Snapdragon, or antirrinum, is a flowering herbaceous plant in the Psyllium family. It is also known under popular names: Russians call flowers “dogs”, Ukrainians call them “mouths,” for the French they mean “cleft palate”, and for the English they call it “biting dragon”. Among flower growers, snapdragon is one of the favorite plants for decorating balconies, terraces, rock gardens, flower beds and borders. In order for the plant to please with bright flowering until late autumn, it is necessary to properly take care of it from the stage of planting seeds.
When to plant snapdragon on seedlings
Cultivation of snapdragons from seeds is possible in two ways: planting on seedlings and sowing in open ground. According to some sources, it is possible to place planting material directly in open ground not only in spring, but also in late autumn. But in both cases, to achieve early flowering plants will not work.
Snapdragon has a long vegetative period, that is, development from seedling to the appearance of the first flowers. It is 100 days. Growing a flower through seedlings is the best way to get early flowering.
When choosing a planting date, the climatic characteristics of the planting region should be taken into account. The optimal period from sowing seeds to planting seedlings in open ground is 50-60 days. It is recommended to plant seedlings on the territory of the site after the return frost has left. Based on this, in regions with a warm climate, seeds can be sown for seedlings from the beginning of February. In more severe climatic conditions from late spring, sowing should be postponed to March or April.
The lunar calendar will help to more accurately determine when to plant snapdragon when growing from seeds.
Good lunar seeding dates 2019
| Month | Auspicious days | Bad days |
| February | 21-25 | - |
| March | 12-17, 19, 20 | 6, 7, 21 |
| April | 6-8, 11-13, 15-17, 29, 30 | 5, 19 |
If for some reason it is not possible to sow the seeds on favorable days according to the lunar calendar, then it is necessary to take into account the periods of the new moon and the full moon. At this time, planting flower crops is undesirable.
Popular types and varieties with photos
Snapdragon is a perennial plant, but due to climatic features in many regions, it is grown as an annual. Over the past 200 years, breeders have bred about 50 species and over 1,000 varieties of this crop.
There are different species classifications: by type of bud structure, flowering period, height, color. But the classification by the height of the plant is considered the most popular, it includes 5 groups:
- dwarf
- low
- medium-sized
- high
- gigantic.
Dwarf
Varieties of this group are represented by small plants with a height of 15-20 cm. They are used to decorate borders, carpet flower beds, flower beds, rock gardens, and they are also conveniently grown in pots. The most common varieties are:
- Candy Showers;
- Sakura color;
- Magic carpet;
- Sunbeam.
Low
The height of the plants varies from 25 to 40 cm. This type of snapdragon often adorns flower beds, borders, hanging baskets, balcony boxes and containers. Low grades include:
- Lampion;
- Tom Tamb;
- Kimozu;
- The hobbit
- Bell ringing;
- Wundertepich.
Medium
The snapdragon of medium-sized varieties is not very prone to branching and has a compact shape. Plants grow to 70 cm. They look bright on flower beds and flower beds. Flowers are perfect for bunch cuts. Among the varieties the most popular are:
- Scarlet Monarch;
- Lipstick Silver;
- Rosella;
- Bizari F1;
- Apricot umbrella;
- Day and night.
High
Such varieties are also called cut. They look beautiful in vases and retain their freshness from 7 to 14 days. Flowers are used to decorate mixborders, group compositions. Plant height reaches 90 cm. The group of high varieties includes:
- Diamond Rose;
- California;
- Alaska;
- White bouquet;
- Anna Herman;
- Madame Butterfly.
Gigantic
Plants of gigantic or giant varieties reach a height of 130 cm. They can be used to decorate the garden as a "natural curtain" to hide a sloppy fence or wall. They are good background plants in group plantings. There are such varieties:
- Arthur;
- F1 Red XL;
- Roman holiday;
- F1 Pink XL;
- University of California
How to plant snapdragon on seedlings
The initial step is to prepare a container for seedlings, soil and planting material itself.
Preparation of containers, soil and seeds
For seedlings of snapdragon, a container with a height of about 10 cm is required. Long pots, containers or seedling boxes are suitable for it. It is desirable that they have drainage holes. The bottom of the tank should be strewn with a layer of drainage from expanded clay, pebbles or coarse sand.
Soil for sowing should be light and loose. You can buy the substrate in the store or prepare it yourself.
In order to make a suitable soil at home, you will need:
- turf land;
- sand;
- peat;
- rotted humus;
- wood ash.
All components must be taken in equal parts, mix them thoroughly and sift the soil through a sieve. Then you should pour the soil into the tank and pour it with a solution of potassium permanganate. This must be done two days before the landing.
Preparing planting material should also be done in advance. You can buy it or collect it yourself from the ripened flower cups. Seeds of snapdragon are very small, but have high germination.
Problems can be associated with the following errors made when planting seeds:
- pre-soaking of planting material, which leads to decay of a thin seed coat;
- seed coating with soil and in this regard, the lack of sufficient sunlight, which they need to activate growth and germination.
To increase the germination capacity of snapdragon seeds, it is necessary to place them in a refrigerator or a cool room a few weeks before planting. Air temperature should be around + 5 ° C. Stratification activates the growth of planting material.
Planting snapdragons
After preparing the necessary material, you can proceed directly to landing:
- The soil for seedlings must be loosened and sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
- Distribute snapdragon seeds evenly over the surface of the soil.
- Sprinkle the seeds with water from the spray gun so that they cling to the ground.
- Cover the container with glass or plastic wrap. The greenhouse effect will accelerate seed germination.
- Put the container in a lit place. Seeds can germinate at 10-12 ° C, but it is desirable that the temperature be in the range of 18-22 ° C.
The first sprouts of snapdragon can appear as early as 5 days after sowing. After 10-15 days, all plants germinate. At this time, you need to pour a millimeter layer of soil into the tank.
Seedling Care
After shoots appear, the film or glass can be removed. The first 20 days of seedlings require only good lighting, warm air and moderate watering.
20-25 days after emergence, the plants will need a pick. They can be transplanted one by one or several seedlings.
Subsequent care of them, in addition to regular watering, should also include the application of mineral fertilizers. To do this, once every 7 days, you should water and spray the seedlings with a solution of succinic acid. This contributes to the active laying of flower buds.
For plants to be strong and resistant to environmental influences, they need a hardening procedure. It should be started 15-20 days before the seedlings are transferred to the site. The best option is to place containers with seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse. If this is not possible, then you need to take out the seedlings for a while in the open air. Begin with 20 minutes a day. For 15 days, the duration is required to be increased to 8 hours.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Landing of snapdragons in a permanent place can be carried out when stable warm weather is established without the threat of frost. Planting of plants depends on their variety:
- the distance between the seedlings of the dwarf group should be 15-20 cm;
- low and medium-sized varieties should be planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other;
- tall plants require a gap of 70 cm.
Further care for snapdragons includes regular watering, weeding, applying mineral fertilizers, and also forming a bush. So that the plant does not lose its decorative effect, and the flowers are bright and large, you should pinch lateral shoots in time.
The snapdragon is an unpretentious plant, so it will be possible to grow it both for an experienced and a beginner grower. Knowing what conditions and care flower prefers, you can get strong and beautiful plants that will delight with lush flowering from warm May to cold October.
