Forskhaoleii
Salvia Glutinosa
Salvia Royal Bumble
Salvia Alegria
Salvia Radula
Salvia Candelabrum
Salvia Madeline
Salvia Patens Guanjuato

Perhaps it is as simple as annual Salvias do not need cold stratification and perennial do??//

Thank you,
Odeide

Odeide1!

I have never grown these types Salvia from seed. I'm sorry I can't be of help. But I wanted to give you a warm welcome. We have a Salvia forum so you might check in there. Lots of experts there.

@Marilyn or @FBTS any suggestions?

odeide1

Thank you Jennifer for letting me know, but I don't grow Salvia from seeds. I usually just grow from plants only. I grew Salvia x 'Elk Lemon Light' from Kermit Carter, who owns Flowers By The Sea and it is one of his creations. It has a gorgeous colored flower. He would be the one to ask as he is the expert on Salvias!

The other Salvias I haven't grown yet.

I was going to ask him to help, but I noticed Jennifer brought this to his attention.

Sorry, I couldn't be of more help. Hopefully, Kermit will chime in and answer you.

I've started some annual and perennial ones. I've wintersowed both types and I've also started annuals ones inside under lights. Nothing special that I remember. But I've never grown any that you've listed. But in general, "a salvia is a salvia is a salvia, a zinnia is a zinnia is a zinnia..."

Karen

Thank you for the welcome and I hope to hear from Kermit. It's possible that the plant came from him as my friend order many salvia plants from Salvia by the Sea last year.

I have grown Salvia forskaohlei (that's how it was spelled on the packet) from seed. I sowed in pots, just barely covered the seed, and kept the pots indoors in a cool, light place until germination (it took about 6 weeks).
Salvia glutinosa, I bought as a plant, but sowed seed from it straight into the garden. Some germinated right away, some waited until the following spring.

All I know from experience is that the ones I soaked in dilute hydrogen peroxide swelled up fast and germinated faster.

0.1% H2O2
1.5 teaspoons of drugstore peroxide (3%)
1 cup water

Tom Clothier has some advice about starting different salvia species:
http://tomclothier.hort.net/pa...

Most are just "sow at 20C = 68F" but there is this one for Salvia ringens:
Sow at 5ºC = 41ºF or cooler, then germination is very slow and irregular.

Dr. Deno's books may have more suggestions, but I can't interpret all his abbreviations.

Persistent URLs for Dr. Deno's book
"Seed Germination, Theory And Practice"
and supplements:

http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41... (1993)
http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41... (1996)
http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41... (1998)



Theory & Practice
Salvia (Lamiaceae).
S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2%
in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
S. candidissima germ. 70L(59% in 3-14 d), 70D(43% in 3-14 d), 40-70(none),
and 58% in outdoor treatment.
S. cyanescens germ. 70L(1 1% in 3-14 d), 70D(2%), 40(4% in 4-8 w)-70(18% in
2-10 d), and 26% in outdoor treatment.'
S. dumetorum germ. 70(30% in 1-6 d), 40(7% in 3-8 w)-70(8% in 2-10 d), and
21% in outdoor treatment. tight had no effect.
S. glutinosa germ. 70L(22% in 8-9 d), 70D(12% in 12-15 d), 40-70(26% in 4-7
d), and 27% in outdoor treatment.
S. hians germination may be prompted by light. Seeds germ. 70L(3/12 in 5-6
d), 70D(none), and 40-70D(1/3).
S. huberi germ: 40(10% in 7th w), 20% in outdoor treatment, and none in 70D
or 70L
S. moorcroftiana germ: best with seed DS 6 m at 70 in 70(59% in 2-6 d) and
40(60%)-70(1%)-40-70. Fresh seed gave a more extended germination as shown by
70(29%)-40-70(10%)-40 and 40(10%)-70(26%)-40(4%)-70(2%). Seed DS 6 m at 40
gave an intermediate behavior. The data indicates a D-70 pattern, and it is possible
that longer DS would have given higher germination.
S. off icinalis (sage) germ. 92% in 5-12 d in either 70L or 70D, 40(74% in 5-12
w), and 94% in April in outdoor treatment.
S. repens germ. 70(60% in 2-12 d), 40(46% in 2-6 w)-70(none), and 40% in
March in outdoor treatment.
S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-
70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment.
S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41%
in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.



2nd supplement:
Salvia (Lamiaceae).
S. cyanescens (JS) germ. 100% in 3 d in 70 GA-3 and failed to germinate in
other conditions including 70L.
S. fulgens (Annual Red Salvia) germ. in 4-8 d in 70D. HC reported that it germ.
the same from 55-85 but lower at 50.
S. sclerea turkestanica DS 3 y germ. 700(40% in 2nd w). A sample DS 6 y
germ. 700(6% in 2nd w).
S. superba DS 3 y germ. 700(3% in 2nd w).
S. verticillata 05 3 y were dead. 1.


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RickCorey said:All I know from experience is that the ones I soaked in dilute hydrogen peroxide swelled up fast and germinated faster.

0.1% H2O2
1.5 teaspoons of drugstore peroxide (3%)
1 cup water

Mine too.

We'll be posting a basic "Salvia by Seed" instructional video next week. It should help.

In my experience, there are very many different techniques that can work, but to be successful with many of the species great care as to drainage and watering needs to be exercised.