Salvia Picante, Salsa
salvia splendens

Minimum Germination Rate: 90%
Seed Product Form: Raw

FLOWERING
Time Frame when plants are receptive to flower initiation: Salsa: Days 18 – 21; Picante Days: 21 – 24; 3 – 5 leaves are present.
Flowering Type: ‘Salsa’ is a Day-neutral plant. ‘Picante is a Facultative Long Day Plant – long days enhance flowering.
Specific Flowering Mechanism: Daylength triggers flowering. Warm temperatures will enhance flowering.

PLUG CULTURE
Germination – Optimum conditions for seedling development that begins the day the crop is sown until cotyledon expansion. Expect radicle emergence in 4 – 5 days.

Cover: Seeds may be covered with a thin layer of coarse vermiculite to maintain moisture levels.

Media: pH: 6.0 – 6.2, EC: 0.5

Light: Light is not necessary for germination. If utilizing a chamber, providing a light source of 10 – 100 foot candles (100 – 1000 lux) will improve germination and reduce stretch compared to seed germinated in the dark.

Moisture: Saturated (5) for days 0 – 4 or until radicle emergence. On days 5 – 14 reduce moisture to moist (3). Beginning day 15 reduce further to medium (2).

Humidity: 100% until radicle emergence then reduce to 40%.

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Temperature: 75° – 78°F (22° – 23°C) until radicle emergence. Reduce to 72° – 75°F (22° – 23°C) until cotyledon expansion.

Plug Bulking – Optimum conditions during the vegetative period, beginning at cotyledon expansion, needed for the root to reach the edge of the plug cell. Avoid premature flowering in the plug stages. Plants will not size up properly after transplanted if budded in the plug tray. In troubleshooting plug culture, downward cupping of the leaves indicates that the media is too dry and/or EC levels are too high; or temperatures are too cool.

Media: pH: 6.0 – 6.2, EC: 0.75 – 1.2 Salvia is very sensitive to high salt levels and can be used as an indicator crop for high EC.

Light: Provide 2500 – 3000 (25,000 – 30,000 lux).

Temperature: 72° – 75°F (22° – 23°C). Gradually reduce to 65° – 68°F (18° – 20°C) as seedlings mature.

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Allow media to approach level (2) before re-saturating to level (4).

Humidity: 40 – 70%

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: Fertilize established seedlings at 40 – 50 ppm Nitrogen with calcium and potassium nitrate based fertilizers (14-2-14, 13-2-13). Ammonium concentrations > 5 ppm can be toxic. Symptoms include a gray cast or browning of immature leaves. Interveinal chlorosis on mature leaves indicates a lack of magnesium.

Growth Regulators: If needed, apply B-Nine (daminozide) at 2500 – 5000 ppm to tone plants.

GROWING ON
Transplant Ready: 5 – 6 weeks from sow in a ‘288’ tray.
Finish Bulking/Flower Initiation – Optimum conditions during the vegetative period, beginning at transplant, needed for the root to reach the edge of the container; AND to make the plant receptive to flower initiation.

Media:pH: 6.2 – 6.5, EC: 0.75 – 1.0 Salvias are sensitive to high salts and levels should be monitored to avoid leaf drop.

Light: Provide 3000 – 3500 foot candles (30,000 – 35,000 lux). Under low light conditions, supplemental lighting will reduce stretching.

Temperature: 55° – 60°F (13° – 16°C) nights; 70° – 75°F (21° – 24°C) days.

Average Daily Temperature (ADT): 67°F (19°C)

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Allow media to approach level (2) before re-saturating to level (4).

Humidity: 40 – 70%

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: Feed as needed at 100 – 200 ppm Nitrogen with a calcium-based fertilizer (13-2-13 or 14-4-14). A combination of low feed and cool temperatures may promote the yellowing of leaves.

Growth Regulators: Salvia is responsive to DI F treatments, B-Nine (daminozide), A-Rest (ancymidol), Bonzi (paclobutrazol), Sumagic (uniconazol) or B-Nine/Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) tank mix.

Common Diseases: Alternaria Leaf Spot, Powdery Mildew, Rust and Corynespora Leaf Spot

Common Pests: Thrips, Aphids, Whitefly and Spider Mite

SCHEDULING
‘Picante’ Total crop time: 10 – 11 weeks
‘288’ Plug crop time: 5 – 6 weeks
Transplant to finish crop time Packs: 5 – 6 weeks
4” crop: 7 – 6 weeks
‘Salsa’ Total crop time: 9 – 10 weeks
‘288’ Plug crop time: 5 – 6 weeks
Transplant to finish crop time: Packs: 4 – 5 weeks
4” crop: 6 – 7 weeks

PRODUCT USE
Packs, pots, containers, mass plantings

GARDEN SPECIFICATIONS
Light: Partial to full sun
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
AHS Heat Zone: 12 – 1
‘Picante’ Garden Height: 14 – 16 inches (35 – 40 cm)
Garden Width: 10 – 12 inches (25 – 30 cm)
‘Salsa’ Garden Height: 12 – 14 inches (25 – 30 cm)
Garden Width: 10 – 12 inches (25 – 30 cm)