If there is a desire to plant it in the garden and get an early long flowering, then the seeds should be sown in the middle - end of March. The deadline is early April.
Sowing
The seeds of the snapdragon are small. And they should be sown almost on the surface of moistened loose soil, lightly sprinkled with earth from above. Seeds begin to germinate after 10-12 days at room temperature 20...23оС. Since the seeds germinate for a long time, at this time you need to take care of the constant soil moisture. It should not be dry or waterlogged.
Like most flower crops, small snapdragon seedlings grow slowly. Water them carefully. When real leaves grow, seedlings are fed with fertilizer for seedlings in low concentration.
The grown seedlings dive when 3-4 leaves appear. Seedlings of snapdragons are planted in flower beds at the end of May. A week before planting, the flowers are hardened and attached to a cool content. In general, there is nothing overly complicated in growing snapdragon seedlings.
Planting in flower beds
Snapdragon It has different varieties with different heights of plants, 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 seated from 12...15 cm to 30...40 cm apart. Flowers will grow well in a sunny place, on loose, nutritious, non-acidic soil. 
In dry times in summer, snapdragons need abundant watering. And weeding, loosening and top dressing will contribute to long flowering.
Snapdragon flowers bloom from the bottom up, retaining their decorative effect for almost two weeks. They are good for cutting. Low-growing varieties look good in the foreground in flower beds, on balconies, in flowerpots. Seeds for yourself can be collected in the fall. Only a pure variety is no longer available. Flowers are pollinated and it is possible to get their own unique snapdragon colors. 
In terms of decorative qualities, flowering until autumn frosts, snapdragons will not yield to many annuals, decorate any flower garden and become a highlight in the garden.
A flower called snapdragon (lat. Antirrhinum) or antirrinum belongs to herbaceous plants from the Plantain family. Includes about 50 varieties, among which you can find climbing plants. Meets given flower in countries where a warm climate prevails, you can also see it in North America.
Dog flowers photo: names and myths
As has long been customary, there are many names for a plant that grows in one place or another. In Russia they are often called "dogs", and in Ukraine "mouths", in romantic France for some reason the name "wolf mouth" has taken root, and in the UK "biting dragon or snapdragon". Translated from the Greek, where the snapdragon comes from, “antirrinum” literally means “similar to the nose” or “similar to the nose”.
IN ancient Greek mythology there is a story about the first of the twelve feats of the hero of myths Hercules, in which he was able to win up over the ferocious and invincible Nemean lion. For this feat from the goddess Flora, Hercules was honored to receive a flower created especially for him. She called him "snapdragon". It is from this moment that there is a tradition according to which this unusual flower is given to all winners.
This plant is about 500 years old, but a German scientist first began to breed new varieties only in the 19th century. Today, there are about 1000 varieties of this plant. All of them were bred thanks to a single species called the large antirrinum (Antirrhinum majus).
flower description
Flowers "mouths"
snapdragon bush
The snapdragon perennial is capable of growing both as a shrub and a herbaceous plant, the stems of which vary from 15 cm and reach up to 1 meter. Upright or branched green shoots form into pyramid-shaped bushes. Endowed with upper alternate leaves and lower opposite. The leaves are painted in light green or dark green with reddish veins. The shape of the leaf can be either elongated-oval or lanceolate.
Based on which variety you decide to opt for, you can enjoy quite large fragrant two-lipped flowers, which can be either double or simple. All flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences of white, yellow, pink, light fawn, and also red. In addition, you can find varieties with two-color and three-color flowers. This plant begins to bloom in June and pleases the eye with its bright flowers until frost. As a rule, bees and other insects always circle near the flowers, because they contain nectar that attracts them.
Even though snapdragon flowers are a perennial plant, gardeners grow them as an annual. In the event that you take good and proper care of the plant, it will easily endure the winter in the garden and will be able to please you with its unusual flowering for more than one year.
Used to decorate borders, but looks great in flower beds in single and group plantings. In addition, antirrinum serves as a good decoration for terraces and balconies.
The most common species that flower growers like to use are ampelous flowers, because grown in hanging pots The plant looks great in any room.
What types and varieties of snapdragon are found
Professional flower growers classify snapdragons by their height. So you can find five different types, among which:
Gigantic or gigantella
Height from 90 to 130 cm. The central stems are very tall. The shoots of the second order are much lower, while the third order is completely absent.
Favorite varieties:
- Arthur - cherry saturated color, up to 100 cm high
- F1 red XL of the same color growing over 1 meter
- F1 pink XL grows up to 110 cm and has a correspondingly deep pink color
- "The Rose" its flowers are distinguished by the exceptional brilliance of pink pearls
- Snapdragon Opus Red is the most popular of this extensive series, colors ranging from pink to lavender
High varieties
They can vary from 60 to 90 cm in height. As a rule, these varieties are grown for cutting, as well as accentuating flowers in group compositions. The central shoot is rather high in relation to the lateral shoots. yellow varieties have an unforgettable delicate aroma. Cut snapdragons of this type will delight you for a week.
Popular varieties:
- Mix of varieties Madama Butterfly - terry snapdragons of various shades
- "Canary" yellow-canary color
- "Anna Herman" flowers are predominantly the most delicate pink shades
- "Maxi Orange Wonder" salmon - orange gigantic inflorescences
- "Goshenka" fiery orange mouths
- "Rocket Lemon" true lemon
- "Rocket Orchid" cornflower blue flowers
- 'Rocket Bronze' salmon flowers, with unexpected orange tints and yellow intrusions
- 'Alaska' green snapdragon with white spots
- "Volcano" flowers are diverse different shades orange
- "Swallowtail" a combination of colors, like in a butterfly, yellow and crimson
- "Velvet Giant" (large and velvet-looking flowers in purple-black tones
- "Brilliantrosa" very fragrant pink dogs
Medium
Or half high universal varieties, whose length does not jump 60 cm, are grown both as an excellent decoration for flower beds and for cutting into bouquets.
It differs from other varieties in excessive branching. In addition, unlike its predecessors, it has a central stem of almost the same height as the side shoots.
Common varieties:
- Ruby "Rubi" hot pink tone
- Lipstick Silver "'Lipstick Silver" pale pink with white
- Snapdragon Day and Night "Tag und Nacht". It has contrasting white and red flowers - dogs that do not fade under the scorching sun, do not fall from gusts of wind. Another name for the Queen of the Night.
- 'Rosella' and 'Wildrose' Pink Snapdragon
- 'Libesglut' ruby red doggy flowers
- "Scarlet Monarch" blood maroon coloration
- "White Monarch" snow-white flowers
- Golden Monarch "Golden Monarch" yellow royal flowers
- "Bizari" hybrid snapdragon blooming with yellow flowers with dots and strokes of a darker tone
Undersized
The height of these plants can vary from 25 to 40 cm. good decoration for flower beds and borders. The shoots located on the second and third order are endowed with many flowers. The central part of the plant is almost the same height as the stems of the first order.
Popular varieties:
- Hobbit "Hobbit" his strongly open mouths - flowers can be of different colors: white, pink, as well as peach, orange, mostly all sunny
- Tip-top, delicate pink color with real yolk edging
- "Peach with cream" compact and strong, bloom with lovely creamy-peach flowers
- "Lemon sherbet" frost-resistant specimens blooming with fragrant flowers, painted in lemon-canary color
- "Sunshine" throughout holiday season This plant produces fragrant, rich yellow flowers.
- Ampelous hybrid snapdragon undersized - Lampion
- Snappy orchid - a pinkish flower with a bright spot in the middle, looks like a magnificent orchid
- Rainbow mix "Rainbow" all kinds of colors.
pygmy snapdragon
Plants do not exceed a height of 20 cm. They are planted to decorate borders, carpet beds and alpine slides. In addition, you can grow in pots and decorate a balcony or terrace. 
A distinctive feature of this species is that the central shoot is slightly lower than the stems of the second category. Shoots of the third and fourth order are endowed with overly branching branches.
Popular varieties:
- Sakura is a pinkish-cream variety with a white spot in the center
- Candy Showers - ampelous snapdragon
- "Magic Carpet" two-tone doggy flower
- Dwarf Floral show Bicolor bicolor yellow-red "dogs"
- "Chimes" cherry lilac
- Snapdragon Floral Showers 'Floral Showers' ranges from lemon to orange
- 'Tom Thumb' produces lemon blossoms with dark patches
You can also find another group of plants called the Sanderson and Martin classification. It is suitable only for those plants that are grown for cutting and are used by flower growers who breed plants for sale.
- Azalea or original terry plants. The series is represented by varieties of Twinnie varieties: Violet, Rose, terry Twinny Peach.
- Ruby star. A variety that is characterized by rich star-shaped cherry blossoms.
How to grow seeds in pots
If you would like to decorate your household plot, then you should use the following methods of breeding snapdragons:
Snapdragon growing from seeds: when to plant
This method is difficult, because in order for the seedlings to sprout for sure, they need careful care. If there is not enough heat for the seeds, then the seedlings will not be able to sprout, which means that beautiful flower garden with blooming antirrinum you will not succeed.
Sowing seeds is carried out in March and for this you will need:
- Seeds of the selected variety.
- A small spatula and a regular sieve.
- Soil mix.
- A special pot in which seedlings will be sown.
In the selected container, it is necessary to fill the earth. The soil should not be heavy, you can buy it at any store. Place the seeds thickly and lightly press them down with your finger. Be sure to cover with a thin layer of soil substrate, using a sieve for this purpose. After planting, the seedlings must be moistened and covered with a film.
In order for the seedlings to germinate for sure, she needs a temperature of at least 20-23 degrees. As soon as the first bores appear, be sure to harden. Open the film on the containers each time, increasing the hardening time. Over time, the film should be completely removed.
When and how to sow dogs video review:
Growing with seedlings.
The most common way. Seedlings are grown indoors, and as soon as seedlings appear, they must be transplanted into open ground or a container.
When should antirrinum seedlings be planted in the ground
doggy flowers
After the seedlings have been hardened and well strengthened, they must be planted in open ground. This procedure is carried out at the end of the May days or at the beginning of the June days. Don't worry about the slight chills that are still present at night, because your hardened plants will cope with them without much difficulty.
The plant prefers to grow in sunny or slightly shaded areas, where there are no strong winds that can break delicate, albeit quite flexible branches.
The only main condition for the successful cultivation of a flower is a thorough drainage of the soil.
For planting, light, nutrient-rich soil is suitable.
In order for the snapdragon to feel great, he needs land consisting of:
- vegetable compost
- river sand
- peat
All of them are used in equal amounts.
How to properly plant a snapdragon
snapdragon seedlings
Depending on the variety you choose, the distance at which the resulting snapdragon seedlings are planted comes from. This is done so that there are no unnecessary bald spots or, conversely, excessive thickening of the landing area.
- If you decide to decorate the garden with tall flowers, then they should be located at a distance of about 40-50 cm from each other.
- Medium-sized plants are planted with a distance of about 35 cm.
- Undersized should be placed in the ground, keeping a distance of 20 cm between plants.
- For dwarf flowers, 15 cm will be enough.
After sowing the seeds, be sure to loosen the soil, not forgetting to moisten and feed it. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic. Also, do not forget about the drainage layer, which is required when planting snapdragons.
Do not forget that landing is carried out only in the ground, which is well moistened in advance.
The root of the plant is taproot, so be sure to dig the soil about 35 cm before planting seedlings.
Prefers to grow in sunny areas, but also feels good in partial shade. But it should be borne in mind that if you plant a plant in a shaded place, then its flowering will not be so lush. Water the plant only on dry days.
Snapdragon planting and care
As soon as you plant a flower, be sure to monitor the soil moisture, as it needs moisture to adapt to a new place.
On dry days, water the plant in the morning. At the time of blooming flowers, it is also necessary to moisten the plant.
But, do not overdo it with soil moisture, as stagnant water and watering in the evening can harm your flower.
If you want the flowering to be lush and last for a relatively long time, then you need:
- Remember to loosen the soil and remove weeds. This procedure is carried out in the evening. Remember, the less grass will be next to the snapdragon, the less pests and diseases will attack it.
- Tall plant species must be tied up, which will protect them from bad weather and wind.
- If you want to prolong flowering, then everything withered flowers should be removed. In order to collect seeds from a plant, it is necessary to leave a few flowers in its lower part.
- The plant should be fed. The first time fertilizer should be applied 10-15 days after planting is completed, using organic or nitrophoska for this. After the appearance of buds, it is necessary to conduct a second feeding with mineral fertilizers.
What diseases can affect antirrinum
Gray rot, nasty black leg and septoria can attack snapdragons at any time, you will need special preparations to deal with them. To begin with, get rid of all the flowers that have been affected and be sure to treat the soil with antifungal agents.
The main pests that can attack antirrinum are caterpillars, fly larvae, butterflies and scale insects. To get rid of insects, visit a specialized store and purchase the appropriate product there.
How Antirrinum Seeds Are Harvested
All seeds are enclosed in fruits, which are a multi-seeded box. Seeds must be collected before they are fully ripe. Fully ripened seeds are painted black. Keep them in a paper envelope. This will allow enough air to get to the seedlings. Dry the seeds and place in the refrigerator until spring. Seedlings that are grown from seeds may differ from their parents.
The flowering of the plant lasts until frost. You must decide for yourself whether you have a snapdragon perennial or annual.
If you want to grow it as a perennial, then cut off the shoot, leaving a shoot no more than 8 cm high above the ground. Do not forget to cover it with ordinary peat, dry fallen leaves or sawdust. In the event that the antirrinum is grown as annual plant, then it is necessary to remove wilted inflorescences that can sow seeds in a timely manner. After all the flowers on the shoot have faded, cut it as low as possible to the soil. Such a procedure will certainly not allow the seeds to wake up on the ground. With the onset of late autumn, the soil where the snapdragon grew needs to be dug up, and the dried plant itself should be burned to avoid a new meeting with pests that could settle in it.
Snapdragon application in landscape design:
Those who once decided to decorate their site with a snapdragon will no longer be able to refuse this amazing and unusual flower. Its beautiful and bright flowering captivates others. A variety of varieties allows the use of the plant, both in plantings according to one sample, and in mixed group installations.
Antirrinum will allow its owners to enjoy flowering for a long time, and its original slightly sweet aroma will be remembered by you until the next season.
Snapdragon in a flower bed with other flowers video:
The most beautiful among annuals, the snapdragon flower is rightfully in great demand in ornamental gardening, and planting and caring for it have some features. Is this annual frost-resistant in spring? Does it need to be pinched? When to sow snapdragons in open ground or is it better to grow seedlings - let's deal with all these questions a little.
Varieties and types of snapdragon
Antirrinum or snapdragon (Antirrhínum) belongs to the norichnikov family. This perennial plant is native to the Mediterranean, but in our latitudes it is cultivated as an annual. Antirrinum stems branch well, forming a compact bush, the height of which ranges from 15 to 100 cm. Snapdragon flowers are large, irregular shape, outwardly resembling an open mouth. For this feature, the plant was popularly nicknamed "dogs". Bright and fragrant, they are collected in racemose inflorescences. The color of the annual is diverse and depends on the variety of antirrinum. The most popular are white, yellow, red and purple flowers.
To date, breeders have managed to breed more than 800 varieties of a popular plant, which are divided into 15 groups. Among them there are:
- tall varieties that reach 130 cm in height;
- high grades up to 90 cm;
- medium-sized plant species up to 60 cm;
- undersized varieties up to 45 cm;
- dwarf forms up to 25 cm.
All tall varieties have one distinguishing feature- the main stem of the plant rises above the stems of the 1st order, forming the main peduncle with large inflorescences.
Srednerosly forms of antirrinum branch well and differ in terms of flowering. Among them you can find early and late varieties of annuals.
Low-growing species of snapdragons have a spherical shape with many stems, form compact bushes, but their flowers are noticeably smaller than those of tall relatives.
All varieties of antirrinum are divided into several classes:
- Cut species are tall varieties with large flowers that do not lose their decorative qualities for a long time. One of them is the variety "Admiral".
- Casing species - these include undersized and dwarf forms of the plant that have a long flowering period and form a compact bush, such as Scarlet, Carmine or Lylek.
- Universal species are medium-sized varieties that are distinguished by brighter colors and a variety of transitional shades, form a small bush with a large peduncle and large flowers. Such plants look good in the cut and remain attractive for a long time. The duration of flowering of an annual plant is more than 3.5 months. This type includes varieties "Torch", "Day and Night".
Snapdragon flowers: planting and care, photo in the garden
Location
Snapdragon is a fairly light-loving plant, and with a lack of heat, it delays its growth and seed ripening. It tolerates small frosts down to -5 degrees.
It is possible to grow an annual on any soil, but it is noticed that it grows better on light fertile lands. Choose a place for planting in the garden you need sunny, protected from cold winds.
Growing from seeds
Antirrinum is grown as an annual by sowing seeds for seedlings or directly into the ground. These methods have a number of advantages.
Sowing seeds in the ground- this method is suitable for flower growers who can monitor crops - who lives at this time in the country, or who own house. Seeding in the ground at first glance seems less laborious, but the survival rate of plants is highly dependent on care. Sowing seeds in the ground late autumn or spring in April. This is a fairly cold-resistant annual, as already mentioned, seedlings withstand temperatures as low as -5 °.
Seeds are sown directly on the flower bed, without sprinkling them with earth. Since snapdragon seeds are very small, they are recommended to be mixed with sand for uniform sowing. The bed for sowing should be cleared of weeds that drown out young sprouts. When shoots appear, the plant needs regular weeding and careful watering.
The grown seedlings are thinned out, leaving 20 cm between them. The flowering of plants grown in this way begins much later, it falls in the middle of summer and is shorter due to possible early frosts.
Sowing seeds for seedlings starts from the beginning of February and continues until the beginning of April. Seedlings grown in seedlings will bloom in early May-June. The process of growing seedlings has its own characteristics that every gardener needs to know:
- Seeds are sown in light, moist soil, without sprinkling with earth. They need light and heat to germinate. Optimum temperature for seed germination from 22 to 25 degrees.
- Plants need light for normal development. If sowing was done in February, then it is necessary to organize additional illumination of seedlings. Seedlings sown in March - April do not need additional lighting. This is due to the length of daylight, which gradually increases from March. For successful cultivation seedlings need lighting on cloudy days.
- With the advent of the first shoots, you need to open the greenhouse and monitor the level of soil moisture. Excessive moisture or dryness has a detrimental effect on young seedlings. At high humidity, plants are affected by the black leg. To prevent diseases, seedlings are sprayed with a solution of biostimulants: Epin-Extra, Novosil, Zircon. At the first sign of infection, damaged plants are removed.
- With the advent of the first pair of true leaves, the seedlings should be picked into separate containers, which will ensure their proper development and formation of the root system.
- To form a bush, it is necessary to pinch seedlings over the third - fourth pair of leaves.
- Before planting seedlings in the garden, it is necessary to harden it. For this, containers with seedlings are taken out into the street in the daytime. Landing in the garden is carried out only with the onset of warm weather, usually at the end of May.
We, in turn, prefer to do without picking even such plants with tiny seeds, so we sow antirrinum for seedlings in peat tablets. The grown seedlings are then only thinned out:
Planting snapdragons in the ground
Partially flowering seedlings are planted in the garden. For abundant flowering choose an open sunny place. Before planting, it is advisable to fertilize the land with peat and add sand for looseness. Between plants leave 20-30 cm for comfortable growth. Depending on the variety, the distance may be longer.
Antirrinum Care
Snapdragon pretty unpretentious plant, all care for him comes down to regular watering, weeding, protection from pests and diseases. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the plant is not flooded, which will lead to root diseases and further death. You can ensure the required level of soil moisture by mulching the soil with sawdust or peat.
Annual top dressing
healthy and beautiful flower can be obtained even on poor soils by carrying out systematic feeding of the plant. The first top dressing should be carried out no earlier than two weeks after planting the seedlings in the garden. Further fertilization is carried out every two weeks throughout the growing season. For these purposes, weak solutions of weed infusion are suitable, bird droppings or infusion of mullein.
reproduction
To preserve varieties and further cultivation snapdragon on the site it must be properly propagated. This is done in several ways:
- cuttings;
- sowing seeds.
It is necessary to cut the antirrinum in the spring, cutting young cuttings from mother plant that overwintered indoors. Rooted shoots are planted in the garden at the end of May. Plants obtained in this way come into bloom earlier than usual, and have a long flowering period.
For seed collection, choose large and healthy specimens. Snapdragon seeds are small, and in order for them not to disperse on their own, the seed box is tied with cotton cloth and the seeds are waiting for ripening. It is better to store seeds in a cool room for no longer than 3 years.
Diseases and pests of snapdragon
Very often, seedling crops are affected fungal diseases:
- fusarium;
- blackleg;
- rust;
- septoria.
For the prevention and control of diseases, damaged plants are sprayed with biological products with repeated treatments after a few days.
Antirrinum is susceptible to attack by pests that eat away buds, spoil the leaves and stems of the plant. Common pests are different kinds scoop . Their butterflies lay their eggs on weeds, and hatched larvae later crawl onto the plant and damage it. For prevention, regular weeding and destruction of weeds near the snapdragon is carried out. Affected plants are sprayed with biopreparations and infusions, carrying out several treatments.
Snapdragon in landscape design (photo)
Various varieties and types of snapdragons are used in horticultural design. A wide variety of varieties and bright colors of flowers have made it one of the leading annuals.
Dwarf and undersized forms of the plant look good in flower beds, flower beds, they make up borders or colored spots on the lawn. Some types of annuals can be grown in balcony boxes and planters. Tall varieties of antirrinum go mainly for cutting and retain their decorative qualities for up to 2 weeks. Flower stalks are part of many flower arrangements.
These are some laudatory reviews about antirrinums - these long-flowering annuals are painfully beautiful. Try and you grow snapdragon flowers in your garden, and soon you will see for yourself that planting and caring for them, although they require some skill, is quite within the power of any gardener.
Flowers snapdragon (lat. Antirrhinum), or antirrinum,- a genus of herbaceous plants of the Plantain family, covering about 50 species of perennials, including climbers, common in the warm zones of the Earth, but for the most part- V North America. The Russians call this plant "dogs", the British - "snapdragon" (biting dragon), the French - "cleft palate", and the Ukrainians - "mouths". WITH Greek the name "antirrinum" is translated as "nose-like", "like a nose."
The 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 the one she created in honor of his victory. beautiful flower, which she called "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).
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Planting and caring for snapdragons (in a nutshell)
- Landing: in warm climates by sowing seeds in the ground in April or before winter. Seedlings are sown for seedlings in mid-March, seedlings are planted in open ground closer to mid-May or early April.
- Bloom: from mid-summer to late autumn.
- Lighting: bright sunlight or penumbra.
- The soil: well-fertilized, breathable, light loamy soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0, cultivated to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Watering: only in the mornings in the dry season, plentiful.
- Top dressing: 2-3 times before flowering with full mineral fertilizer.
- Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.
- Pests: aphids, gall nematodes, spider mites, scoops, thrips, slugs.
- Diseases: late blight, fusarium, verticillium, black leg, septoria, sclerotinia and peronosporosis.
Read more about the cultivation of snapdragons below.
Snapdragon flower - description
The snapdragon plant is a shrub or herbaceous plants with straight, branched green thinly furrowed stems from 15 cm to one meter in height, 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.
The flowers are fragrant, rather large, irregular, two-lipped, depending on the variety, simple or double, 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 snapdragons in nature are grown in horticulture as an annual plant, but with good care And favorable conditions cold-resistant snapdragons can successfully winter in the garden and bloom more beautifully the next year. IN garden design antirrinum is grown as a border plant, although snapdragon looks great both in a flower bed and planted in groups against a green lawn. Often snapdragons are used to decorate balconies and terraces.
Of particular interest to flower growers today are ampelous forms of snapdragons, which can be grown in suspended structures for decorating terraces and galleries.
In the photo: Snapdragon flowering in the garden
Growing snapdragons from seeds
Sowing snapdragon
The snapdragon reproduces in generative and vegetative ways. 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 a seedling way? This process is neither complicated nor labor intensive.
So, we sow snapdragons: at the beginning of March we pour coarse 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 seeds also mixed with sand over its surface, which we then cover from above with a thin layer of the same substrate, moisten it from a fine spray gun and cover the plate with glass sowing.
Every day we remove condensate from the glass, let the crops breathe and, as 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.
In the photo: Growing snapdragons from seeds
snapdragon seedlings
Seedlings will grow slowly at first, and your task during this period is to monitor the proper 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 of 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.
You can plant seedlings in personal pots or, for example, dive three sprouts into larger pots.
Place the picked seedlings in a bright place, protecting them from direct sun rays, and begin to gradually accustom them to the environment and temperature in which they will find themselves after transplanting into open ground: slightly open the window for a while during the day, but make sure that the seedlings are not in a draft. 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
Snapdragon - landing
When to Plant Snapdragon
In late May - early 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 snapdragon- 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 a snapdragon
Planting 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 very grow quickly and turn into a lush flowering bush. You should know that snapdragon planting is carried out in well-moistened soil.
Snapdragon - care
How to grow snapdragon
This plant is unpretentious and needs only what anyone needs. garden flower: in 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 long-lasting blooms from snapdragons, do not let them 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 needs to be fed with nitrophos and organics, the second top dressing is carried out when snapdragons begin 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 water.
On the picture: pink flowers antirrinuma
Pests and diseases of snapdragon
Sometimes red spots of rust appear on the plant, snapdragon septoria, black leg, gray or root rot can affect. Sick specimens must be immediately removed and burned, and the soil in the place where they grew must be treated antifungal drug(fungicide).
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Of 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.
In the photo: Growing snapdragons
Snapdragon after flowering
Snapdragon can bloom until autumn frosts, but when a steady autumn comes, cut the snapdragon, if you grow it as a perennial plant, so short 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 plants survive the winter. If you are growing an annual snapdragon, then, in order to avoid self-seeding during the entire flowering period, timely pick off faded flowers, 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 will it come deep autumn, dig up the area and burn the remains of the plants to destroy the pests that have settled in them.
In the photo: Snapdragon flower
How and when to collect snapdragon seeds
Majority Seeds garden plants 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 snapdragons, and the most common of them is according to plant height. On this basis, varieties are divided into five groups:
gigantic
The height is from 90 to 130 cm. The central shoot in plants of this group is much higher than the shoots of the second order, the shoots of the third order are absent. Varieties: Arthur - cherry-colored, 90-95 cm high, F1 red XL and F1 pink XL 110 cm high, respectively, red and pink.
High
60 to 90 cm grown for cutting or as a vertical accent in mixborders or groups. side shoots much lower than central. 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.
Pictured: Yellow snapdragon
tall or medium height
Representatives of the variety reach 40-60 cm in height, universal varieties grown both as a flower bed decoration and for cutting. They have strong branching. characteristic feature varieties of this group is also that the central shoot is slightly higher than the side shoots. Varieties: Golden Monarch - yellow color, Ruby - bright pink, Lipstick silver - pinkish-white shade.
Low
25 to 40 cm tall, grown as flower beds or border flowers. 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 in height, flowers for borders, carpet beds, rock gardens and flower beds. Grow them just like potted plant. 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 an equally popular classification by Sanderson and Martin for cut varieties of the year-round cycle, 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.
Antirrinum- one of the most famous perennial herbaceous, a favorite of gardeners and a frequent guest of lush flower gardens, who has earned love with bright and beautiful flowers of an unusual shape with a rich and bright palette of colors.
A flower grower who has planted an antirrinum once will plant it season after season - ease of care and a surprisingly beautiful color are simply captivating. The branched straight shoots of this plant are folded into a dense pyramidal bush, the lower leaves are opposite, and the upper ones are alternate.
The color of antirrinum flowers can be white, pink, yellow, beige, blue, light blue or two-three-color. In total, there are twenty-two species in nature. as you can see pictured, antirrinum the most widely represented species antirrinum large("") and its varieties, which were bred by flower growers more than 1000.
Peculiarities
- Antirrinum buds have a pleasant sour taste: these flowers can be added to salads, ice cream and sorbets, besides, they contain useful vitamins and add a delicious flavor to any dish.
- In a mild and warm climate, antirrinums - perennials, but does not survive the harsh Russian winters, therefore it is used as an annual plant, although it lives long enough in greenhouse conditions.
- If flower growers are interested in a persistent, long and pleasant aroma, then you should pay attention to the yellow antirrinums and plant them.
- Snapdragon is also useful in the pharmaceutical field: it is widely used to treat various diseases of the liver, stomach, eyes, genitourinary system and colds. A decoction of this plant was previously used in the East as an antidote, and was also mixed with lily oil and smeared on the face to improve the color, elasticity and softness of the skin. Despite this, it is extremely dangerous to use it not as prescribed by the doctor - it is very dangerous. poisonous plant life-threatening if dosed incorrectly.
- There are such subspecies of the plant as dwarf varieties(15-20 centimeters), undersized (20-30 centimeters), medium or semi-tall (20-60 centimeters), tall (65-150 centimeters).
Due to its wide distribution around the world, antirrinum seeds have a small price: from 15 to 20 rubles for a small bag of seeds and up to 40 for especially rare varieties.
Also in flower shops, seedlings are sold at a price of 20-30 rubles per plant or cassettes with seedlings of 10, 30 and 50 sprouts costing from 200 rubles for a minimum volume.
Species and varieties
The antirrinum itself is most often represented by the large antirrinum variety, there are about a thousand different varieties snapdragon. There are several popular types of antirrinum: large, ampelous and twinny. There are more than 1000 species in total.
The most famous of them is the large antirrinum, or snapdragon, which received its second name in connection with unusual shape flowers: two-lipped, wide at the bottom and narrower at the bottom, similar to the open lion's mouth.
Large antirrinums have been grown for more than 500 years as ornamentals in flower beds, greenhouses and greenhouses. Antirrinum twinny, or terry antirrinum - a variety of large antirrinum, one of the most common species in floriculture, has large double flowers of various colors.
Antirrinum twinny - hybrid, unpretentious and surprisingly beautiful. Antirrinum ampelous, or antirrinum F1-also one of the most popular varieties of large antirrinum.
This is a fairly rare hybrid, designed specifically for growing in balcony boxes and hanging baskets. Unlike other antirrinums, it does not stand, but forms a beautiful “beard” 40-80 cm long.
A lush hanging plant ideal for growing at some height. Due to the variety of species, ease of care and beauty, antirrinum remains one of the undoubted leaders in flower beds and greenhouses.
Places of growth
Antirrinum is a rather unpretentious plant that spreads in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in North America. In particular, the most common antirrinum large. In general, antirrinum tolerates cold well and almost any weather conditions, but does not like drought very much and excess moisture.
Landing
In order to grow an antirrinum, you do not need to make a lot of effort, but your work will bring excellent results: this plant blooms from June until frost, is quite unpretentious and easy to care for. There are two simple ways grow an antirrinum in your own garden.
The first way - planting antirrinum straight into the ground. This method is more suitable experienced flower growers because it requires a lot of attention and experience.
In order to grow healthy and beautiful antirrinums, you will need:
- Antirrinum seeds(you can get them at any flower shop).
- Prepared soil, preferably loamy, thoroughly weeded. Remove all roots of weeds to prevent their germination!
So, in May - early June, when the risk of frost has finally passed, you need to plant seeds mixed with coarse sand on the ground and lightly sprinkle with earth. Cover with a film or agrospan on top and regularly moisten the soil.
This is the easiest way, but it requires a lot of attention and very frequent weeding - with insufficient weeding, the weeds will initially clog the weak and tender antirrinum sprouts.
The seedling method of planting an antirrinum will not be difficult even for a beginner. Start planting seedlings around the end of February to early April, and do not plant until the threat of even minimal frost has completely disappeared.
You will need:
Antirrinum seeds (their price is not high);
Coarse sand (it is not recommended to use building sand: it contains a lot of harmful substances, unsuitable for normal development, if you still decide to use building sand - rinse it thoroughly and ignite it for cleaning and disinfection);
Bowls with a diameter of 10 centimeters or more with drainage holes (they can also be purchased at a flower shop, you can use plastic or ceramic ones with equal success);
High-quality expanded clay or polystyrene broken into large parts;
Compost land;
Spray bottle with water;
Glass, cling film or bags;
Patience.
To grow you will need:
1. Mix sand with antirrinum seeds for ease of distribution;
2. Pour crushed polystyrene or expanded clay onto the bottom of the pot by about 1/5 of its depth, pour sand on top, then composted earth, thoroughly mixed with sand in a ratio of 3/2;
3. Compact and moisten the soil, gently spread the seeds on it in a thin layer, sprinkle again with water;
4. Cover the bowls with film, transparent bag or glass, remove the condensation regularly and keep the soil moist, keep the temperature 22-26 degrees.
After about two weeks, the first shoots will appear, then you need to place the bowls in a bright, but not sunny place, and after 3-4 days, remove the glass completely. Now it is important to take care of the sprouts.
The key to success is regular watering (preferably in the morning) and good lighting without direct sunlight. You can harden off your sprouts by occasionally placing them on a windowsill, but without exposing them to direct drafts.
When 4 or 5 sprouts appear, you need to pinch the central shoot for better flowering and tillering. In mid-May - mid-June, shoots can be relocated to open ground.
flower care
Further care behind the antirrinum simple enough:
Antirrinum loves nutritious and rather light soil. The ideal option there will be a mixture in equal proportions of soil, peat and sand;
Tall varieties of the antirrinum plant require about half a meter of distance between plants, medium-sized ones - about 30 centimeters, undersized ones - 15-20;
Water the antirrinum only during particularly dry periods, or if the soil is very dry;
It is important to carefully weed out the weeds, preventing their growth;
It is not necessary to cover the antirrinum for the time of frost: it tolerates temperatures well enough up to -5 degrees;
You can not plant these plants too close to each other: they get sick with the so-called "gray rot".
In general, this is everything you need to know about growing and caring for a beautiful and fragrant antirrinum plant. it is good for treatment, and in cooking, and, of course, in floriculture. Good luck growing this beautiful plant!
