SALVIA FARINACEA, FARINACEOUS SAGE, MEALYCUP SAGE Evolution

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Lamiaceae, America (Texas)

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:45 cm, 17,72 inch

Natural flowertime:July - October

Crop Time:Plug crop: 8-9 weeks; Flowering pots: For flowering in spring: 20-22 weeks, For flowering in summer: 12-16 weeks, Cut flower production: 16-20 weeks

Sell Period:green plant: from Mid of April, flowering plant: from May on (summer pot item)

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:1100 K/g

Sowing Time:December-April for flowering in pots from April onwards; May-June for flowering in pots from August onwards

Sowing Method:2-3 seeds per plug, sowing directly into pot is recommended

Germination:Stage I and II: 14-24 days at 18-22 °C; Stage III and IV: 21 days at 14-16 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.5. Requires light for germination. Do not cover seeds. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.

Plug Culture:From Stage II reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,5 EC. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150-200 ppm.

Growing On:2-3 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per pug tray (4x4 cm) and 3-4 weeks later transplant into a pot (9-12 cm) and 3 plants into a container (3-5 l). Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 25-30 x 25-30 cm space.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e. g. bark, wood fibres, perlite), 1-3 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.5. Field: humus, loamy soils with good drainage. Standard fertilization: 50-80 g/m2 of a slow release fertilizer.

Temperature:Grow at 14-16 °C. When the buds are visible, the temperature should be decreased to 14 °C. S. farinacea does not tolerate frost.

Fertilization:Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 200-250 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Avoid high fertilizer concentrations, it is advisable to fertilize several times with low concentrations weekly.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the 30 % of the flowers per spikes are just open and the stems are not soft. Remove the bottom leaves and put the spikes into water immediately. Vase life: 10-14 days. Cold storage is recommended.

Cultural Hints:Moist, light and airy cultivation. Avoid drought stress, because this can promote yellow leaves. Remove the faded flowers.

* Germination Stages (from seed to finished young plant)
Stage I: Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II: Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III: Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV: All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.