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Post by philagardener on Jan 16, 2017 19:35:03 GMT -5
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Post by orflo on Jan 17, 2017 15:22:13 GMT -5
Good project there, I grow salvia columbaria from time to time, but on a very limited scale, some 10-20 plants at the most. The big problem for me is collecting the seeds, they scatter and end up on the ground, unless I place something to catch them, some glass or whatever. What surprises me is that you write that salvia hispanica is daylength sensitive, I've been growing them for years now and the harvest of the seeds starts from the middle of September, sometimes earlier, so they are certainly not daylenght sensitive over here, or, more likely, it's a distinct variety although I received them without variety name, I'm not aware that there are s. hispanica varieties circulating, but I guess there must be some. I'm probably more north than you (just about 51°), but with a rather temperate maritime climate. S. columbaria was always very early to flower over here, surprisingly early, sometimes already in June, but was never a great producer of seeds. But they are tasty, that's for sure, and ideal for short climates...Good luck with your project!
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Post by farmermike on Jan 17, 2017 20:47:43 GMT -5
That is a project I've been thinking about for years, but never gotten around to starting. I have made several wild seed collections over the years, but have had only moderate success growing them. This is likely because I've always tended to plant it in a rock garden (which seems similar to it's natural habitat) or on steep neglected ground with heavy weed competition. I had only minimal reseeding, although some sources claim that it does. I had one or two volunteers (originally from commercial seed) last year in that steep garden, but neglected to collect seeds from them. I'll have to check it again this year. I'd be interested in collaborating on this project. I probably still have some of my wild collections; I'll have to see if I can find them (and if they're still viable). I live within the native range, so I can always find more. And, I'm always looking for an excuse to visit the San Jacinto mountains (gotta love a place where you can hike out of the desert and find Sugar Pines!). The trick is finding them while the seed is ripe, though sometimes a few seeds hang around in the dry inflorescence if the site is not too windy. I imagine that some steps toward domestication have already been taken by the nursery industry. That local nursery I linked sells it in 4" pots. In my experience, there is always some selection that has to happen when convincing a wild plant, from rocky mountainsides, to grow in commercial potting soil. Those may not be all the same selections you would be making for domestication as a food crop, but some of them may be. Though, in all likelihood, Annie is getting seed from Larner Seeds. I have found that, even plants from wild sourced seeds, transplant very easily in the rosette stage -- and in cool weather. William, I'll have a look through my seed stash and PM you soon about that and other possible trades.
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Post by orflo on Jan 18, 2017 3:33:21 GMT -5
I'm in Belgium...far away :-). I can send you some seeds of that s. hispanica if you're interested
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jan 18, 2017 16:14:15 GMT -5
I grew Salvia hispanica last growing season. My seed came from the grocery store. It grew 7 feet tall, but by November it was still not flowering. www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/riat/v91n1/v91n1a05.pdf " Chia plants were only able to flower when day length was shorter than 12:27 hours."
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Post by jondear on Jan 18, 2017 19:09:50 GMT -5
At the right planting density, that'd make a fine weed surpressing cover crop...
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Apr 7, 2017 12:48:16 GMT -5
I planted my Salvia columbariae a few weeks ago, in pots in the greenhouse, without treatment. Both accessions germinated. The seed company accession immediately damped off and died. William's accession has two plants that survived damping off. There were enough seeds to replant the seed company variety a few days ago.
Related to this project, the Clary Sage plants, Salvia sclarea, overwintered fine in the garden, and are growing robustly.
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andyb
gardener
Posts: 179
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Post by andyb on Apr 8, 2017 0:29:19 GMT -5
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andyb
gardener
Posts: 179
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Post by andyb on Apr 8, 2017 12:55:52 GMT -5
That's too bad. They also have a Salvia tiliaefolia in their regular catalog. If you don't have one of those, it might be worth picking up and growing out to get a first impression of flowering time and growth in case you end up trying some interspecific crosses. You would need to be a NSS member to get them, though. shop.nativeseeds.org/collections/catalog/products/hb007
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Apr 19, 2017 20:01:53 GMT -5
My Salvia columbariae had a second flush of seedlings emerge from William's seed. No more seedlings yet from the commercial seed, even after replanting.
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Post by bigmark on Jul 28, 2017 17:20:27 GMT -5
Hello. Nice thread, I am growing some of the desert chia as well. Sounds like a fun plant to work with. Lot's of interesting characteristics. I bought my seed from Larner seeds. They said there are no special methods for seed starting. Just plant like normal seeds.
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Post by bigmark on Jul 28, 2017 21:29:11 GMT -5
I guess I will find out, I am planting this Sunday. That's cool you tried so many accessions. You mentioned there was a lot of variation. How did seed size compare? I would assume a larger seed would be a good thing. How did your Larner seed do compared to the others?
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Post by bigmark on Jul 29, 2017 10:07:35 GMT -5
Thanks for all the information! Very interesting. I sent a message on your bluemeadowbotanical website.
Thanks, Mark
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