Super Salvias - 2016

Does this mean I'm supposed get those seeds started? need to know this....

 

I grew them from seeds last year and I think I may have started too late - have seeds collected so might start them....

 

Thanks @fat controller

This is a good opportunity to say that @nibor has published his 2016 seed list. It has plenty of interesting and/or rare Salvia seeds listed so if you are interested in trying something different from seed go to the Robins Salvias homepage and request a seedlist using the email link at the bottom of the page. They're not the cheapest but a large percentage are near impossible to find elsewhere and I've always had very good germination from his seed. They are also what they say they are which can be problem with other sources.
I hope that doesn't sound like an advert!

It does rather depend upon what species you're talking about

 

Oh oh, I don't think I saved the stick thing ... I'll have a look just in case...

 

Don't worry, there are only about 900 species of Salvia plus all the cultivars and hybrids on top of that figure

Leaving the joking to one side, as you can imagine in a genus that large there are a wide range of requirements for good growth. Do you have a photo?

 

My Salvia 'Amistad' is still flowering!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Not overly surprising as S.gesneriiflora (one of the assumed parents) is a winter bloomer. My S.gesneriiflora is in bud now.

 

Hi everyone,
( especially @longk )

I've got seeds for......

Neon
Amistad
S. Dolichantha
S. Patens Cambridge
S. Patens Oxford

When is best to sow these please?

 

I would wait at least another month.
I'll be interested to see what comes from the Amistad seeds.

 

They were grown next to Neon and Coral Nymph so if they cross it'll be with those. I'd be pleased if I got some Amistad/Neon crosses.

Are Salvias very promiscuous then ?

 

They certainly cross pollinate and the Chinese Salvia really put it about.
Amistad is a hybrid that was found in the wild whose parents are (IIRC) S.gesneriiflora and S.gauranitica. Both of them have produced some of the best hybrids and cultivars available.

 

Last year, I very reluctantly decided to buy another S. Patens and this time kept it in the pot instead of a paper bag in the garage, after my last failure to overwinter it. This winter it's still in the pot in the same soil, and I brought the pot indoors whenever frost threatened at night. This time it's survived and already showing convincing early life even though the leaves look a bit greenish yellow at the moment.

Should I now repot in fresh compost?

 

Personally I think that it is too early to encourage too much growth. Wait for three or four weeks when the daylight hours are more favourable.