Salvia is a beloved garden plant grown for its long-lasting summer blooms in hues of red, pink, purple, white and more. While you can propagate salvia by cuttings, harvesting and saving seeds is also an easy way to produce new plants for free. Follow some simple steps to collect ripe salvia seeds from your plants and store them properly for replanting next year.
When to Harvest Salvia Seeds
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Allow salvia plants to complete their full blooming cycle naturally during summer.
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Wait 1-2 weeks after the flowers fade before collecting seeds
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Look for the colorful blooms to turn brown and dry out.
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Seed pods called nutlets will form where the flowers were
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Nutlets will dry, crack open and become bell-shaped when seeds inside are ripe.
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Harvest seeds when nutlets appear dry brown and open.
How to Harvest Salvia Seeds
Gathering salvia seeds is quick and easy:
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Cut a fully dried flower stalk off at the base.
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Insert the cut end of the stalk into a paper bag.
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Gently rub the stalk between your fingers over the bag.
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This will knock the dry nutlets off the stalk so they fall into the bag.
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You can also carefully pry open nutlets with fingers to remove seeds.
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Just 1-2 flower stalks per salvia variety should provide plenty of seeds.
Drying and Storing Salvia Seeds
Proper drying and storage keeps seeds viable for planting:
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Fold over the top of the seed collection bag loosely.
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Place bag in a warm, dry indoor spot for 1-2 more weeks.
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This allows seeds to finish drying if needed.
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Check seeds and discard any that appear moldy or damaged.
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Good seeds will be hard, dry and brown.
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Transfer seeds to a glass jar or envelope. Label with the variety and year collected.
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Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light.
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Properly stored, salvia seeds remain viable for 2-3 years.
Tips for Collecting Multiple Varieties
When growing different salvia varieties, keep types separate:
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Put each flower stalk in its own labeled bag to avoid seed mixing.
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Process and dry seeds of each variety separately.
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Store seeds of each type in individual containers with labels.
This prevents accidentally planting mystery hybrids next season!
Ideal Conditions for Salvia Seeds
Understanding salvia seed needs helps ensure germination:
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Salvia seeds require light to germinate. Plant on the soil surface.
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They germinate best at warm temperatures of 70-75°F (21-24°C).
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Keep seeds moist but not saturated for good germination rates.
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Thin young salvia seedlings to 12-18 inches apart to avoid crowding.
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Grow new plants in full sun and well-draining soil.
Advantages of Seed Harvesting
Collecting your own salvia seeds offers many benefits:
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It’s free! No need to buy new plants or seeds annually.
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You can grow heirloom or hybrid varieties not found in stores.
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It prevents unusual varieties from being lost over time.
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You control seed quality and freshness.
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Salvia seeds maintain higher viability than cuttings over time.
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This propagation method maintains genetic diversity.
How Salvia Seed Harvesting Works
Understanding the seed harvesting process helps ensure success:
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Salvia is self-pollinating so a single plant produces seeds.
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The flower must fully bloom and fade for seeds to develop.
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Dry, mature nutlets containing seeds form as flowers die back.
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Seeds are ready for harvest when nutlets crack open.
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Each nutlet contains just a few tiny black seeds.
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Seed count per stalk ranges from a dozen to a hundred.
Enjoy an Endless Salvia Supply
With just a bit of patience and attentiveness, harvesting salvia seeds can provide you with an abundant, renewable source of these decorative garden plants. Collect seeds from your healthiest, top-performing salvia varieties to propagate more of your favorites. Properly stored seeds can be banked for several seasons, offering reassurance you’ll never run out of these colorful bloomers. Discover the rewards of seed saving!
How to Collect Salvia Seeds
FAQ
Does salvia drop seeds?
How do you propagate salvia from seed?
Can Salvias be grown from seed?
How do you harvest Salvia seeds?
Harvesting: The first step is to harvest the seeds from mature salvia plants. Wait until the flowers have faded and the seed pods have dried out. Gently squeeze the pods to release the seeds. Cleaning: After harvesting, you need to separate the seeds from any debris or chaff.
Can you grow Salvia from cuttings?
Grow salvia either as an annual or perennial. While some gardeners take cuttings to propagate new salvia plants, consider harvesting salvia seeds and storing them for the following spring. As with any seed project, the key is collecting at the correct time and providing a dry environment for processing and storing the salvia seeds.
How do you grow a Salvia plant?
A few simple steps are all that’s needed to get your salvia plants up and blooming in no time. With the right knowledge and care, you can have a beautiful, vibrant garden of salvia blossoms in no time. Lightweight, well-drained seed starting mix. Germination temperatures should range from 65-75°F. Space seeds 1/4 inch apart.
Can you grow Salvia from seeds?
Salvia plants, also known as sage, are popular in gardens for their beautiful flowers and aromatic foliage. Whether you want to grow them from seeds or save seeds from existing plants, understanding the proper methods for storing, sowing, and germinating salvia seeds is essential for successful cultivation.
How do you store Salvia seeds?
Close the jar or container and attach a label with the year you collected the seeds on it. Store the jar in a cool, dry place for up to three years until you are ready to plant the seeds. If you have more than one variety of salvia, label which variety is in the jar and keep the stalks, pods and seeds separate during processing to avoid confusion.
How do you care for Salvia seeds?
After the salvia seeds have been planted, they should be kept in a warm and sunny spot and watered regularly. It is important to remember that salvia is a relatively slow growing plant and can take up to several months to germinate. Once the seedlings have emerged, they can be thinned to the desired spacing and cared for as usual.