When does Salvia farinacea (blue salvia) of the Lamiaceae family bloom, how long does the flowering period last, what is the market price, and where is it suitable?

Blue salvia (Salvia farinacea) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family. As a potted plant, it is suitable for flower beds, flower borders and landscaping features in gardens. So, when does blue salvia generally bloom? How long does the flowering period last? What is the market price? Is it suitable for planting in the north?

1. When does blue salvia generally bloom? How long does the flowering period last?

Blue salvia generally blooms from spring to summer, with a flowering period of roughly May to October. It usually blooms 70 to 100 days after sowing. It bears long spike-like inflorescences with densely clustered flowers and a tubular bell-shaped calyx. The flower color is powder blue or powder purple, about 12 cm long. It is mostly used for flower beds, flower borders, mass planting, cut flowers, potted flowers and so on. After flowering, removing the inflorescence allows it to still send out shoots and continue blooming.

2. What is the market price of blue salvia?

Blue salvia seeds are not expensive, but prices vary quite a bit. Cheap blue salvia seeds cost only 1.8 yuan per gram, while expensive ones sell for more than 10 yuan per gram. Seedlings cost about 0.6 to 1.8 yuan each, so friends need to make their own judgment and choose based on value for money when buying.

3. Is blue salvia suitable for planting in the north?

Blue salvia is suitable for planting in the north. It likes warm, humid and sunny environments, is highly cold-tolerant, and fears heat and dryness. It is best grown in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam.

1. Propagation by sowing: blue salvia seeds number about 920 per gram. Generally, 200- or 288-cell plug trays are chosen for sowing, and the medium is best imported seedling peat moss or sterilized domestic seedling peat moss. After sowing, cover the surface with a thin layer of vermiculite, then cover it with plastic film. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, and germination generally takes 5 to 8 days.

2. Management during the sprouting stage: during the germination stage, blue salvia continues to root, the stem appears and the cotyledons have unfolded. At this time, appropriate humidity must be maintained and excessive moisture prevented. For fertilizer, a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium water-soluble fertilizer is generally used at a ratio of 20:10:20. After growing for a while longer, the roots insert into the cells of the plug tray and several true leaves appear. At this point, increase the fertilizer concentration and control humidity and temperature well to prevent the seedlings from growing leggy at this stage.

3. Temperature conditions: when blue salvia plants have 2 to 3 true leaves, they can begin to be transplanted into pots. Generally, 12 to 13 cm pots are chosen for transplanting. The substrate needs loose, well-aerated garden soil plus organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer. After the potted plants are moved into the courtyard, the temperature will drop to 18 degrees, and after a month it may drop to 15 degrees. Note that if the temperature is below 15 degrees, the leaves will turn yellow or fall off, and above 30 degrees the plant may stop growing.

4. Reasonable fertilization: during the growing period, blue salvia needs diluted 1500-fold ammonium sulfate to change leaf color, and the effect is quite good. Remember not to apply urea at low temperatures. Continuous fertilization can keep the root system robust and the branches and leaves lush. It likes to grow in places with ample sunlight. Generally, apply a compound fertilizer containing calcium and magnesium once every half month. In the hot summer, appropriate shading is needed, and during the seedling stage, light should be increased.

5. Pest and disease control: common pests of blue salvia include whiteflies and aphids, and common diseases include downy mildew and leaf spot, which need active control. Usually, spray 700-fold carbendazim or chlorothalonil for sterilization once every 7 to 10 days, and spray 2000-fold decamethrin or 1000-fold dichlorvos for pest control once every 10 to 15 days.