The herbaceous plant antirrhinum, or snapdragon, is a perennial plant belonging to the Norichinaceae family. This flower has been around for over 500 years. German scientists first began breeding plants in the 19th century. Today, snapdragon has 50 species and more than 1 thousand varieties. Prefers to grow in warm areas. It is customary to distinguish grass by height, type and other characteristics. The color palette of antirrinum is diverse and covers almost all colors, with the exception of blue and blue shades.
Snapdragon received its name due to its resemblance to the appearance of the open mouth of a dangerous predator. According to legend, Hercules defeated the Nemean lion and saved humanity from a terrible monster. In honor of this feat, the goddess Flora created this wonderful flower.
The botanical name of the plant is antirrhinum. It produces seeds already in the first year of growth, so it is often planted as an annual plant. The flower is easy to care for; even a novice gardener can grow it. This herbaceous plant or subshrub, its height depends on the species, so it can range from 15 cm to 1 m. The stems are straight and form a pyramid-shaped bush.
Oval-elongated leaves can be different green tint, with red veins. The flowers of the plant have pleasant aroma. They are quite large and, depending on the number of petals, can be double or simple (depending on the variety). The color of the petals is different: red, yellow, white, pink.
The snapdragon fruit is a capsule that can contain up to 8 thousand seeds. Flowering time begins in June and ends with the onset of severe cold.
Gallery: snapdragon (25 photos)
Types and varieties
The plant genus has about 50 species, but only one is cultivated - antirrhinum (large). The variety of varieties provides a huge choice for the gardener.
Snapdragons are usually divided into the following varieties:
Antirrinum has several classifications, but the standard classification is based on plant height. According to it, 5 groups of varieties are distinguished:
- Dwarf varieties, the height of which is 15–20 cm. They are distinguished by increased stem formation up to shoots of the fourth and third orders. Main escape is located under the shoots of the second order or at its level. Plants of this variety are used for borders, rock gardens, carpet flower beds, ridges and for growing in pots.
- Low varieties can grow up to 25–40 cm. Snapdragon of this variety has many shoots with flowers of the third and second orders. The main shoot usually runs below or at the same level as the first order shoots. These flowers are used to decorate borders, flower beds, containers, baskets, and balcony boxes.
- Universal (medium-sized) varieties and hybrids can be from 40 to 60 cm in height. The plant is highly branched. The central shoot is located just above the side shoots. These flowers are ideal for growing in flower beds and are great for cutting.
- Tall (cut) varieties reach a height of 70–90 cm. The main shoot rises above the side (secondary) shoot. The yellow flowers have a distinct aroma. The plant is used for decoration of compositions, mixborders and grown for cutting. Cut flowers do not lose their original appearance more than a week.
- Giant (gigantic) varieties grow up to 90–135 cm. The bushes of this variety are narrow pyramidal. The main shoot rises quite well above the second-order shoots, but there are no third-order shoots at all.
Preparing to grow from seeds
Seeds should be sown in late February or early March. The climatic conditions of central Russia allow sowing at the end of April or at the beginning of May. IN northern regions snapdragons are not cultivated.
Substrate selection
Soil for the plant can be bought at a special store, or you can prepare the soil mixture yourself. The main requirement is airiness and looseness of the soil. To prepare it, you need to take turf, sand, ash, peat, and mature humus in equal proportions. All ingredients are carefully sifted through a sieve. Large components are laid in one layer on top of the drainage. The sifted substrate is the top layer.
It is important to disinfect the soil. It needs to be shed with a solution of potassium permanganate and left for 48 hours. Before sowing, the soil should be moistened.
Selecting a container for sowing
A simple box for young animals or a container is suitable for sowing. The height of the selected container must be at least 10 cm. There must be holes for outflow at the bottom excess moisture. A drainage layer is placed on the bottom of the container. Typically, gravel, pebbles, and expanded clay are used as drainage.
Seed preparation
Seeds can be purchased at the store, and it is very easy to choose the variety, color scheme and height of the plant. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the expiration date and storage conditions of the seeds.
But you can also collect flower seeds yourself. After collection, they are dried, and then put into a plastic container (bag) and placed in the refrigerator until spring. There they undergo a process of stratification - this contributes to the rapid appearance of sprouts. Before sowing, the seeds are washed in a weak solution of manganese for disinfection. Then they are dried on a napkin or cloth, after which you can begin planting.
How to Grow Snapdragons from Seeds
Most gardeners grow snapdragons through seeds. Moreover, such cultivation can be carried out both indoors and open ground.
Growing in a pot
To ensure that the plant seeds are evenly distributed, they are mixed with dry sand. They are sown into the container in an even strip with a gap of at least 3 cm. For more correct distribution, you can use a paper envelope with a cut corner. Using this method, sand with seeds is poured out carefully. To ensure a tight fit to the substrate, the seeds and sand are lightly pressed with your palms. Sprinkle a little sifted water on top soil mixture. Next, the soil with the seeds is sprayed.
The container with seeds is covered with a transparent film or glass and placed in a room where the air temperature is not lower than 19 degrees. The film covering should be opened slightly every day for ventilation. If the soil dries out, it is sprayed with water from a spray bottle. After about 12 days, the first shoots appear.
In the open ground
Snapdragon from seeds can also be grown in open ground. You just need to know that the plant will bloom only at the end of July or beginning of August, but it will bloom until the first frost.
It is customary to sow antirrinum seeds in clumps. The clumps are formed in the following sizes - 40 by 80 cm. In one clump, 4 or 5 bushes of this plant are usually grown. But you need to sow a lot more seeds there. If excess shoots grow, they are thinned out. Seeds are sown in open ground at the end of April or beginning of May. During this period, night frosts are still possible, so the curtains are covered with some kind of material.
Growing from seedlings in open ground
In areas with warm and mild climates, snapdragons can be grown in open ground by sowing seeds. After 14 days, sprouts will appear. Seeds can take several years to grow. But in regions with harsh climatic conditions It is preferable to grow the plant from seedlings.
Seedling care
After a week, the seedlings grow, the film is removed from the container. You need to remove the glass or film gradually. You should start with 20 minutes, increasing the time. After 3–4 weeks, the first true leaves form. After 2 or 3 leaves appear, the seedlings need to be pruned.
Can be used for picking peat pots, cassettes or cups, the diameter of which is 9–10 cm. If planting occurs in a larger container, then you need to keep the interval between seedlings at 5 by 5 cm. After transplanting, the plant should be hidden from direct sun rays several days.
After the seedlings grow, another transplant is carried out into freer pots. The gap between plants also increases - 10 by 10 cm.
Young sprouts should be grown at a temperature of 22–23 degrees. The plant should be in a room with good lighting. Regular watering is carried out, but only when the soil dries out, because... Excessive moisture can lead to plant diseases. If rot does occur, then the seedlings need special care(treatment with drugs).
Landing in the ground
It is advisable to plant seedlings in the ground only after the end of frost. Of course, this depends on the area. Planting usually takes place from early May to June.
Flowers are undemanding to soil. But still, snapdragon feels more comfortable in loam or sandy soil.
So that antirrinum pleases for a long time abundant flowering, you need to add to the soil:
- wood ash (1 cup per 1 square meter);
- complex fertilizer or nitrophoska (1 tablespoon per square meter);
- you can add humus (4–5 kg);
- peat (1 kg per 1 square meter).
The soil is shifted and loosened. The planting area should be well lit. In the shade the plant practically does not bloom, and in partial shade the flowering is not lush.
Planting seedlings should be done in the evening or in cloudy weather. Fit dimensions different varieties:
- the spacing of dwarf varieties is 15 by 15 cm;
- low – 20 by 20 cm;
- medium - 30 by 30 cm;
- tall - from 40 cm or more.
The seedlings are lowered together with a clod of earth into the prepared pits. The plant should be deepened to the cotyledon leaves. The soil around is lightly pressed and watered.
If seedlings of different varieties are planted close together, they will undergo cross-pollination and the plants will grow in the next season different from their ancestors.
Caring for flowers in summer
The plant is unpretentious in care. In order for the snapdragon to bloom abundantly and maintain moisture in the soil, the bushes of the plant should be mulched with sand, straw or sawdust.
A month after planting the seedlings, when the plant has already taken root, the first fertilizing is carried out with fertilizer for annual garden flowers or nitrophoska. Throughout the summer period, you need to feed antirrinum every 2 or 3 weeks.
If the soil is heavy, then for excellent bush growth you need to produce regular feeding, tying high grades and loosening. Loosening the soil protects the flower from disease and washing out. And without tying, taller bushes can break off during strong winds, hail or rain.
Snapdragon loves moist soil, but when excess moisture may start to hurt. Therefore, watering should be constant, but moderate.
To increase the splendor of the bush, you can pinch the side and main shoots to the second order. And for more long flowering faded buds are removed. The plant blooms continuously for 3–3.5 months.
Attention, TODAY only!
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, the bizarre shapes of flowers and long flowering are able to decorate any area of the garden throughout the season.
Snapdragon – description, photo 
The antirrhinum flower is distinguished by its 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 leaflets. 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. At favorable conditions And good care Antirrinum 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. Crops are carried out 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 most weak 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
At seedling method When growing annuals, sowing seeds should begin in early March. For this purpose, seedling containers are prepared with drainage holes. 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. Can be used spacious pots, 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 regrown side shoots They will start to grow too actively, you can also pinch them.
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 the seedlings stay on fresh air increases. IN last days Before planting, 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. Should install warm weather However, plants are able to 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:
- Dwarf antirrinums are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
- There should be a gap of 20 cm between low-growing specimens.
- 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 belongs to unpretentious plants, which do 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- After about two weeks, when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are fed with universal fertilizers for flowering plants.
- 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.
- Wilted flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form more quickly.
- 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 shoots will appear on the bush and begin to grow, which will soon bloom.
- 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:
- Moderate moisture of the area.
- Planting bushes at a distance from each other from 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragon).
- Specimens affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
- 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.
Blooming profusely beautiful plant antirrinum (snapdragon) to late autumn will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers. Its low-growing varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorated with a balcony or loggia. 
Snapdragon flower
The snapdragon flower has a number of undeniable advantages. First of all, it is unpretentiousness and bright, long-lasting flowering from mid-summer to late autumn. It can be grown not only in flower beds and hills, but also on loggias in pots and hanging baskets.
The snapdragon flower (Antirrinum) is a flower, but it blooms and produces seeds in the first year. That is why it is mainly grown as an annual. This flower can form a powerful bush with a well-developed root system. Such bushes are able to winter safely even in the middle zone.
Thanks to the work of breeders, flower growers can grow hundreds of varieties of Antirrinum. There are dwarf varieties (15 - 20 cm), medium-sized (40 - 50 cm) and tall (90 - 100 cm). In addition, ampelous forms of snapdragons with drooping shoots have recently appeared; the length of such shoots reaches 1 meter.
Snapdragon is ampelous.
Growing snapdragons from seeds
When to sow.
When growing snapdragons, you need to sow the seeds in early March.
Substrate for seed germination.
The flower doesn't like to grow on peat soils. To germinate seeds, it is better to use soil from compost heap And river sand in a one to one ratio.
How to sow Antirrinum seeds.
It is convenient to grow snapdragons from seeds in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. You can sow seeds directly into cups, with several seeds in one cup. If 3-4 seeds germinate, then there is no need to thin them out; let them continue to grow in one bush.
Before sowing, the container or cup is filled with soil, the soil is leveled and abundantly moistened. Snapdragon seeds are very small; for convenience, snow is poured on top of the substrate and the seeds are sown in the snow, then they are clearly visible. You just need to take into account that snow indoors melts quickly. You can mix the seeds with sand, this also greatly simplifies the sowing process.
Caring for seedlings.
After the seeds are sown, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, moistened again with dewdrops and covered with a lid or film. To germinate, the seeds will need high humidity and temperature 23 - 25 degrees. Monitor soil moisture; when the substrate dries out, it must be moistened periodically.
Young seedlings
At proper care the seeds will germinate in 10 - 15 days. After the young sprouts appear, the container with the seedlings is transferred to a well-lit place. Otherwise, if there is insufficient lighting, the seedlings will quickly stretch out. The film can be removed a few days after seed germination.
Young plants grow slowly at first, this should not alarm you. At this time, Antirrinum seedlings should be watered very sparingly. If signs appear, remove all affected seedlings immediately and sprinkle the soil with ash or crushed activated carbon.
As you have probably already noticed, there is nothing unusual in growing snapdragons from seeds; all other flowers are grown from seeds in much the same way.
Picking seedlings.
When the seedlings have a second pair of true leaves, you can start picking the seedlings. Antirrinum already grows a powerful root system during the seedling period, so plants need to be planted in large 0.5 liter cups.
Antirrinum seedlings after picking.
If the seedlings grew densely, then sometimes the roots of neighboring plants grow together. In such cases, do not try to separate them, just plant several pieces in cups.
Snapdragon easily tolerates picking and is quickly accepted in a new place. But until the seedlings begin to grow, they must be kept in the shade and taken out into the sun a few days after transplantation.
Pinching seedlings.
This flower should not be grown in one stem.. The plant looks much more attractive when it grows as a bush. To do this, the shoot is pinched above the fifth leaf. If side shoots begin to grow quickly, it is better to pinch them too. As a result, a powerful, beautiful bush snapdragon.
Growing from seeds in open ground
You can also grow snapdragons from seeds in open ground. You just need to say right away that these flowers will bloom only at the end of July or early August, but they will bloom until frost.
Antirrinum grown from seeds.
It is customary to sow snapdragons in the ground in so-called clumps. Curtains are formed with a size of approximately 40 by 40 cm. 4 - 5 Antirrinum bushes are grown in one clump, but much more seeds need to be sown there. Excess shoots can later be pulled back.
Seeds are sown in the ground at the end of April, beginning of May. Since spring frosts can destroy the seedlings, the clumps are covered with some kind of covering material.
Growing and caring for Antirrinum
Flower growers rarely plant snapdragons in the foreground, considering this flower to be not spectacular enough. But this happens because few people know how to grow this flower correctly. Most often it is grown in one stem, and varieties are selected with a height of 30 - 40 cm.
Antirrinum should be grown in bushes. To do this, you just need to cut off the top of the plant. Cut top part shoots can occur in seedlings, adults, and even flowering plants. After some time, not one, but as many as 8 - 12 shoots will grow.
When growing tall varieties, the height of which reaches one meter, makes a huge flowering bush. Fading shoots should also be removed, and then new, young stems will grow again in their place.
Snapdragon can grow in full sun, partial shade and in almost any soil. It is grown in mixborders, ridges and individual clumps. Ampelous hybrids are good for planting in hanging baskets. 
Wintering snapdragons in open ground
Antirrinum is a perennial plant that can winter in the middle zone. It is prepared for winter in the same way as most perennial flowers. In autumn, all shoots are cut off, and the roots are covered with leaves, grass, and peat. After a successful winter, many shoots grow from the roots, which can be dug up and used to decorate the area.
Snapdragon diseases
In cold rainy weather, red spots may appear on the leaves of Antirrinum. If this happens, treat the flowers with Zircon (5 drops per 1 liter of water). The same drug can also be used to treat plants for prophylaxis, only in smaller doses (2 drops per 1 liter of water).
For preventive purposes, snapdragons are sprayed when planting seedlings in the ground and before flowering begins. It is better to immediately remove severely affected plants from the garden bed.
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 snapdragon from seeds is simply necessary procedure if you want to have these wonderful flowers in your garden or 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 ability to open its “mouth” when pressed on the “throat”, 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 (in varieties up to 7 cm), 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 a break.
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 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 newest varieties ampelous antirrhinums grown in hanging planters or floor containers - solo or as part of compositions with other colors. 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 Antirrinum flowers bloom at least 10 days apart. Usually the first flowers appear 70-80 days after germination. Having made your choice, you can begin sowing snapdragons.
GROWING Snapdragon FROM SEEDS
Seedling method – 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(Mortar, Crystallon, Fertika, etc.), or you can mix 1 tbsp. urea, superphosphate and any potash 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 flower growers 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 done in the same way late autumn or at the beginning of winter in ridges prepared in advance, along frozen furrows. 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 prohibition 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 flowerpot 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 on permanent place you need to carry out the first fertilizing. Key elements The 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(with 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 southern regions The 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 are root watering of plants and unthickened 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.
Snapdragon is also affected by false powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, “black leg” (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 one plant in 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 thing must be observed important condition. 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? It couldn't be easier! In September, dig up a bush you like in the garden and plant it in suitable planter, cut off all thin branches and wilted inflorescences and place it in a cool place, for example, on a closed loggia or veranda), not forgetting to water occasionally, BUT! without fanaticism! Optimal temperature the snapdragon content 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 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 flowers snapdragons 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 garden, and medium-sized and tall antirrinums in a separate group or in mixed flower beds(center or background).
Suitable for balconies, patios, terraces hanging varieties, planted in flowerpots or other containers.
In the video: snapdragon (antirrinum) terry Twinnie F1
Snapdragon, or antirrhinum, is one of the most beloved garden flowers in Europe. Gardeners are attracted to everything about it: a variety of colors, the ability to choose the size needed for decorating flower beds and edgings, the originality of the flower shape, the availability terry varieties, unpretentiousness and long flowering duration, excellent compatibility with other ornamental plants and flowers.
History of snapdragon
Snapdragon has been known since antiquity. It is mentioned already in ancient greek myths in the cycle about the labors of Hercules. The myth of the Nemean Lion tells how this hero defeated scary lion, who lived near the city of Nemea and kidnapped children and animals. The goddess Flora, admiring the feat of Hercules, created an amazing flower, similar to the mouth of a lion, in memory of this event. She gave it the appropriate name - snapdragon.
In the wild, snapdragons are found everywhere on the North American continent, in Europe, in North Africa. It grows especially abundantly in the Mediterranean. About 50 species of wild snapdragon are known. In our Middle lane and Siberia, wild toadflax, a type of snapdragon, is often found. North America and Southern Europe are considered its homeland.
It appeared in gardens in the 16th century, and already in 1567 one of the books mentions Antirrhinum major - the only cultural species snapdragon.
Flower growers in Germany were the first to become interested in this flower. They began breeding work, then these experiments were actively continued by their colleagues from almost all European countries. And as a result, there are now about 1000 varieties of snapdragon.
Flower name
In many countries, this plant was given its own name. The French call it “Wolf Mouth,” the British call it “Bitting Dragon,” and the Ukrainians call it “Sponges.”
The shape of the flower is very unique - it resembles two lips. If you lightly press the flower at the base, the upper lip will begin to rise, as if the mouth of a lion will open. Hence its main name. True, in most regions of Russia it is called the Dog, because the flower, due to its size, resembles the funny face of a dog rather than the formidable mouth of a lion.
Botanical description of the snapdragon plant
Snapdragon is a perennial plant. In countries with cold winters, in northern Russia and Scandinavia, it grows as an annual. The plant is a highly branched bush with pyramidal shape or single stem. The leaves have a lanceolate shape. They come in dark and light green.
The flowers are collected in very long inflorescences, from 5 to 60 cm; in many varieties they have, like the stem, a pyramid shape. The lower flowers bloom first, then the flowering goes up. Each new pair of flowers opens about a week after the previous one. They last for two weeks. The entire inflorescence blooms for about 3-4 months.
The coloring of snapdragons is incredibly varied. It has almost all tones and shades. There are two-color and three-color flower options. Snapdragon does not have only black color and blue and blue tones and shades. The most common colors are pink, white, lilac and yellow tones. Quite rare green and light green ones are also popular.
The fruit is a multi-seeded capsule, which can contain from 5000 to 8000 seeds.
The most popular varieties of snapdragon, mixes and photos of the flower
Breeders have developed a large number of varieties. The following are particularly well known today:
- Madame Butterfly– refers to medium-sized varieties, the flowers are double, bright, of all existing colors, large, collected in dense, tall clusters;
- Rainbow– grows up to 40 cm, distinguished by an abundance of flowers of all shades;
- Scarlett– bushes grow up to 60 cm, juicy red flowers are collected in high pyramidal clusters, goes well with perennials, and easily tolerates frost;
- Tom Thumb– original dwarf variety with delicate pastel shades of flowers;
- Russian size- intended mainly for cutting, grows up to 160 cm in height, the flowers are very large, two or three shades, the inflorescences are dense;
- Lampion F1-a unique ampelous variety for hanging flowerpots and balcony boxes, the leaves are dark, sometimes with a silver tint;
- Black Leaf- compact bushes with variety different colors flowers and dark, almost black leaves.
Snapdragon has a large number of varieties
Various mixes are also popular - sets of seeds with different colors or different shades flowers. Most varieties have several color options. They are sold both as mixes and each option separately. For example, snapdragon Tall, which has excellent decorative qualities, is packaged separately according to color. These are monochromatic flowers - red, white, yellow.
The dwarf snapdragon can be either single-colored or two-colored. In this case, you can purchase bags of seeds of the same color and a mixture. The choice depends on the goal. So, for large loggias, where there are several boxes with snapdragons, it is better to plant flowers of a certain color in each box, and for small balconies, where it is not possible to install more than one box, a mix is more suitable. It is also preferable if the snapdragon grows in boxes with other flowers.
Classification of snapdragons
Snapdragons are classified by height and duration of flowering
Snapdragons are classified by height and duration of flowering.
According to the height of the bush, plants are:
- giants, up to 160 cm, grown for bouquets and creating a background for other plants in group plantings, need a garter;
- tall, up to 120 cm tall; they, as a rule, are weakly branched, the inflorescences are dense, large, and begin to bloom in the second half of July; these are mainly bouquet varieties;
- medium, up to 60 cm; branch well, inflorescences are no lower than those of tall varieties, but the density of flowers is less, they bloom already in June;
- low, up to 40 cm; active flowering, inflorescences are loose, but individual flowers very large;
- dwarf, up to 20 cm, highly branched, low inflorescences and small branches, bloom from early summer until frost, these are the plants that have the most incredible colors.
The division by flowering time is traditional, as with all flowers:
- early flowering period, the first flowers open in June;
- average, not earlier than the beginning of July;
- late, flowers appear closer to August.
Growing snapdragons in seedlings and without seedlings
I mainly grow snapdragons by seedlings, but it is also possible without seedlings.
Snapdragons are grown mainly through seedlings. It should be borne in mind that the taller the plants, the longer they grow before flowering. So, snapdragons of high varieties are sown at the end of February, medium and low varieties in March, and dwarf snapdragons will have time to grow even if they are sown in mid-April.
The seeds are so small that they are not buried, but simply scattered evenly over the surface. soil, having previously moistened it well. It's better if it is garden soil with the addition of coarse sand. To spread the seeds more evenly, you can first mix them with wet sand, and then lay this mixture on the ground. For any planting option, it is worth slightly moistening the seeds spread on the surface with a spray bottle.
Cover the container with glass or film to prevent the soil from drying out quickly. The condensation that accumulates on the film and glass must be constantly removed, and the seedlings must be ventilated frequently. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 20-22 degrees.
Shoots begin to appear after about 10 days. They should be put on display right away. sunny window. The less sun the seedlings receive, the poorer the flowering of adult plants will be. But the seedlings should be shaded from the bright midday sun.
After 20-25 days, the grown seedlings are planted in large boxes or peat pots. Be careful not to damage the roots. It is better to dig up the plant with as much a large number land. After seven days you can apply the first fertilizing. To do this, take any complex fertilizers for flowering plants.
Plants that have reached 10 cm are pinched above the fifth leaf to get more lush flowering. This is done only for tall and medium-sized plants.
Snapdragons can also be grown in a seedless way. In this case, the seeds are sown in early May directly into the ground. But only dwarf, low-growing and medium-growing varieties can be grown this way. They will begin to bloom a little later than those grown through seedlings.
Snapdragon can also reproduce by self-sowing. If the winter was mild and snowy, and last year’s plants were not destroyed, then they can overwinter under the snow and begin to grow in early spring. In this case, large lush, abundantly flowering bushes are obtained.
Caring for snapdragons in open ground
Before planting snapdragons, the bed is fertilized with manure and humus
Snapdragons begin to be planted in open ground in mid-May. Even if at this time there is a slight frost, up to 3-4 degrees, the plants will tolerate it.
Pre-prepare the bed, add humus, a small amount of organic fertilizer and peat. The soil should be light and nutritious. Snapdragon prefers sun, but also grows in light partial shade. But he does not like damp, poorly drained places.
Tall plants are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, medium-sized plants 30-35 cm, short plants at 20 cm, and dwarf plants at 15 cm. Seedlings should be planted in well-moistened soil.
Caring for snapdragon plantings during the summer is as follows:
- watering in dry weather;
- regular weeding;
- applying fertilizers, for example, nitrophoska or complex fertilizers, every two weeks;
- if flowering has noticeably decreased, then it is worth trimming the plants a little to provoke a new wave of flowering;
- Constantly monitor the condition of plants and, if necessary, begin timely control of diseases and pests.
Snapdragons can bloom until almost October if there are no severe frosts.
Diseases and pests of snapdragon
Not only caterpillars, but also many other insects are dangerous for the snapdragon flower.
The plant can be affected by septoria, gray rot, black leg, rust. It is very difficult to cure a plant, and it also takes a lot of time: the plant will stop flowering during illness and will not have time to fully bloom again. That's why affected plants pulled out of the ground and burned. I treat the place where they grew with a fungicide.
For snapdragons, insects are dangerous because they can lay eggs in the flower or leaf axils. These are different flies, caterpillars, butterflies, scale insects. To avoid losing plants, you must follow these rules:
- do not plant seedlings too close to each other,
- promptly remove affected specimens,
- do not allow the soil to become waterlogged,
- water at the root, being careful not to get water on the leaves.
After flowering, the area is dug up, before this the plants are pulled out and burned to destroy possible pests.
Collecting snapdragon seeds
The seeds are collected when they are not yet fully ripe. To collect, take a long paper bag. The top of the selected plant is cut off, where the fruits are just beginning to ripen. Then a bag is put on the remaining stem, tied below the fruit and the stem is cut off. The bag is turned over and hung in a dry, well-ventilated area to allow the seeds to ripen. When ripening, the seeds are poured out of the boxes into the bag. Then they are placed in bags or in a box and stored until spring. It is better if this happens at a temperature of 5-10 degrees Celsius, in a dry room.
Using snapdragons to decorate gardens and balconies
Snapdragon is used for docking balconies, gardens, borders and much more.
Low-growing varieties are widely used for borders. At the same time, plants are planted of both the same shade and a variety of tones. Medium-sized varieties look good in flower beds in the second or third row. Tall ones can be a background for other plants.
Besides, tall snapdragon- beautiful flower for creating bouquets. It lasts for up to two weeks.
Plants of any height are used to create separate groups in flower beds and garden beds. Snapdragon is combined with chrysanthemums: bright flowers Snapdragons look great against a background of white chrysanthemums. Groups of snapdragons successfully alternate with cinennaria and sea alyssum.
Snapdragon looks good in plantings where cosmos, cornflowers, clarkias, and eschscholzia grow mixed together. Plantings are original when a medium-sized snapdragon is the center of the composition, and lower ageratums and alyssums are planted around it.
This plant is suitable for mixborders and flowerpots in front of buildings and next to shrubs in alleys.
Snapdragons are used to decorate terraces and porches. Dwarf and low-growing varieties are grown for balcony boxes and planted in pots. Now there are hanging varieties that perfectly decorate balconies.
Snapdragons are planted in pots for room decoration. For this purpose, not only low-growing varieties are used, but also medium-growing and tall ones. They will bloom for a long time, considering that it is perennials, and the rooms are warm. You can keep plants in pots in winter by creating certain conditions for them - a temperature not higher than 15 degrees.
Medicinal properties of snapdragon
Since ancient times, in Germany it was believed that this plant repelled black forces, and it was dried and worn in medallions on the chest. In Eastern countries it was used as an effective antidote for poisoning by many poisons.
IN folk medicine it is used for liver diseases and intestinal discomfort. In industry, snapdragon juice is used in ointments and cosmetic creams.
In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to the video material, in which you can clearly see how to plant snapdragons in open ground, we wish you a pleasant viewing.