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Snapdragons how to grow


Growing Snapdragons in Your Garden

Snapdragons are very popular short-lived garden perennials that are usually grown as annuals. They are a mainstay of classic flower gardens, with infinite uses, from mixed border gardens to flower boxes to patio containers. The common name derives from the shape of the individual flower heads, which resemble the snout of a dragon, and which even open and close in a snapping motion, as often happens when pollinators open the jaws to reach the pollen.

Bright snapdragon flowers bloom profusely throughout cool weather in intensely saturated colors (almost every hue) and are real standouts in either the spring or fall garden. The flowers start blooming at the bottom of the stalk and work their way up, making for a long period of bloom. Although snapdragons tend to slow down and stop blooming in the heat of mid-summer, if you keep them watered, they will perk up and carry your garden through the fall.

Snapdragon Care
Snapdragons do best in rich, well-draining soil in a sunny location, though they will tolerate part shade. Pinching off the stem tips on young plants will make them thicker and bushier, and deadheading the spent flowers will extend the bloom season, often right into the first frost of the late fall or early winter. Snapdragons can repeat bloom throughout the season but they do best in the cool of spring and fall. In cooler climates, they bloom all summer long, and in milder climates, they sometimes bloom throughout the winter.

These short-lived perennials are usually grown as annuals. Even when they do overwinter, snapdragons never seem to bloom as robustly as they did in their first year. However, they should form seed pods in the first year; if you are lucky, they may even self-sow in the garden.

Light
Your snapdragons will bloom most profusely in full sun to partial shade. Once the temperature heats up, they may stop blooming altogether. Planting them in part shade and keeping them well watered will help them make it through the summer and they will likely bloom again in fall.

Soil
Snapdragons like a neutral soil pH between 6.2 and 7.0, rich in nutrients and well-draining. As short-lived plants, they are not heavy feeders, but adding organic matter will help keep them healthy and blooming.

Water
Snapdragons need adequate watering. Keep seedlings moist for the first few weeks. Once established, snapdragon will need approximately 1 inch of water per week in times of no rainfall. Water near the crown of the plant and avoid overhead watering to keep your snapdragon healthy. Once established, let the top inch of soil dry fully before watering.

Temperature & Humidity
Snapdragons are tender perennials that are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11. But snapdragons prefer cooler temperatures and are at their best when nighttime temperatures are in the low 40s and daytime temperatures in the low 70s Fahrenheit. For this reason, they are usually grown as annuals to provide garden color in the cooler months of spring and fall.

Once established in the bed and hardened off, snapdragons can withstand sub-freezing temperatures. If you make sure they stay well-watered during cold spells and add a layer of pine straw mulch, they can last for quite some time and will survive quite low temperatures until the chill has passed.

Seedlings grown indoors need to be hardened off for about 10 days to two weeks before planting in the garden.

Fertilizer
Apply fertilizer when the plants first start producing flowers. Use a standard, well-balanced all-purpose fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 product, at a rate of three pounds for every 100 square feet of the flowerbed. Water well to minimize the risk of nitrogen burns and to help the fertilizer reach the roots.

Common Pests & Diseases
Rust fungus can be a significant problem with snapdragons. If rust does appear in a planting, it is best to grow snapdragons in another part of the garden the following year. This plant is also susceptible to mold, fungal leaf spots, downy mildew, wilt and root rots.

Aphids and spider mites are the most common pest problem, which may require the use of pesticides or horticultural oils in severe infestations.

Tall varieties may need support to avoid toppling over, especially in shady sites where they can grow to be particularly leggy.

Information courtesy of TheSpruce.com

Learn About Snapdragons - Burpee

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How to Sow

Snapdragons may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or from potted plants.

Sowing Snapdragon Seed Indoors:

Planting Potted Snapdragon Plants in the Garden:

How to Grow

Growing Tips

Introduction to Growing Annuals

Common Disease Problems

Bacterial Leaf Spot: First signs are small translucent spots with a broad yellowish edge that slowly enlarge and become angular or irregularly circular with a reddish center. It thrives in cooler temperatures. The disease may also affect and disfigure flower heads. Burpee Recommends: Remove infected plants. Rotate crops with plants in a different family. Avoid overhead watering. Do not work around plants when they are wet.

Botrytis: This fungus causes a grey mold on flowers, leaves, stems and buds. It thrives in cool wet weather conditions. Burpee Recommends: Remove affected plant parts, avoid watering at night and getting water on the plant when watering. Make sure plants have good air circulation. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.

Damping Off: This is one of the most common problems when starting plants from seed. The seedling emerges and appears healthy; then it suddenly wilts and dies for no obvious reason. Damping off is caused by a fungus that is active when there is abundant moisture and soils and air temperatures are above 68 degrees F. Typically, this indicates that the soil is too wet or contains high amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Burpee Recommends: Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater; avoid over-fertilizing your seedlings; thin out seedlings to avoid overcrowding; make sure the plants are getting good air circulation; if you plant in containers, thoroughly wash them in soapy water and rinse in a ten per cent bleach solution after use.

Powdery Mildew: This fungus disease occurs on the top of the leaves in humid weather conditions. The leaves appear to have a whitish or greyish surface and may curl. Burpee Recommends: Avoid powdery mildew by providing good air circulation for the plants by good spacing and pruning. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.

Rust: A number of fungus diseases that causes rust colored spots on foliage and stalks. Burpee Recommends: Practice crop rotation. Remove infected plants. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.

Common Pest and Cultural Problems

Aphids: Greenish, red, black or peach colored sucking insects can spread disease as they feed on the undersides of leaves. They leave a sticky residue on foliage that attracts ants. Burpee Recommends: Introduce or attract natural predators into your garden such as lady beetles and wasps who feed on aphids. You can also wash them off with a strong spray, or use an insecticidal soap.

Cutworms: These insects cut off the seedlings at the soil level. Burpee Recommends: Place a paper cup collar (use a coffee cup with the bottom cut out) around the base of the plant. They are usually mostly a problem with young seedlings. You can also control by handpicking and controlling weeds, where they lay their eggs.

Cyclamen Mite: These mites damage plants by sucking juice from stems and leaves. They multiply rapidity in hot, dry weather. They can only be seen using a magnifying glass. Plants will look distorted and stunted, and may not bloom. Flowers will be distorted, streaked and blotched. Leaves can become cupped, curled, dwarfed and thickened. Burpee Recommends: Discard plants that are severely infested. Avoid working with infested plants. Keep plants watered in dry weather. For heavy infestations consult your Cooperative Extension Service for insecticide recommendations.

Leafminers: These insects bore just under the leaf surface causing irregular serpentine lines. The larvae are yellow cylindrical maggots and the adults are small black and yellow flies. They do not usually kill plants, but disfigure the foliage. Burpee Recommends: Remove affected foliage.

Spider Mites: These tiny spider-like pests are about the size of a grain of pepper. They may be red, black, brown or yellow. They suck on the plant juices removing chlorophyll and injecting toxins which cause white dots on the foliage. There is often webbing visible on the plant. They cause the foliage to turn yellow and become dry and stippled. They multiply quickly and thrive in dry conditions. Burpee Recommends: Spider mites may be controlled with a forceful spray every other day. Try hot pepper wax or insecticidal soap. Check with your Cooperative Extension Service for miticide recommendations.

FAQ

How do I condition my cut snapdragon flowers?  Bring a bucket of water with you to the garden when you cut your flowers and put them in the water as soon as you cut them. This will allow them to take up water through the freshly cut stem. Cut on an angle to give more surface area for the water to be taken up. Keep them out of the direct sun.

Do I need to stake my snapdragons? Taller varieties may benefit from staking, especially if they are in a windy area.

What will snapdragons attract to my garden? Snapdragons will attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to the garden.

Are snapdragons deer resistant? If you have a lot of deer and little food deer may eat the plants, however snapdragons are rarely damaged by deer.

Why didn’t my snapdragons sprout? Snapdragons need light to germinate, just press them into the seed starting soil do not bury them. Do not allow them to dry out, cover them with a clear plastic cover.

October 29, 2021

growing from seed seedlings, planting in the ground and care

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/en/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden Plants Published: Last editing:

Content

The history of the snapdragon, or antirrinum, goes back to the distant past: its origin is poetically described in ancient Greek myths.

The decorative quality of the snapdragon is beyond praise. It is represented by varieties of different heights and all kinds of colors: you can grow antirrinum as a border, as a solo plant, as well as in mixed plantings, combining with other garden crops.

In our article we will tell you about:

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Planting and caring for snapdragons

Read more about the cultivation of snapdragons below

Flowers Earth, but mostly in North America. The Russians call this plant "dogs", the British - "snapdragon" (biting dragon), the French - "cleft palate", and the Ukrainians - "mouths". From the Greek language, the name "antirrinum" is translated as "nose-like", "like a nose."

Ancient Greek myth tells about the first feat of Hercules, when he defeated the Nemean lion, famous for its ferocity and invulnerability. The goddess Flora gave Hercules a beautiful flower, which she had created in honor of his victory, which she called the “snapdragon”. Since then, it has become a tradition in Greece to give heroes a snapdragon. In culture, the snapdragon flower has existed for about five hundred years, and breeding work was started by German scientists in the 19th century, and today about 1000 varieties of snapdragon are grown in the gardens of the planet, and most interestingly, one single species served as the basis for this variety of forms and hybrids - Antirrhinum large (Antirrhinum majus).

Botanical description

The snapdragon plant is a semi-shrub or herbaceous plant with straight, branched green finely furrowed stems from 15 cm to one meter tall, forming pyramidal bushes. The upper leaves of the snapdragon are alternate, the lower ones are opposite, they are elongated-oval or lanceolate in shape, the color is from light green to dark green with red veins.

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The flowers are fragrant, rather large, irregular, two-lipped, simple or double, depending on the variety, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, they are painted in white, yellow, pink, pale fawn, all shades of red, but there are also two-color and even three-color varieties . The fruit is a two-celled multi-seeded box, in one gram from 5000 to 8000 seeds. Snapdragon bloom usually begins in June and ends with frost.

Most often perennial snapdragon in nature is grown in horticulture as an annual plant, but with good care and favorable conditions, cold-resistant snapdragon can successfully overwinter in the garden and bloom the next year more beautifully than before. In garden design, antirrinum is grown as a border plant, although snapdragons look great both in a flower bed and planted in groups against a green lawn. Often snapdragons are used to decorate balconies and terraces.

Florists are especially interested in ampelous forms of snapdragons, which can be grown in hanging structures to decorate terraces and galleries.

In the photo: Snapdragon blooming in the garden

Growing snapdragon from seeds

Sowing seedlings

Snapdragon is propagated by generative and vegetative methods. Snapdragon seeds retain the ability to germinate for several years. If you live in a warm climate, you can grow snapdragons from seeds by sowing them directly into the ground, and they will sprout in two and a half or three weeks, surviving even a slight night cold snap, which is common in spring, but in areas where it is warm without problems comes gradually, it is better to use the seedling method of growing snapdragons. How to grow snapdragons from seeds in seedlings? This process is neither complex nor labor intensive.

So, we sow the snapdragon: at the beginning of March we pour coarse-grained sand into bowls with a diameter of at least 10 cm with drainage holes, and on top of the sand - compost soil mixed with sand, compact it, level it, sprinkle it with water from a spray bottle and distribute it over its surface is also seeds mixed with sand, which are then covered on top with a thin layer of the same substrate, moistened with a finely dispersed spray gun and covered with glass sowing bowl.

Conditions for growing healthy asters

Every day we remove the condensate from the glass, let the crops breathe and, if necessary, moisten the soil from the sprayer. At a temperature of 23 ºC and moderate humidity of the substrate, sprouts will appear in a couple of weeks. As soon as this happens, move the bowl to a bright, non-sunny place so that they do not stretch out, and as soon as the emergence of seedlings becomes massive (in 3-4 days), remove the glass.

Pictured: Growing snapdragons from seeds

Care of seedlings

Seedlings will grow slowly at first, and your task during this period is to monitor the correct soil moisture by watering the soil in the morning in such a way that there is enough moisture, but not in excess, as this can lead to disease seedlings with a black leg. “Fallen” sprouts must be removed with tweezers, and the place where they grew should be powdered with crushed coal or sprinkled with a small amount of calcined and cooled river sand. After the appearance of a pair of real - not cotyledon - leaves, the seedlings dive into a container or box, arranging them so that they grow freely.

Seedlings can be transplanted into individual pots or, for example, three seedlings can be dived into larger pots.

Place the picked seedlings in a bright place, protecting them from direct sunlight, and begin to gradually accustom them to the environment and temperature in which they will find themselves after transplanting into open ground: open the window for a while during the day, but keep the seedlings out of drafts . The central shoot of each seedling after the development of 4-5 leaves must be pinched to enhance tillering, but if the side shoots are also growing too actively, pinch them too.

In the photo: Red snapdragon

Planting snapdragon

When to plant

At the end of May - beginning of June, grown, strengthened and hardened seedlings are planted in open ground. And do not be afraid of the last night cold snaps: your young "lion cubs" will survive them calmly. The site for growing snapdragons can be either sunny or slightly shaded, but be sure to be well-drained and protected from strong winds. The soil is required light and nutritious. The best soil for snapdragons is a mixture of sand, compost and peat in approximately equal proportions. The optimal soil pH for snapdragons is pH 6-8.

In the photo: Snapdragon in a flower bed

How to plant

Planting of snapdragon flowers is carried out according to the following scheme: tall varieties are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, medium-sized - at a distance of 30 cm, undersized - after 20 cm, dwarf - after 15 cm. As soon as the snapdragon takes root, it begins to grow very quickly and turn into a lush flowering bush. You should know that snapdragon planting is carried out in well-moistened soil.

Snapdragon care

Growing conditions

This plant is unpretentious and needs only what any garden flower needs: watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds and top dressing. You will have to water the plants only in dry times, when there is no rain, but not at night. The next day after watering or on the same day in the evening, it is advisable to loosen the ground and weed out the weeds. It is advisable to tie tall varieties of snapdragon to a support. Withered flowers are best cut off so that the plant does not expend energy on them.

If you want to keep the snapdragon flowering for a long time, do not let it set seeds, remove the flower head as soon as the last flowers have withered. You need to cut the peduncle under the lowest flower, then new arrows and new flowers will appear.

As soon as the plant takes root in the soil after planting, it must be fed with nitrophos and organic matter, the second feeding is carried out when the snapdragon begins to form buds, in which case a solution of urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate is used at the rate of one tablespoon of each ingredient per 10 liters of water.

In the photo: Pink flowers of antirrinum

Pests and diseases

Sometimes red spots of rust appear on the plant, snapdragon septoria, black leg, gray or root rot can affect. Sick specimens should be immediately removed and burned, and the soil in the place where they grew should be treated with an antifungal drug (fungicide).

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Among insect pests, scale insects, fly larvae, caterpillars and butterflies that lay eggs are dangerous. It is always easier to take preventive measures than to treat an already existing disease or expel insects that have settled in flowers, so follow the recommendations for plant care, remove diseased or pest-infested specimens in time, do not allow plants to grow too close to each other, observe moderation in moistening the site, watering the flowers under the root, and not over the leaves, and snapdragons will not be afraid of either disease or insects.

Pictured: Growing snapdragon

Post-flowering care

Snapdragon can bloom until the autumn frosts, but when a steady fall sets in, prune the snapdragon, if you are growing it as a perennial plant, short enough so that the rest of the stem rises above the ground 5-8 cm tall, and cover the area with peat with sawdust or dry foliage - mulch will help the plants survive the winter. If you are growing an annual snapdragon, then, in order to avoid self-seeding, during the entire flowering period, pick off faded flowers in a timely manner, and when all the flowers on the arrow have faded, cut the peduncle as low as possible. This must be done in order to prevent the seeds from ripening and waking up on the ground. When deep autumn comes, dig up the area and burn the remains of the plants to destroy the pests that have settled in them.

Pictured: Snapdragon flower

How and when to collect seeds

Most garden plants are harvested when they are fully mature. But snapdragon seeds need to be harvested in the phase of incomplete maturity, in order to then finish them in a dry room with good ventilation. The collection is carried out in a long paper bag, as for a baguette. They start collecting seeds when the fruits ripen on the lower part of the peduncle: the upper part of the peduncle, on which the fruits are still green, is cut and thrown away, and a paper bag is put on the rest of the flower arrow, tied with a thread below the fruit and the shoot is cut off below the dressing. The inverted bag is hung in a warm, dry room and they are waiting for the ripened seeds to spill out of the boxes into the bag. Then they are placed in cardboard boxes and stored at a temperature of +3-5 ºC, protected from possible moisture ingress.

In the photo: Antirrinum flower

Types and varieties of snapdragon

Today in professional floriculture there are several classifications of snapdragon, and the most common of them is according to plant height. On this basis, the varieties are divided into five groups:

Gigantic

Height from 90 to 130 cm. The central shoot of the plants of this group is much higher than the second order shoots, the third order shoots are absent. Varieties: Arthur - cherry color, height 90-95 cm, F1 red XL and F1 pink XL 110 cm high respectively in red and pink.

Tall

60 to 90 cm, grown for cutting or as a vertical accent in mixborders or groups. Lateral shoots are much lower than the central one. Snapdragon tall in the cut is up to a week or longer, the most fragrant varieties are yellow shades. Popular varieties: Anna Herman - soft pink snapdragon, Canary - bright yellow variety, a mixture of varieties Madama Butterfly - terry snapdragon of different shades and others.

In the photo: Yellow snapdragon

Tall or medium height

The representatives of the variety reach 40-60 cm in height, versatile varieties grown both as a flower bed decoration and for cutting. They have strong branching. A characteristic feature of the varieties of this group is also that the central shoot is slightly higher than the side shoots. Varieties: Golden Monarch - yellow, Ruby - bright pink, Lipstick silver - pinkish-white.

Low

25 to 40 cm tall, grown as a flower bed or border flower. These varieties have many flowering shoots of the second and third order, while the main shoot is at the same level or slightly lower than the shoots of the first order. Varieties: Hobbit, Tip-top, Lampion ampelous hybrid.

In the photo: White snapdragon

Dwarf

15-20 cm high, flowers for borders, carpet flower beds, rock gardens and flower gardens. They are also grown as potted plants. These varieties are distinguished by strong branching up to shoots of the third and fourth order, the main shoot is usually lower or at the level of shoots of the second order. Varieties: Sakura Blossom is a pinkish-white variety with a spot, Candy Showers is an ampelous snapdragon.

In addition to this classification, there is no less popular classification by Sanderson and Martin for year-round cut varieties, but it is of interest only to those for whom the cultivation of snapdragons is not a pleasure and not an aesthetic need, but a means of enrichment.

Literature

  1. Read related topics on Wikipedia
  2. Peculiarities and other plants of the Plantain family
  3. List of all species on The Plant List
  4. More information on World Flora Online


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growing from seeds, planting and care, species and varieties

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), which is also called antirrinum, is directly related to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the plantain family. This genus unites about 50 species of perennial plants, including climbers. In the wild, these plants can be found in warm climate zones, and most species are found in North America. In Russia, these flowers are called "dogs", in England "snapdragon" (biting dragon), in France "cleft palate", and in Ukraine "mouths". "Antirrinum" in Greek means "nose-like", "like a nose". The ancient Greek myth that tells about Hercules, or rather, about his first feat, tells how he defeated the Nemean lion, whose ferocity everyone knew. Hercules, in honor of the victory, was given a gift by the goddess Flora - it was a lovely flower called "snapdragon". Since that time, the Greeks had a tradition to give the heroes a snapdragon. This plant has been cultivated for about five hundred years, and German experts took up its selection only in 19century. During this time, they were able to create about 1 thousand varieties of snapdragons, while it is of interest that only 1 species was used to create various varieties, namely, antirrhinum large (Antirrhinum majus).

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