Salvia nemorosa Swifty™

by | May 22, 2016 | ALL VARIETIES, FIRST LIGHT® PERENNIALS

Series: Salvia nemorosa Swifty™

Production Seasons: Spring / Summer
Customer Use: Landscape / Perennial Gardens
Garden Height: 8 to 12 inches (20 – 30cm)
Garden Width: 20 to 24 inches (51 to 61 cm)

USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 3 – 9

Crop planning from cell packs:
Pot size: Plants per pot (pp) Crop Time (weeks)
4” pot (10 cm) 1 pp 5 to 7
6” pot (15 cm) 1 pp 6 to 9

Finishing Culture:
pH: 5.5 – 6.2

Fertilizer Requirements: 200 to 250 ppm N using a balanced feed to maintain color of foliage. Include Micro element source as part of fertilizer solution. It is best to use non-Ammonium feed formulations (use Calcium or Potassium Nitrate) to control height of finished plants. Alkaline soil conditions will not create problems for Salvia under most conditions. If you do see tip yellowing, additional Iron may be required.

Temperature:
Temperatures at 55°-65° F (13°-18° C) Nights
65°-75° F (18° -24° C) Days
Salvia nemoroa is a drought tolerant plant and will tolerate warm temperatures.

Light: 4,000 to 8,000 ft-candles -High to medium-high.

Pinching Requirements: Pinch using a soft pinch method once the plant is established, either before or after transplanting. The pinch will create needed branching for full plant development and shorten frame of plant.
Removal of spent flowers will create continued flowering through the summer months.

Growth Regulators: We recommend proper moisture maintenance, cool temperatures during forcing, high light and proper feed rates to control height. Proper light levels will keep plants shorter and hasten flowering. B-9 will be effective to control plant height as well. The Swifty™ series is naturally compact and should require no PGR’s.

Pests/Disease: Aphids and Whitefly
Botrytis, Scale and Leaf Spot: Provide air movement around plants. Allow soil to dry completely between irrigations and drench with preventative fungicides. Apply foliar fungicide spray to control leaf spots during cold temperature treatments or during rainy/damp environmental periods. Ample airflow will assist in eliminating disease problems on foliage.