What snapdragon seedlings look like. Growing snapdragons from seeds, transplanting seedlings into open ground. Planting at home

If you want to plant it in the garden and get early, long-lasting flowering, then you should sow the seeds in mid-late March. The deadline is early April.

Sowing

The seeds of snapdragon are small. And they need to be sown almost on the surface of moist, loose soil, lightly sprinkled with soil on top. The seeds begin to germinate after 10...12 days at room temperature 20...23oC. Since seeds take a long time to germinate, during this time it is necessary to ensure constant soil moisture. It should not be dry or over-moistened.

Like most flower crops, small snapdragon seedlings grow slowly. They should be watered carefully. When true leaves grow, the seedlings are fed with seedling fertilizer in a low concentration.

Grown seedlings dive when 3...4 leaves appear. Snapdragon seedlings are planted in flower beds at the end of May. A week before planting, the flowers are hardened off and introduced to cool conditions. In general, there is nothing overly complicated about growing snapdragon seedlings.

Planting in flower beds

Snapdragon has different varieties with different plant heights, from 20...25 cm to more than 70 cm. Therefore, when planting seedlings in the garden, this nuance must be taken into account so that the feeding area is sufficient for long-term flowering. Plants are planted from 12...15 cm to 30...40 cm from each other. Flowers will grow well in a sunny place, in loose, nutritious, non-acidic soil.

During dry times in summer, snapdragons need abundant watering. And weeding, loosening and fertilizing will contribute to prolonged flowering.

Snapdragon flowers bloom from bottom to top, remaining decorative for almost two weeks. They stand well when cut. Low-growing varieties look good in the foreground in flower beds, on balconies, and in flowerpots. You can collect seeds for yourself in the fall. You just can’t get a pure variety anymore. The flowers are cross-pollinated and it is possible to get your own unique snapdragon colors.

In terms of decorative qualities, flowering until autumn frosts, snapdragons are not inferior to many annuals, they will decorate any flower garden and become a highlight in the garden.

Snapdragon cannot be called an exquisite or sophisticated garden plant; other epithets are suitable to describe it - bright, joyful, striking in its splendor and variety of colors. In the flowerbed, the summer flower claims the main role; more modest neighbors are suitable as partners, highlighting its striking beauty.

Due to the fact that the plant has been in cultivation for a very long time, is grown everywhere and is capable of propagating by self-sowing, many classify “dogs” as too simple country flowers, not even suspecting how far modern selection has come. Looking at new varieties and hybrids of snapdragon, you never tire of being amazed by the bizarrely shaped inflorescences, amazing shades and special life-affirming principle that this flower possesses.

Nature generously splashed colors on this flowerbed

Anachronism or floral classic?

Antirrinum is a plant of southern origin, most of its species (about 50 in total) grow in Asia, Southern Europe, and America. According to the botanical characteristics, it is a herbaceous perennial of the Plantain family; some varieties become woody over time and form a subshrub.

Despite its diversity, only one species has taken root in culture and provided genetic material for selection - A. large. Due to its ability to produce full-fledged seeds in the first year, snapdragon is grown as an annual plant, although it can be grown as a biennial plant or perennial.

During the growing season it forms a pyramidal bush consisting of straight branched stems. The height depends on the variety and varies in the range of 15–100 cm. The leaves are dark green, rounded in young shoots, and elongated oval in adults.

The main distinguishing feature of snapdragon flowers is the bizarre two-lipped shape, which, in addition to the antirrhinum, can be observed in clasp, oregano, salvia, and orchids. The corollas, similar to the slightly open mouth of an animal, are collected in lush brushes. One plant, in addition to the main peduncle, expels several lateral ones, up to the fourth order. Flowers in a raceme bloom gradually, upward; each of them takes 10–12 days from opening to pollination. These features provide snapdragon bushes with a continuous flowering period from the beginning of summer until frost.

The color of all the colors of the rainbow, bright, in many varieties variegated, repels connoisseurs of noble shades - rich, deep, one tone. They consider the flower somewhat outdated, although this can be argued. In correctly arranged flower arrangements, the plant looks quite organic, acting as a key accent.

This is interesting! The tubular flower, framed by lips, is not easy to pollinate - a difficult task only bumblebees can do. It is pollination that serves as a signal for the corolla to wilt and the seeds to ripen - which is why antirrhinum blooms for so long.

Types and varieties of antirrinum

Snapdragon has hundreds of varieties of domestic and foreign selection. Classification is carried out according to the height of the bush and ripening time.

Tall

The group includes varieties traditionally cultivated for cutting. The main peduncle starts from 65–70 cm; some gardeners separately distinguish gigantic antirrinums (90–100 cm). A distinctive feature is a powerful central shoot and several lateral shoots, much smaller in size. The brushes are large, multi-flowered, medium and late varieties, blooming from the second half of June. The following tall hybrids are popular among gardeners.

• Snapdragon from the Madame Butterfly series is a giant with lush double inflorescences, the appearance of which resembles an azalea. The height of the compact bush is up to 75 cm, the scale of shades ranges from pure white to dark burgundy. Typically sold in a mixture of colors.
• Another popular series is the American hybrids Rocket F1. Bushes grow up to a meter high. The inflorescences are multi-flowered, the colors are traditional red, purple, pink and unusual - greenish-yellow, golden-orange, lavender.

Double inflorescences of Madama Butterfly

Semi-high

This is a group of universal Antirrhinum grandiflora. Compact pyramidal bushes 40–60 cm high are suitable for cutting and creating flower arrangements.

• The legendary Dutch Liberty Classic series. Among the attractive characteristics are excellent shoot habit, uniform flowering, and rich color.
• The La Bella intermediate group is popular among gardeners. Strong plants with excellent lateral branching produce a large number of double flowers - white, yellow, purple, red and white.
• The Black Prince variety is distinguished by its restrained and noble beauty. Velvety burgundy inflorescences spike against the background of dark green foliage. Their deep, rich color makes them ideal as the centerpiece of a flower bed.

Bronze shades of the Liberty Classic series

The photo shows the Black Prince variety

Low-growing and ampelous

A feature of low-growing varieties (25–40 cm) is the formation of a branched hemispherical bush without a pronounced central shoot. The inflorescences, although smaller in size than those of the cutting groups, benefit from quantity.

• Antirrinum Bronze Dragon got its name because of the color of the foliage - dark green with a bronze tint. The bushes are small - up to 20–25 cm, and are strewn with purple-white clusters of flowers all summer.
• As a container crop, gardeners like to plant the late variety Crimson Velvet with medium-sized dark red inflorescences.
• An unusual variety of snapdragon is the ampelous variety Lampion, which forms drooping shoots up to a meter long.

In the foreground is the ampelous form of the antirrhinum.

Dwarf

The group of dwarf varieties of snapdragon is represented by highly branching bushes up to 20 cm high with small double flowers. Examples of series and hybrids.

• The Bels series of Dutch producers are strong plants with good basal branching and 8 shades, including a mix. The flower shape is open, used for growing in pots.
• The early Montego group is also suitable for container plantings; flowers planted along the edge of the flower bed form an elegant border. The color is clean, rich, there are two-color varieties - yellow-orange, burgundy and white.
• Dwarf hybrids Twinnie F1, Happy F1, Floral are in demand.

Bright colors of hybrids of the Happy F1 group

The many faces of antirrinum in garden design

Snapdragon is such a colorful crop that amateur gardeners often have the question of what flowers to combine it with so that the flowerbed does not look flashy. It all depends on personal preferences and the style in which the garden is decorated.

• Mixtures of colors are suitable for mixborders and flower beds in a natural (rustic) style. They can be combined with both bright (zinnia, dahlias) and more modest plants (cosmos, lobularia).
• For compositions in subdued colors, it is better to use a plain antirrinum with a rich burgundy, white, or lavender color.
• Group plantings and tapeworms will perfectly bloom the greenery of the lawn, a garden area with conifers or decorative deciduous perennials.
• Planting dwarf and ampelous forms of snapdragons in closed ground (containers, flowerpots) will become a real decoration of the yard, balcony, gazebo.

The natural environment for snapdragons is an elegant flower bed, where it dominates

Features of growing at home

Snapdragon is a small-seeded crop; the main difficulty in growing it is timely planting and proper care of the sprouts at the initial stage of the growing season. Having grown stronger, the plants have enviable vitality and growth energy, so caring for them does not present any special problems.

Location, soil

When choosing a place for snapdragons in the garden, give preference to sunny places; it is advisable to protect the planting of tall varieties from gusts of wind and drafts. The shadow has a depressing effect on culture. The bush, of course, will not die, but it will bloom less, less often and will not reach its full potential.

The same can be said about the soil. Snapdragon loves loose, nutritious, drainable soil, so if, when planting, you fertilize it with humus, fluff it with peat and regularly loosen it when caring, the grateful plant will respond a hundredfold.

The annual plant is propagated by seeds, although some fans propagate their favorite varieties by cuttings.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

The main charm of snapdragon is its early and long-lasting flowering, but this is only possible when grown through seedlings. Seeds sown immediately in open ground will begin to germinate when stable warm weather sets in, i.e. not earlier than the end of April, but will bloom in the second half of summer; accordingly, the plant will not have time to fully realize its potential.

The optimal sowing time is late February - early March. The soil substrate you need is light, consisting of turf soil, humus and baking powder (peat, vermiculite). Before planting, it is advisable to etch it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. There are several sowing options.

• Seeds, like petunia and lobelia, are sown on the surface of the soil, lightly sprinkled with vermiculite and sand, and moistened with a spray bottle.
• A layer of snow is placed on top of the prepared soil mixture, and seeds are sown on it. When snow melts, it will draw small grains into the soil.
• Place a damp paper napkin with seeds on a small layer of soil. After pecking, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. Sprinkling is done several times as the seedlings grow.

After sowing, the container is covered with glass or polyethylene and placed in a warm, bright place. The interval from sowing to germination is approximately 2 weeks. When grown for seedlings, snapdragons need picking, and this is the next stage of work.

Advice! After sowing, ventilate the container with the seeds and periodically moisten the substrate, but do not allow it to become soaked. The planting container should be opened once a day for 10–15 minutes. Keep the greenhouse for some time after the seedlings appear, until they get stronger.

Picking seedlings

Snapdragon seedlings of the low-growing and intermediate groups grown from seeds are pricked once, and tall-growing ones - twice. Picking is carried out after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, replanting not one sprout at a time, but in small groups so that the fragile seedlings support each other. Where can you plant seedlings?

• In a larger container, planting at a distance of 5–6 cm, in separate plastic cups.
• In cassettes for growing, followed by transplantation into peat pots.
• In a diaper. Place a little soil and a seedling on a piece of film and roll it into a roll with an open bottom. Rolls with seedlings are placed on a moist substrate.
• Growing snapdragons in peat tablets has proven itself. You can either pick seedlings in them or immediately sow seeds.

After the transplanted plants begin to grow, they begin to be fed. For these purposes, a weak solution (1 g/l) of complex fertilizer, for example, ammophoska, nitrophoska, is suitable.

Advice! Many people are interested in whether it is necessary to pinch the snapdragon. Yes, for better branching, after 5–6 pairs of leaves appear, the central shoot is cut off above 3–4 pairs. The resulting cutting with two internodes is an excellent cutting that is easy to root by simply sticking it into the soil.

Landing at a permanent place

When the time comes to plant snapdragons outdoors, you will have strong, hardened seedlings, possibly with buds.

Important! To get early abundant flowering, it is advisable to illuminate the seedlings with fluorescent lamps (up to 14–15 hours in total). Lack of light can lead to stretching; this may be the reason why snapdragons do not bloom profusely, but only throw out a few meager clusters.

In the European part of Russia, snapdragons are planted in open ground at the end of May or early June, adhering to the following planting scheme:

• high – after 40–50 cm;
• intermediate – 30 cm;
• short – 20 cm;
• dwarf – 10–15 cm.

Care

Snapdragon requires the most basic care - weeding, regular loosening to enrich the roots with oxygen and retain moisture, and watering. Before flowering, the annual plant is fed several times with complex fertilizers. Tall hybrids need to be tied to a support. To prolong flowering, it is recommended to remove faded brushes, thereby provoking the growth of new lateral flower stalks.

Diseases and pests

When plantings are thickened, waterlogged, or watered with cold water, snapdragons are susceptible to fungal diseases and pest attacks. Most often, the plant is affected by blackleg (in the seedling phase) and rust. To combat infections, in addition to agrotechnical measures, it is recommended to use antifungal drugs (Fitosporin) and promptly remove diseased bushes. An effective method of controlling aphids, mites, and thrips is spraying with insecticides.

Sowing seeds for seedlings:

Antirrinum or snapdragon is a perennial, annual or semi-shrub herbaceous ornamental flowering plant, native to the warm countries of the Mediterranean. In nature, the flower also grows in North America and Europe. The snapdragon plant is also very popular among gardeners. And this is understandable, because the amazing colors of the buds, bizarre flower shapes and long-lasting flowering can decorate any part of the garden throughout the season.

Snapdragon – description, photo

The antirrhinum flower is distinguished by green, straight, finely grooved, large stems, the height of which can be from 15 to 100 cm. The plant has opposite lower leaves and oval or lanceolate elongated upper leaves. By the beginning of summer, racemose inflorescences with numerous large, two-lipped flowers form on the stem. They have an irregular shape and can be simple or terry. The color of the flowers can be pink, red, dark brown, orange, yellow, white. There are varieties with flowers painted in two or three colors at once. Snapdragon blooms from the beginning of summer until the onset of autumn frosts.

In nature, the snapdragon flower is a perennial, however, in regions with cold winters the plant is grown as an annual. Under favorable conditions and good care, antirrhinum can be grown in the garden as a perennial plant.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground

In regions with warm climates, antirrinum can be grown as a perennial by planting the seeds directly in the flowerbed. Sowing takes place in early spring or mid to late April. It all depends on the weather in your area. Shoots will appear in about three weeks and can survive even a slight cold snap.

Seeds are planted on a bed prepared in advance in a nesting manner, sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, watered from a watering can with a shower attachment and covered with film. The crops are ventilated daily, and the soil is moistened as necessary. As soon as the seedlings appear, the film is removed on warm days. It is better to leave the shelter at night.

Slightly grown seedlings will need to be thinned out, removing the weakest plants. In order not to damage the roots of closely growing bushes, it is better not to pull out unnecessary seedlings, but to pinch them off. When caring for them, watering should be regular, but not frequent. Seedlings are sensitive to soil moisture, and if it is over-moistened, young plants may develop blackleg disease. It is recommended to water in the early morning.

Growing antirrinum (snapdragon) seedlings

With the seedling method of growing annuals, seeds should be sown in early March. For this purpose, seedling containers with drainage holes are prepared. They can be filled with soil mixture from the store or you can prepare it yourself from compost soil and sand.

Sowing procedure:

Features of caring for snapdragon seedlings

The air temperature for seedling growth should be +20…+23 degrees. They are moistened in a timely manner, and after two true leaves appear, they are placed in disposable cups or other containers. You can use spacious pots by planting three bushes in them at once.

When transplanting seedlings, you can use a special spatula or a simple fork, with which the plants are taken out along with a lump of earth and carefully placed in a pot filled with earth. Antirrinums do not tolerate transplantation well, so everything must be done so as not to damage the roots. The planted plants are carefully watered.

Grow pruned seedlings in a well-lit place, otherwise, with a lack of light, the stems will begin to stretch. When watering the bushes, you should keep in mind that snapdragons do not like waterlogged soil. Constantly wet soil can lead to rotting of the roots and the appearance of a disease such as “blackleg”. However, you cannot overdry the soil.

To stimulate the growth of side shoots of seedlings 10 cm high, pinch the top. At this time they should have 4 or 5 true leaves. After this procedure, the snapdragon will turn into a beautiful, lush bush. If the regrown side shoots begin to grow too actively, they can also be pinched.

About two to three weeks before planting antirrinum in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden. On warm days it is placed in the garden or on an open balcony. On the first day, plants are hardened for one hour. Every day the time spent by seedlings in the fresh air increases. In the last days before planting, the seedlings should be outside for 24 hours.

Planting snapdragons in open ground

For the antirrinum, a sunny or slightly shaded area is selected, which should be protected from strong winds.

When to plant snapdragons?

Hardened and grown seedlings can be planted in a flower bed in the garden at the end of May or beginning of June. The weather should be warm, however, the plants can survive small, short-term night frosts.

How to plant snapdragons?

The soil for antirrinum should be well-drained, nutritious and light. It is best if it consists of compost, sand and peat (1:1:1).

For each bush, a separate planting hole is made, the distance between which depends on the height of the plant:

1. Dwarf antirrinums are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
2. There should be a gap of 20 cm between low-growing specimens.
3. Tall snapdragon bushes are planted at a distance of 40 or 50 cm from each other. Immediately during planting, it is recommended to install supports near the tall specimens, to which the grown plants will need to be tied.

After planting, the seedlings must be watered.

Snapdragon - care

Snapdragon is an unpretentious plant that does not require much attention during the season. The bushes will bloom magnificently and for a long time if you follow simple recommendations for caring for them:

1. In dry and hot weather, plants require watering. This should be done early in the morning. It is not recommended to water snapdragons at night. If it rains, there is no need to water the flowers.
2. After rain or watering, it is recommended to remove weeds and loosen the soil around the plantings approximately once a week. This procedure will prevent the formation of a crust on the soil, and air will flow to the roots of the plants.
3. After about two weeks, when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are fed with universal fertilizers for flowering plants.
4. During budding, it is recommended to feed the bushes with a solution prepared from a mixture of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of each fertilizer. The mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.
5. Wilted flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form more quickly.
6. After flowering, fruits begin to form and ripen on the peduncle. If you do not need the seeds, then cut off the faded peduncle under the lowest flower. In this case, after some time, new arrows will appear on the bush and begin to grow, which will soon bloom.
7. In regions with not very cold winters, where snapdragon is grown as a perennial plant, in the fall, with the onset of cold days, you need to cut off the plant's stem. The remainder of the stem should have a height of 5 to 8 cm. After this, the bushes are covered with dry leaves or peat mixed with sawdust.

Pests and diseases of snapdragon

By following all the rules for caring for antirrinum, the plants will not be afraid of any diseases or pests. Preventive measures include:

1. Moderate moisture of the area.
2. Planting bushes at a distance from each other from 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragon).
3. Specimens affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
4. You should water the bushes only at the roots so that water does not get on the leaves.

If pests have settled on the plants, the bushes are treated with insecticidal preparations. Among the pests that are dangerous for snapdragons are egg-laying caterpillars and butterflies, fly larvae, and scale insects.

Among the diseases, the flower can be affected by gray or root rot, black leg and septoria. All these diseases cannot be cured and they quickly spread to other plants. Therefore, diseased bushes are pulled out and burned. The soil on which they grew must be shed with fungicidal antifungal drugs.

The profusely blooming beautiful plant antirrhinum (snapdragon) will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers until late autumn. Its low-growing varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorated with a balcony or loggia.

INTRODUCTION TO ANTIRRINUM

Taxonomy

Snapdragon is a flower with a funny name, familiar from childhood. Among professionals, its botanical name is often used - Antirrhinum, or more accurately - Antirrhinum majus. This is one of 50 species of the genus Antirrinum of the Plantain family; decorative varieties of the crop have been created on its basis. In nature, snapdragon is a herbaceous perennial that grows in the countries of the Mediterranean coast. In our country, its rhizome cannot overwinter in frozen soil, so annual cultivation of snapdragons from seeds is simply a necessary procedure if you want to have these wonderful flowers in the garden or on the balcony.

Titles

The scientific word “antirrhinum” is translated from Greek as “resembling a nose” (“anti” - similar, “rhinos” - nose). And the flower received its usual name “snapdragon” for its property, when pressed on the “throat,” to open its “mouth”, like the mouth of a lion. In English-speaking countries it is known as the “biting dragon” (snapdragon), and in France as the “mouth of the wolf” (gueule de loup). Our grandmothers are more familiar with antirrinum under the affectionate name “dogs”. Interestingly, according to legend, it owes its appearance to the goddess Flora, who created it after the victory of Hercules over the lion.

Description

The height of the branched pyramidal bush, lignifying at the bottom, varies from 30 to 70 cm (in varieties from 15 to 110 cm). 2-meter specimens are very rarely found in nature. The leaves are lanceolate, medium-sized, small at the top. The flowers are bisexual, from 3 to 4.5 cm (up to 7 cm in varieties), irregularly shaped, two-lipped, with a closed long corolla, they are collected in large racemose inflorescences. Only bees and bumblebees can get to the treasured nectar, capable of using their body weight to slightly open the lower lip of the flower and penetrate into the “pharynx”. After this, the flower closes its lips over them, leaving pollen on the insects’ bodies, thus taking care of the appearance of its “offspring” (small, numerous seeds).

Snapdragon is traditionally grown in private households and used in urban landscaping of parks, squares, and streets. Why is he so good?

5 REASONS TO PLANT ANTIRRHINUM IN THE GARDEN

1. A huge variety of varieties for every taste - both in size, color, and degree of terry.
2. Long and abundant flowering: 3-4 months without interruption.
3. Cold resistance - seedlings and hardened seedlings can withstand short-term frosts on the soil down to -4 ⁰C, and bloom even in October.
4. The ability to save queen cells from varieties you especially like. Snapdragon, according to its biological characteristics, is a perennial plant, like petunia , ageratum , verbena and many others, traditionally used as annual flowers and crops.
5. Abundant self-seeding - this property comes in very handy!

HOW TO CHOOSE A VARIETY?

One of the most important characteristics of snapdragon, in addition to the color and size of the flowers, is the height of its bush. Tall plants (from 75 to 140 cm) are grown mainly for cutting in specialized nurseries. For amateur flower growers, two other groups of antirrinums are of much greater interest: medium-sized (from 40 to 70 cm) and low-growing (from 15 to 35 cm) varieties of snapdragons. The last group also includes the newest varieties of ampelous antirrinums, grown in hanging flowerpots or floor containers - solo or as part of compositions with other flowers. So, choose varieties for planting based on their further use - for cutting, in a flower garden or in pots.

Pay attention to the flowering time of the variety. Early, middle and late varieties of antirrinum bloom with a difference of at least 10 days. Usually the first flowers appear 70-80 days after germination. Having made your choice, you can begin sowing snapdragons.

GROWING Snapdragon FROM SEEDS

The seedling method is the best option for residents of regions with long winters and cold springs. As a substrate for sowing, you can use light garden soil with the addition of sand and peat; the ideal soil acidity (pH) is not higher than 6.5, otherwise you will face the problem of iron deficiency and, as a result, chlorosis of the leaves of the snapdragon.

When to plant snapdragon seedlings?

Calculate the timing based on the fact that the age of the seedlings at the time of planting in open ground should be about 6-8 weeks. For the middle zone, sowing in mid-March would be acceptable if seedlings are planned to be planted in open ground in mid-May.

Sowing

So, in sifted and thermally treated soil, sow the seeds on a moistened surface along the intended grooves. Do not plant deeply, just sprinkle lightly with dry, clean sand or vermiculite; you can even spread the seeds over the surface and lightly press them into the soil. Then spray them with a spray bottle. Cover the container with the crops with film or glass/plastic. Seeds germinate in light at +20-22⁰C for 5-7 days, but sometimes the wait stretches to 2 weeks. Antirrhinum seeds are very small and are often sold in granules. During germination, the granule shell should remain moist, but not wet or dry.

Picking

When the first true leaf appears, plant it in small pots or cassettes (up to 7 cm in diameter). Next, snapdragon seedlings should be kept in a bright room at a temperature during the day from +17 to +22⁰C, and at night about +16⁰C. The maximum daily temperature limit is +24⁰C, otherwise the plants will begin to stretch.

Seedling care

A week after picking, the snapdragon can be fed for the first time with ready-made complete mineral fertilizer (Solution, Crystallon, Fertika, etc.), or you can mix 1 tbsp. urea, superphosphate and any potassium fertilizer, for example, potassium sulfate, and dilute it all in 10 liters of water. In the future, fertilizing irrigation can be carried out every week, reducing the concentration by half.

About 1 week before planting in the ground (and this is usually done at the end of April), hardening of the seedlings begins. To do this, lower the daily temperature, ventilate the plants more often and reduce watering.

Growing from seeds by direct sowing into the ground

Some amateur gardeners prefer to sow snapdragons directly into open ground; this can be done when the daytime air temperature is around +10-12⁰C. Growing from seeds in this way certainly has the right to exist, although with it you will be able to admire the first flowering of antirrinum no earlier than July, or even August.

Growing snapdragons from seeds is also carried out in late autumn or early winter in ridges prepared in advance, along frozen grooves. The depth of the crops is up to 1 cm; they are sprinkled with dry humus or peat on top; they can be additionally mulched with leaf litter and/or covering film. Plants grown using winter sowing bloom earlier than others and have enviable health.

Features of growing from seeds of ampelous antirrinum

The main difference in this case will be the ban on pinching seedlings, which is recommended for ordinary varieties after planting in the ground. Thanks to pinching, such plants bush better, bloom longer and do not stretch. For hanging plants, on the contrary, elongated shoots that effectively hang over the edge of the pot are important. Pinching will delay their flowering.

WHERE TO PLANT ANTIRRHINUM

Snapdragon grows well in a sunny, windless location, but can tolerate partial shade during the day. The soil for it should be moderately loose and fertile; loam will be the best. When planting, you need to ensure good drainage or choose a place where water does not stagnate during rains and watering.

Snapdragon: CARE DURING THE SUMMER

1 week after planting the seedlings in a permanent place, you need to carry out the first fertilizing. The key nutrients for snapdragons are nitrogen, calcium and magnesium, and according to some sources also boron. Calcium is needed for the special resistance of the plant, i.e. the strength of its stems, and magnesium is responsible for healthy and elastic leaves. Fertilizer application rates are up to 10 g/m², frequency – every 7-10 days until the start of flowering.

Withered inflorescences do not add elegance to the flower garden, and also reduce flowering, so it is better to remove them in a timely manner.

In May and September, snapdragons do not need frequent watering (if there is sufficient rainfall); in other months, on average, water once or twice a week, soaking the soil to a depth of at least 20 cm. Plants in containers are watered more often. This should be done at the root, preferably without wetting the foliage, in order to avoid troubles in the form of fungal diseases.

We must not forget about weeding and loosening the soil around the antirrinum. It is better to tie tall plants to a support so that they are not broken by the wind. And if the summer is not very hot, flowering will last a long time. In the southern regions, plants often suffer from strong sun and drought, so their growing season is short.

DISEASES AND PESTS

One of the most common diseases of snapdragons is rust, caused by a rust fungus. Preventive measures include root watering of plants and uncrowded plantings and, as a result, their good ventilation. In addition, make it a rule when planting in open ground to treat all seedlings with any stimulant (Zircon, Epin, HB-101, etc.) to increase plant immunity. Infected plants are removed, and the remaining ones are treated with a suitable fungicide (Maxim, Topaz, etc.), and the concentration of the drug can be increased 1.5 times.

Snapdragons are also affected by downy mildew, fusarium wilt, and blackleg (at the seedling stage). Of the pests, significant damage can be caused by caterpillars, aphids, thrips and others, not at the growth stage (they are not attracted to foliage!), but at the beginning of flowering. Here we can only advise you to regularly check the plantings, preferably at least once every 3 days, in order to have time to take measures to destroy pests.

HOW TO COLLECT Snapdragon SEEDS

Seed ripening occurs on the same plant at different times. This is due to the fact that the flowers on the cluster bloom starting from the lower buds, and the seed pods ripen in the same order. When they acquire a yellow-brown color, collect the lower 2/3 of the inflorescences and carefully remove the seeds, which remain viable for 4 years. Remember that seed material can only be collected from varieties, and not from hybrids. But even in this case, one important condition must be observed. Within a radius of at least 100 meters, and preferably more, only one variety of antirrinum should grow. Otherwise, cross-pollination will occur and the seeds will not inherit varietal qualities.

Snapdragon Cuttings

If you grew a snapdragon flower from stunningly beautiful seeds, but did not have time to collect the seeds from it (or it was a hybrid labeled F1), then you can save the mother plant until next spring. How? As easy as pie! In September, dig up a bush you like in the garden, plant it in a suitable pot, cut off all the thin branches and wilted inflorescences and place it in a cool place, for example, on a closed loggia or veranda), not forgetting to water it occasionally, BUT! without fanaticism! The optimal temperature for keeping snapdragons in such conditions is not lower than +5⁰C.

In January or February, bring the mother plant into a warm, bright room, cut it to a height of 7-10 cm and wait for young shoots to appear. They must be cut or torn off at the heel; each cutting must have at least 2 pairs of leaves. The lower leaf blades must be completely removed, and the upper ones must be cut in half.

Dip sections of cuttings into Kornevin powder or simply into crushed tablets of activated carbon. Plant the prepared cuttings in a light sterile substrate consisting of peat and sand; for better moisture retention, you can add a little chopped sphagnum. Set up a mini-greenhouse by covering the container with cuttings with a transparent cap or lid.

Rooting occurs within 2-3 weeks with daily spraying and ventilation, and bottom heating will help speed up the process. After another couple of weeks (when young growth appears) it will be possible to transplant the plants into separate containers. By the end of May, the rooted cuttings will be ready for planting in open ground. The mother plant can also be planted in a flower garden, where it will bloom first.

Snapdragon - PERENNIAL?!

In our latitudes it is still a juvenile. You can try to leave it in the open ground for the winter, but success is only possible with sufficiently reliable shelter and a relatively mild snowy winter. In autumn, antirrinum bushes are cut to a stump (to a height of 8-10 cm), mounded with compost or humus, covered with spruce branches, or leaf litter is raked. In early spring, the hillock is removed, and the sprouts that appear are planted around the garden or left in their old place. Such plants bloom later than those grown from seeds through seedlings.

On video: beautiful antirrinum

EFFECTIVE CUT

Snapdragon is a flower that is especially attractive in bouquets. The inflorescences can be cut off already at the stage of dissolution of the first bud, because the rest will calmly bloom in the vase. Antirrinum flowers stay fresh in water for up to 2 weeks.

On video: using snapdragons in a flower garden with coniferous plants

USE IN THE GARDEN

Finding a place in the garden for antirrinum will not be difficult; it will be appropriate in almost any case. Bright snapdragon flowers will decorate the front flower bed; pastel-colored varieties are better suited for a natural-style garden. Plant dwarf and low-growing plants along the edge of the path or in the foreground of the flower bed, and medium-sized and tall antirrinums in a separate group or in mixed flower beds (in the center or in the background).
For balconies, patios, and terraces, ampelous varieties planted in flowerpots or other containers are suitable.

In the video: snapdragon (antirrinum) terry Twinnie F1