Salvia: planting and care, description of 25 varieties and species, cultivation rules

The salvia (sage) plant is widely distributed in tropical and temperate climates around the world. Some of the varieties are widely used in folk medicine. The genus Salvia has a total of about nine hundred representatives living in different parts of the world. Medicinal varieties of this plant are commonly called sage, and decorative ones - salvia.

Description and features

In the genus Salvia there are both annual and perennial representatives. The stems are straight, reach a height of up to 1.2 meters. The leaves are usually entire, dark green. The flowers are bright, depending on the variety, they can be red, blue, blue, white, pink.

Growing

Depending on the specific variety, the plant can be grown in seedlings and seedlings by cuttings.

Seedling method

Growing by planting seeds is the main way, which is suitable for both annual and perennial crop varieties.

Timing

It is optimal to first grow seedlings in containers, and then transplant them into the ground. Sow seeds in a container should be in February or early March.

Soil preparation

This crop needs light fertile soil. The acidity of the soil should be in the range of 6-6.5 pH. You can buy a ready-made mixture in a specialized store or prepare it from peat, sand and garden soil in equal proportions.

How to plant

Seeds are most often sold in the form of pellets. A drainage layer is poured into pots for seedlings, and prepared soil is poured on top. The substrate should be moistened and evenly pour planting material on top, then sprinkle on top with a two-millimeter layer of earth.

Irrigation

After planting, crops must be moistened. Seedlings should be watered regularly, in moderation, avoiding excess moisture.

Picking

Seedlings must be dived so that the roots are strong and the plant takes root in the soil. After the formation of the first leaves, they dive and transplant into a larger container. The second time the pick should be made two weeks after the first.

Hardening

In the spring, when the weather is warm, the plants are transplanted into open ground. But before that, the seedlings should be hardened. Within two weeks before transplanting, the seedlings in containers are taken out into the fresh air, gradually increasing the time the seedlings stay outside.

Seedless

Seedless growing is not suitable for all varieties of salvia. This method is suitable for warm regions. In open ground, salvia seeds are planted in early spring or late autumn. This is due to the long growing season.

Select site

The landing site should be sunny and protected from gusty winds.

Soil Requirements

Light fertile soil is suitable for growing a plant. Water in the soil should not accumulate and stagnate, as an excess of moisture is fraught with decay of the roots and stems of salvia.

Plant pattern

Ash, superphosphate and organic fertilizer are added to the hole before planting. Plants should be planted at a distance of 20-30 centimeters from each other.

Care

Salvia, like any plant, needs proper care after planting.

Irrigation

Culture is unpretentious in terms of watering and easily tolerates drying out. However, in the early stages, before the peduncles appear, the flowers should be watered regularly in dry weather.

Loosening and weeding

Salvia prefers loose soil and does not withstand stagnant water. Therefore, the soil should be weeded regularly.

Feeding

At the beginning of cultivation, the soil should be fed with growth stimulants. Complex minerals should be added during the growing season.

Cutting

To stimulate the growth of shoots, it is necessary to prune in autumn or spring. The plant should be cut in such a way that the branch can take root, as the plant takes root easily and firmly in the soil.

Preparing for winter

Before wintering, the bushes must be carefully cut and covered with compost and dry leaves.

Diseases and pests

Salvia is slightly susceptible to disease. Basically, it is damaged by pests: ticks, slugs, aphids.

Slugs

Salvia foliage is often a target for snails and slugs. Bark and slate traps help against them.

Pincers

Acaricides help against sage mites. With a large number of ticks on the site, it is worth treating the soil with crushed sulfur.

Whiteflies

Whiteflies often infect vegetable crops, after which they rush to salvia. Therefore, sage should not be grown next to vegetables.

Aphid

To combat aphids, a solution of wood ash helps in the proportion of one hundred grams of ash per five liters of water. The solution should be brought to a boil, let it cool and add grated soap, then spray it on the lower part of the leaves.

Views

There are a large number of varieties of culture that differ in appearance and properties.

Sparkling

Along with medicinal sage, it is the most common variety. Valued for its bright appearance and unpretentiousness in terms of care and cultivation.

Bright Red

Annual variety with bright red flowers. Able to reach one and a half meters in height.

Powdery

Has a small height - up to half a meter and blue flowers. Perennial plant, but grown in Russia as an annual.

Whorled

Sage whorled - a perennial plant, has a brown thick rhizome and several erect stems. The inflorescence is simple or with a pair of branches, contains up to forty flowers.

Dandelion leaf

Has a straight and poorly branched stem. The leaves are pinnate, the inflorescences are whorled, the flowers are light, with a pink tinge.

Oakwood

Branches reach a length of 1.2 meters. The leaves are large, the flowers are bright red, purple, white or purple.

Glue

Bushes can reach a height of 90 centimeters. Shoots are straight, glandular. The flowers are pale yellow.

Puffy

Compact variety, up to 60 centimeters tall. It has spike-shaped inflorescences, flowers are pink or blue-violet.

Short

Grows up to 50 centimeters in height. It has several different varieties that differ from each other in appearance and flowering speed.

Muscat

Subshrub up to 120 centimeters high. The stem is straight, the inflorescences are paniculate-branched.

Lyrate

It has purple foliage and is very compact - up to 25 centimeters tall.

Popular varieties

Let's take a look at some of the more popular sage varieties.

Purple Rain

Characterized by flowers with a dark purple corolla and purple calyx.

Lady in Red

Short variety up to 40 centimeters high and with red flowers.

Sherri Blossom

Same height as Lady in Red, pink flowers.

Anshuld

Characterized by delicate whitish-silver flowers.

Strata

This variety is a small bush covered with small blue flowers.

Victoria

It has bright blue flowers, pleasant fragrance and long flowering period.

White Swan

White flowers with pink or purple bracts.

Oxford Blue

Grows to a height of 70 centimeters, blue-violet flowers.

Pink Sandy

Variety with bright pink bracts.

Plumosa

Height - up to 60 centimeters, lilac-purple flowers.

Meinaht

It has blue-violet flowers and a long flowering period, height - up to 60 centimeters.

Amethyst

Medium size plant with lots of shoots, lilac-pink inflorescences.

Snow Hill

Small long-blooming shrub with white flowers.

Rose Queen

Perennial hybrid of oak sage, has a compact size and pink flowers.

Blue Queen

Herbaceous perennial with straight stems and bright, blue-violet bracts.

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