Schedule Crop - Salvia Salvatore Blue

Salvia Salvatore Blue

Data is gathered from our Elburn, Ill., trials (Zone 5a) for a North American audience. Warm-climate growers: expect 1-2 weeks earlier finishing. Cool-climate growers: expect 1 week slower. Dates based on standard 288 plug size.

Notes/Pitfall Management
As with all Salvia nemerosa, watch for spider mites and black bacterial leaf spots. Susceptible to micronutrient toxicity. B9/Cycocel is helpful managing top growth.

Week color desired

Sow week

Plug transplant week

Early Spring

Quart
(1 ppp)

Gallon
(3 ppp)

Spring/Summer

Quart
(1 ppp)

Gallon
(3 ppp)

Late-Summer/Fall

Quart
(1 ppp)

Gallon
(3 ppp)

Salvia Salvatore Blue

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Germination
Seed Form:	TRT
PlugSize:	288
Seeds/Cell:	1
Plug Crop Weeks:	5-6
Days from 50% to maximum germination:	3-4
Cover Seed:	Light cover

Plug Production
Stage 1
Moisture:	Level 4
Temperature:	68-72°F (20-22°C)
Light:	Optional

Stage 2
Moisture:	Level 3
Temperature:	65-68°F (18-20°C)
Light:	2,000-2,500 fc (21,500-26,900 Lux)
Fertilizer:	Less than 100 ppm N (Less than 0.7 EC)

Stage 3
Moisture:	Level 2
Temperature:	60-65°F (16-18°C)
Light:	2,000-2,500 fc (21,500-26,900 Lux)
Fertilizer:	100 to 175 ppm N (0.7 to 1.2 EC)
PGR:	daminozide/1,000-1,500 ppm/Spray

Stage 4
Moisture:	Level 2
Temperature:	60-65°F (16-18°C)
Light:	4,000-5,000 fc (43,100-53,800 Lux)
Fertilizer:	175 to 225 ppm N (1.2 to 1.5 EC)
PGR:	daminozide/1,500-2,000 ppm/Spray

Vernalization:	No
Fertilizer Notation:	Use a well-balanced, non-Ammonium based fertilizer. Avoid high pH, as it can cause chlorosis.
Propagation Key Tips:	Grow in an active climate. Avoid moist and high relative humidity.

Growing on to Finish
Growing on Temperature:	(day) 60-72°F (16-22°C) (night) 50-59°F (10-15°C)
Target Media pH/EC (1:2):	5.5-6.2 pH 1.1-1.4 mmhos/cm
Fertilizer:	175 to 225 ppm N (1.2 to 1.5 EC)
Daylength:	Facultative Long Day
Daylength Notation:	Salvatore Blue is a facultative long day plant, but it is much less daylength sensitive than Salvia New Dimension, and is able to flower under 10-hour short day conditions. Because of the 10-hr. critical daylength, Salvatore Blue can be grown for annual programs, but also for long-cycle production through the Winter for Spring sales. Salvatore can finish in the southern U.S. for April sales if critical daylength at transplant is a minimum of 10 hrs., comparative to vegetative choices for early Spring.
Fertilizer Notation:	Use a well-balanced, non-Ammonium fertiliser, including a micro elements mix. Growers using water-soluble fertilisers can apply 125 to 150 ppm nitrogen with every irrigation, or use 250 ppm as needed.
Bulking Strategy:	Short day will not bulk Salvatore Blue, due to its low critical daylength of 10 hrs. It is best to use plugs with PGR daminozide for better branching.
Finishing Key Tips:	Salvatore Blue needs a little higher fertilisation level than New Dimension Blue, per the Target Media EC. With Salvia nemorosa, leaf yellowing can occur, especially once turning generative. Keep up fertilisation and use iron leaf fertilisation, avoiding too high of a pH. Grow relatively dry and provide an active climate. Salvatore Blue can show black spots on the leaves; this is not disease, nor does it indicate damage. Due to the dark colour of Salvatore Blue, these spots are accumulations of the colour compound that will be dissimilated in better growing conditions.