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Antirrinum or, more simply, snapdragon is one of the most popular summer plants that can delight the gardener’s heart, literally from the warmest days of May until the first frosty days in autumn.
Perhaps the flower has gained such popularity due to the variety of subspecies and varieties, because antirrinums can vary in height from tiny babies (15-25 cm) to stately beauties (70-120 cm). The color range of inflorescences is no less diverse; it lacks only blue shades. The inflorescences of snapdragons are not only single-colored, but also two- and even three-colored. The shape of the inflorescences can also be very diverse. One inflorescence lasts about 12 days on the plant; the flowering period of the entire plant is approximately 3-4 months. Using only different varieties of snapdragons, you can fill flower beds and borders, and decorate paths with them, as well as landscape beds in the garden.
Despite the great popularity of snapdragon, many gardeners still have many problems when growing it from seeds, and debates continue over when it is best to plant it as seedlings and whether it should be done at all.It also happens that many people prefer to buy ready-made seedlings so as not to bother with seeds, soil and pots.
In fact, there is nothing insurmountable in growing antirrinum, and in recent years, clever gardeners have invented many techniques and tricks to make this difficult but fascinating process easier. From this article you can learn everything about growing snapdragons from seeds at home.
Seed preparation
If you have ever dealt with sowing snapdragon, you can well imagine how small its seeds are. One gram can hold from 5 to 8 thousand seeds. It is the very small size of the seeds that usually poses the greatest difficulty for gardeners. Not only that, but Antirrhinum seeds, like most small seeds, are light dependent, meaning they need light to germinate. Therefore, when sowing, they must be evenly distributed over the surface of the soil and in no case should they be poured from above.
If you have already grown snapdragons in your garden and decided to collect seeds from the flower, then this is not difficult to do. In this case, it is better to collect the seed pods before they are fully ripe. The top of the stem with the resulting capsule fruits is cut off and hung in a paper bag in a dry place. After ripening, the seeds themselves fall out of the dry fruits. It is not advisable to use a plastic bag, as the stem may rot in it. Before planting, it is better to store your seeds in any paper or cardboard packaging in the refrigerator or other cool room with a temperature of about +5°C. This way the seeds will undergo additional stratification and their germination will improve.Snapdragon seeds can remain viable for 4 years.
Antirrinum seeds purchased in stores and markets do not require any additional processing.
Sowing dates
The question of when to plant snapdragon seedlings is one of the most pressing, since information about this differs greatly in different sources. This question cannot be answered unambiguously. And all because among the variety of modern varieties and hybrids of snapdragon, there are several groups that differ greatly in flowering time.
The usual, most common varieties of snapdragons bloom around July, but bred hybrids and some short-day varieties can bloom in early spring and even in winter, if they are provided with favorable conditions for this. Therefore, always carefully study all the information on seed bags about sowing dates.
It is also necessary to take into account the fact that tall varieties of snapdragons require, on average, more time to bloom. While many low-growing varieties of antirrinum can be sown even in April and already at the end of June you can admire their flowering.
In the southern regions of Russia, with early and warm spring, snapdragons are often sown in April-May directly into open ground. After all, these flowers are very cold-resistant and can withstand even significant drops in temperature. They don't need a lot of heat, but light means a lot to them.
Even in the conditions of the middle zone, you can try to leave snapdragons in the garden for the winter, because by their nature these plants are perennials. If there is a lot of snow, then in the spring you can find numerous seedlings that can be easily thinned out and planted in future flower beds.
Methods of planting seeds
Today, there are several ways to sow plant seeds. Among them there are traditional ones, and those that are used when sowing especially small-sized seeds and a special method of growing when there is not enough space on the windowsills. They all work and give good results. You can try them all or immediately choose something that suits you best.
Traditional sowing method
Snapdragon is a fairly unpretentious plant, so it can grow in almost any soil you can offer it. Standard soil for growing seedlings is quite suitable. Since its seeds are very small, a certain amount of prepared soil must be sifted through a fine sieve. You can germinate seeds in any container of suitable size. Snapdragon tolerates pickling well, so it is better to sow the seeds in one container. Next, we take the following steps step by step:
- At the bottom of the container, place a centimeter layer of fine expanded clay or perlite, which will serve as drainage. If the germination container is small in height, then a drainage layer is not necessary, but then it is necessary to make several holes in the bottom so that excess moisture does not stagnate.
- Fill the container with soil, not reaching 2-2.5 cm to the edges, and compact it a little.
- Spray the soil with water so that it is well wetted. If you have not sterilized the soil, you can pour boiling water over it.
- Sprinkle 1-1.5 cm of carefully sifted earth through a sieve on top.
- There is no need to compact the topmost layer of soil, just spill it with water, preferably from a spray bottle.
- Using a piece of folded paper, spread the seeds evenly over the entire surface of the soil or sow them in rows, as you prefer.
- Lightly sprinkle the sown seeds with water from a spray bottle on top so that they are nailed to the surface of the soil.
- Cover the container with a piece of glass, polycarbonate, or put a plastic bag on top. This will create a greenhouse effect that will help the seeds germinate faster and not dry out in the first days after germination.
- Place the container with snapdragon seeds in a well-lit place. Heat in this case is not so important. Seeds can germinate at +10°+12°C, but optimal temperatures vary from +18°C to +23°C.
- The first seedlings may appear as early as 3-5 days, but most seedlings usually appear after 10-15 days.
In the video below, you can clearly see all the intricacies of traditional sowing of antirrhinum:
Special techniques and supplements
When traditionally sowing snapdragon seeds, special techniques are often used that promote accelerated germination of the seeds and also prevent them from dying in the first weeks after germination.
It is on these days that they are most susceptible to various fungal infections and can easily die before they have time to get stronger.
To facilitate sowing and germination of seeds, the surface of the soil can be sprinkled with a thin layer of oven-calcined sand or vermiculite. Both substances prevent the spread of possible infections. In addition, vermiculite is also able to regulate the amount of moisture in the substrate - it absorbs excess and releases it when it dries. Seeds are sown directly on top of sand or vermiculite and can even be lightly “powdered” with the same substances.
Since snapdragon is a very cold-resistant plant, a technique such as snowing is often used for ease of sowing. A small layer of snow is poured on top of the prepared soil and the seeds of antirrinum are scattered on top of it. On a white snowy surface, black seeds are clearly visible and this allows the crops not to thicken. As the snow melts, it will slightly pull the seeds into the soil, ensuring good adhesion to the soil and, as a result, their rapid and friendly germination.
In addition, immediately after the emergence of seedlings, it is better to carry out the first careful watering of tiny sprouts not with ordinary water, but using a solution of phytosporin (10 drops per 1 liter of water). This will help prevent all possible problems associated with fungal infections.
Landless sowing
For convenient sowing of small seeds, a special technology was invented, which is ideal for planting snapdragons. Since it is more convenient to plant this flower in the ground not one at a time, but in groups of 3-5 plants. In this form it looks even more decorative.
So, for this method you will need a small flat container, preferably transparent. This can be a glass or plastic tray or saucer.Cover its bottom with a thick paper napkin or even ordinary toilet paper in several layers.
Then, using a spray bottle, generously moisten the napkin with water. Instead of water, you can use a solution of any growth stimulant, such as Epin, Zircon, or the same Fitosporin. The napkin should be wet, but puddles on it are undesirable. After this, distribute the antirrinum seeds evenly over a napkin in any way convenient for you. Again, lightly spray the liquid over the seeds. This completes the main planting process. Carefully pack the container with the seeds in a plastic bag and place it in a bright place. No soil, no dirt - everything is very simple and fast.
But this method, despite its convenience, requires constant attention and control.
It is at this moment that the seeds in the container must be carefully sprinkled with light soil sifted through a fine sieve, in a layer of about half a centimeter.
If you miss the moment of seed germination, and the seedlings have time to stretch out a little and become covered with green foliage, then all is not lost. They also need to be covered with earth, but this time scattering it on top, directly through the sieve. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the thin sprouts. After which all seedlings are also carefully sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
For a detailed video on this method of germinating antirrinum seeds, see below:
Seedlings: from germination to planting in the ground
Snapdragons typically germinate rather slowly, taking on average 8 to 12 days to sprout.Although, as practice shows, in some individual cases, if you use your own fresh seeds stored in suitable conditions, the first seedlings may appear already 3-4 days after planting.
Even before the shoots appear, the film must be opened at least once a day to ventilate the plantings. After the sprouts appear, it is necessary to continue daily ventilation, remembering to monitor the soil for moisture. If necessary, be sure to carefully moisten it with a spray bottle. Snapdragon really does not like excessive dampness, especially in the first stages of growth, so it is better to dry the plants a little rather than allow them to become waterlogged.
The film can be completely removed only after the second pair of (real) leaves have opened.
Somewhere during the same period, the seedlings can be picked into separate cups. As mentioned earlier, it is better to place several plants in each glass at once. This will be easier to do and the plants will feel better. If there is a lack of space on the windowsills, then you can pick snapdragon seedlings into diapers.
This method is well demonstrated in the following video:
If you sow the seeds quite rarely, then the seedlings can be grown even without picking, in order to plant the plants in open ground. If you gradually harden the seedlings, this can be done even in May, since young snapdragon plants can withstand even short-term frosts down to -3°-5°C.
In the case of soilless sowing of antirrinum, as the seedlings grow, constantly add light soil to the roots of the plants.This will help the plants not to stretch out and develop fully.
Snapdragon does not need fertilizing before planting in open ground. Only Fitosporin or biohumus solution can be added to water for irrigation.
Results
As you can see, to successfully grow snapdragons from seeds, you need to know some features and nuances. But even at home, there is nothing particularly difficult in this process, but you can provide yourself and your friends with luxuriously blooming colorful flower beds.
