Snapdragons

Snapdragon is an annual flower that children love because they can snap open the flowers like puppets. Snapdragons endure cool weather and are widely planted for winter flower colors in mild-winter areas. The fragrant flowers of the Snapdragon make great fresh flower bouquets and they make nice dried flowers as well. Snapdragons are a favorite flower of both Butterflies and Hummingbirds and they are Deer resistant!


Scientific name: Antirrhinum majus


Description: Snapdragons uniformly bear a whorl of flowers atop slender stalks. The best known are ones with snappable flowers, but others have open-faced flowers including double forms. Colors include white, yellow, burgundy, red, pink, orange, and bronze.



How to grow: Plant in rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Grow in full sun. Space tall varieties 12 inches apart, small varieties 6 inches apart. Pinch tips of young plants to encourage branching. For cool season bloom, plant snapdragons in September.
Snapdragon plants resent drought conditions so keep them moderately watered.
Once established, feed monthly with a balanced 10-10-10  fertilizer  Be sure to remove spent blooms regularly to induce continued flowers.


Propagation: Germination takes an average of eight days at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. For early bloom, sow seeds indoors six to eight weeks before setting outdoors after last frost.
Uses: Use the tall varieties for the back of the floral border and for cut flowers. Short varieties are good in borders and as edgings.

Growing Snapdragons from Seed

Snapdragon seeds can be sown directly into the garden after the soil warms, but for the best results they should be started indoor  6-8 weeks before planting them outdoors.
Snapdragon seeds require light for germination so
 DO NOT COVER THEM!
Keep the temperature within the growing medium at 70°-75°
Germination will take place within 10-14 days