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Where to grow seedlings in an apartment. How to grow seedlings on a windowsill (step-by-step instructions). How to grow tomato seedlings at home: methods from conventional methods to exotic ones

Snapdragon (Latin name Antirrhinum) is a cute summer plant, which the Russians call “dogs,” Ukrainians call it “mouths,” the British call it “biting dragon,” and the French call it “cleft mouth.” All these names indicate the external similarity of the plant’s flowers with open mouth animals. The article will discuss how to plant antirrinum and how to care for it in open ground, that is, in a flower bed. Colorful photos of these interesting flowers and information about when it is best to plant the plant will complement the picture.

Description, varieties and varieties

This plant, covered in myths and legends, has been in cultivation for about 500 years. Thanks to breeders who began work on Antirrium major in the 19th century, there are now about 1000 varieties of the flower.

The plant can be described as follows:

  1. Herbaceous crop (subshrub) with vertical stems from 15 cm to 1 m in height.
  2. The leaves are elongated-oval. Below they are located opposite each other, and in the upper part of the plant - alternately.
  3. U different varieties green tone leaves may vary slightly. The presence of red veins is often noted.
  4. Flowers irregular shape, two-lipped, simple and terry. Endowed with a subtle, pleasant aroma. The color can be one-color or two- or three-color. All qualities depend on the variety.
  5. The fruit of the plant is a two-lobed capsule in which from 5,000 to 8,000 thousand small seeds can ripen.
  6. The first snapdragon buds open in June. Flowering stops in late autumn.

Snapdragon flower

There are several classifications of antirium. The most convenient of them is based on the height of the plants.

  • Gigantic - stem length 90-130 cm. For example, the Arthur variety is 90 cm high with cherry flowers. XL hybrids of pink and red colors are also popular.
  • Tall - 90 cm. A series of varieties Rocket with white-yellow graceful flowers and Madame Butterfly with double flowers of various colors are used for cutting.
  • Average height - 40-60 cm. They stand out from other varieties due to their strong branching. Wildrose - pure pink flowers, Defiance - red-orange with a lilac tint, Ruby - hot pink.
  • Low varieties - 25-40 cm. Ampelous hybrid Lampion, Ruby Star variety with flowers of the corresponding color, Tip-top - coloring in pastel colors.
  • Dwarfs - height 15-20 cm. Top-Tumb - a bush in the shape of a sphere with bright yellow flowers, Floral is a group of hybrids with 13 color options.

The difference in height and wide range of colors of plants makes it easy to decorate a flowerbed or container with them.

Growing snapdragons

Before purchasing seeds, you need to decide on the variety. For example, tall plants are suitable for growing outdoors, while dwarf and ampelous varieties are ideal for balcony boxes.

You can collect the seeds yourself, but it should be borne in mind that hybrids do not retain their parental qualities. The collection begins at the time when the boxes in the lower part of the inflorescence are fully ripened. Immature top part green color is removed. A simple one is put on the remains of the flower arrow paper bag, hang the plant in a dry place and wait until the seeds begin to fall from the opened boxes.

Snapdragons can be grown on the balcony

This popular flower is grown in two ways:

  • sowing in the ground;
  • through seedlings.

The first option is simpler, but it is much more difficult to plan a flower bed. Everything here depends entirely on weather conditions. In the event of prolonged cold weather, some seeds may simply not germinate.

Advice. If it is not possible to grow seedlings, then it is better to cover the flower bed with snapdragon crops with agrospan or polyethylene.

Seeds for seedlings are sown as follows:

  1. A low container, such as a box, is filled with fertile soil. Suitable for snapdragons garden soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 2:1:1.
  2. Small brown seeds are scattered evenly over the surface of the soil. Using a sieve, pour them in thin layer soil.
  3. The crops are moistened (preferably from a spray bottle).
  4. The top of the container is covered with film or covered with glass.
  5. The box is placed in a warm place.

Caring for snapdragon seedlings will not cause difficulties

The shelter is immediately removed as soon as seedlings appear and small plants are placed in a well-lit place. Snapdragons are planted in separate containers after about a month. The signal for picking is the formation of two leaves. After the development of 4-5 leaves, the top of the plant needs to be pinched. This will enhance tillering.

How to plant seedlings in a flowerbed and care for the plant in the future

Shortly before planting, the plants are hardened off by exposing the pots with seedlings to fresh air every day.
The flowerbed where the snapdragon is planned to be planted should be located in the sun, without shade. There are no special requirements for the soil, but loam with a neutral reaction is preferable.

Attention! You can plant seedlings in a flowerbed only with the onset of sustainable heat. Even slight frosts can destroy the plant.

Upon landing different varieties The following intervals should be adhered to:

  • for tall varieties - up to half a meter apart;
  • for medium-sized people 30 cm will be enough;
  • It is better to plant low varieties every 20 cm;
  • dwarfs require 15 cm spacing.

Directly planting snapdragons occurs in the same way as most flower crops. After rooting, the seedlings grow very actively and turn into beautiful bush ik.

To create a beautiful composition in a flower bed, choose plants of different heights.

Flower care consists of traditional gardening work:

  • glaze;
  • loosening the soil around plants;
  • weeding as necessary;
  • fertilizing

The plant needs to be watered only during dry and hot periods of summer. The rest of the time, natural precipitation is enough for him. The next day after watering, you need to loosen the soil under the plants (this will promote better aeration of the roots) and remove any weeds that have appeared.

As a top dressing, immediately after planting, nitrophoska is suitable, and during budding good option there will be an aqueous solution of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate (1 tablespoon each per 10 liters of water).

Advice. In order for the plant to bloom for a long time, faded flower stalks should be regularly removed.

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 the 50 species of the genus Antirrhinum of the Plantainaceae family; decorative varieties culture. In nature, snapdragons - herbaceous perennial, grows in the countries of the Mediterranean coast. In our country, its rhizome cannot overwinter in frozen soil, so annual cultivation of snapdragons from seeds is simply a necessary procedure if you want to have these wonderful flowers in the garden or on the 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 property, when pressed on the “throat,” to open its “mouth”, 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 (up to 7 cm in varieties), 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 interruption.
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 in its own way biological features 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 antirrinums, grown in hanging pots or floor containers - solo or as part of compositions with other flowers. 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 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 potassium 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 gardeners 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 also carried out in late autumn or early winter in ridges prepared in advance, along frozen grooves. 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 ban on pinching seedlings, which is recommended for regular 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 pot 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 in a permanent place, you need to carry out the first fertilizing. The key 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 (if there is 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 the southern regions, 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.

Snapdragons are also affected by downy mildew, fusarium wilt, and blackleg (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 time. 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? As easy as pie! In September, dig up a bush you like in the garden, plant it in a suitable flowerpot, cut off all thin branches and wilted inflorescences and place it in a cool place, for example on 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 of 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 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 snapdragon flowers will decorate the front flowerbed; pastel-colored varieties are better suited for the garden natural style. Dwarf and low growing plants plant along the edge of the path or in the foreground of the flower bed, and plant medium-sized and tall antirrinums in a separate group or in mixed flower beds (in the center or in the background).
For balconies, patios, and terraces, ampelous varieties planted in flowerpots or other containers are suitable.

In the video: snapdragon (antirrinum) terry Twinnie F1

The beautifully flowering snapdragon, which decorates flower beds for a long period of time, owes its name to large, irregularly shaped flowers that resemble a lion's mouth. If you believe the legend, the appearance of a flowering plant is associated with the victory of Hercules over the Nemean lion, after which the goddess Flora presented the winner with a beautiful antirrhinum.

Antirrhinum from the Plantain family is represented by semi-shrub plants with branched, erect stems, the height of which varies from 15 to 100 cm. Elliptical or lanceolate leaf plates, alternate on top and oppositely located in the lower part of the plant, are colored green. During the period of prolonged flowering, lasting from the beginning of summer until the first frost, spike-shaped inflorescences are observed, consisting of large, two-lipped flowers that exude a pleasant aroma. The color can be either monochromatic or include up to three colors.

IN natural environment There are approximately 50 varieties of antirrinum. However, in front gardens, varieties and hybrids are cultivated based on a single species known as Antirrhinum major.

Many varieties are divided into 5 classes according to the classification based on the height of the subshrubs:

  • Gigantic - representatives of the class, the height of which can vary between 90-130 cm, are distinguished by the significant excess of the central stem over the shoots of the second tier. Common forms: cherry Arthur, scarlet and raspberry XL hybrids.
  • Tall - the class includes varieties with a stem length from 60 to 90 cm. Among the most decorative are the pinkish Anna German, the yellow Canary, and the terry form of Madame Butterfly.
  • Medium-sized - the distinctive characteristics of subshrubs are height from 40 to 60 cm and a slight excess of the main stem over the side shoots. Popular: yellow Golden, Monarch, pink and white Lipstick Silver.
  • Low-growing - subshrubs not exceeding 40 cm, distinguished by the abundant formation of flowers on the shoots of the second and third tiers. Interesting forms: Hobbit, snapdragon ampelous Lampion.
  • Dwarf - lush bushes for decorating borders, alpine slides with a height of 15 to 25 cm. Varieties with abundant flowering: pinkish Sakura Color, ampelous Candy Showers.

Snapdragon, perennial or annual?

Despite the fact that antirrinum is a perennial crop, in temperate latitudes the flower from warm climate zones is cultivated as an annual. The exception is cold-resistant forms that can winter safely in open ground.

Growing from seeds

Antirrinum can be grown using seedless and seedling methods. The latter technique is more common due to its productivity and the ability to grow plants even in regions with a rather harsh climate.

Sowing of seedlings is carried out in early spring as follows:

  1. Prepare a container for seedlings with drainage holes.
  2. The container is filled with fertile substrate with a 10 cm layer of sand and compost in equal parts.
  3. Seed material is distributed over the moistened soil mixture and crushed with sand.
  4. The crops are covered with glass, which is removed after the sprouts hatch.
  5. The crops are regularly moistened with a spray bottle.
  6. After the formation of 1 pair of true leaves, the seedlings are dropped into individual cups for convenience.
  7. When 3 pairs of leaves are formed, the shoot is pinched to stimulate branching.

Planting in open ground

Strong and well-hardened seedlings should be planted in open ground in the third decade of May in well-lit or slightly shaded areas, protected from the winds. The soil must be fertile, drained and slightly acidic. If necessary, sand, peat and compost are added for digging, which will ensure the above indicators. In the prepared area, small holes are dug with a distance of 15-40 cm, which depends on the height of the selected variety. The dimensions of the planting holes must correspond to the parameters of the seedling's earthen ball. After planting, the beds are compacted and watered.

How to care for antirrhinum

Proper planting of snapdragons is not the only component successful cultivation profusely flowering plant.

It is also necessary to organize appropriate flower care:

  • Watering – unpretentious flower It is drought-resistant and, after rooting, needs to be moistened only in the absence of natural precipitation for a long time.
  • Loosening - after watering or precipitation trunk circle loosened to provide the necessary soil structure.
  • Feeding - when the seedlings take root, nitroammofoska and organic matter are applied under the bushes. During the budding phase, to ensure lush and long flowering, antirrinum must be fed with phosphorus and potassium.
  • Pruning – to make the flowering phase last longer, it is recommended to promptly cut off dried flowers, which consume the plant’s energy. Also, regular pruning of flower stalks with immature seed pods will prevent self-seeding, which is characteristic of this crop.
  • Preparation for winter - if the subshrub is cultivated as a perennial, then aboveground part cut to a height of 5-8 cm, after which the beds are mulched with peat, sawdust or dry leaves. In the case when the flower grows as an annual crop, before the onset of cold weather, all plant debris is removed and the area is dug up, which will destroy the pest larvae overwintering in the soil.

Diseases, pests and methods of combating them

Snapdragon flowers are quite resistant to damage by harmful organisms. However, with poor care, diseases such as rust, blackleg and various rots may develop. At the first manifestations, it is recommended to treat the plantings with a fungicide. In case of intensive development, it is recommended to remove pathogen-infected specimens and spray the soil where they grew with a fungicidal solution. Among the pests, scale insects and various caterpillars that feed on crop shoots pose a threat. Insecticides will help to cope with harmful insects, which should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions indicated on the packaging.

When and how to collect snapdragon seeds

It is necessary to begin collecting antirrinum seed material after the seed pods on the lower part of the peduncle have ripened as follows:

  1. The upper part of the arrow, on which the seeds are still green, is removed.
  2. A baguette bag is placed on the remaining peduncle and tied below the boxes.
  3. The flower arrow is cut off.
  4. The package with the peduncle is hung upside down from the ceiling.
  5. When the seeds ripen and fall into the bag, they are poured into cardboard boxes or glass containers and stored in a cool, dry place.
  6. Storage without loss of germination seed material carried out over 3 years.

So, snapdragon is a beautiful subshrub, characterized by abundant flowering, which when proper care will plant flower beds and balcony pots until the first snow.

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 does not like to grow on peat soils. To germinate seeds, it is better to use soil from a 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 the 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 snapdragon bush grows.

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. Because the 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. You can cut off the top part of the shoot 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, you get 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 perennial which 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 be used to treat plants for prevention, 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.

Snapdragon (antirrhinum) is a perennial crop. However, in our regions the flower is bred as an annual plant in warm time of the year. The variety of varieties is amazing. They can be up to one meter or more in height, or growing along borders up to twenty centimeters high.

The plant is especially popular among gardeners for its unpretentiousness. It does not cause any difficulties during cultivation. The flower is propagated by seeds, and seedlings are planted in the ground.

Culture has a number of undeniable advantages. The first thing is the duration of flowering: from mid-summer to cold autumn. Flowers are grown in front gardens, flower beds, hills, as well as in flowerpots and hanging pots on balconies.

Snapdragon in landscape design photo

Flowers are ideal for decorating borders. They look unusual in groups on green, low lawns. Hybrid varieties help to diversify the everyday interior of houses, apartments, country houses. Ampelous varieties decorate perfectly hanging planters, pots on balconies, country terraces.

Good companions in the flower bed for short and dwarf varieties will become nasturtiums, marigolds, decorative foliage plants. In front gardens, the flower is combined with chrysanthemums, cosmos, and lobularia. An excellent addition to the background will be low conifers with an above-ground part in the form of a ball.

How to grow Snapdragon from seeds to seedlings

The flower is propagated vegetatively and seed method. Planting material remains in the ground for several years and can germinate. If you live in a warm area, then you can grow crops from seeds directly in the soil. IN good conditions they will sprout in three weeks. However, in areas where warmth does not please with its presence, it is better to grow the flower from seeds for seedlings and only then plant the snapdragon seedlings in the ground.

Container and soil for planting

To grow seedlings from seeds, you will need any container. You can buy it or make it yourself. It all depends on the number of plants grown.

The substrate is sold in finished form in flower shops. You can also prepare the soil yourself. Note that the germination rate of seedlings is small. Therefore, the ready-made or prepared mixture for planting must be sifted. To prepare the ground yourself you will need:

  • washed sand;
  • peat;
  • garden soil.

When to plant snapdragon seeds for seedlings

In order to obtain antirrinum seedlings on time, sowing seed material begins in March.

Planting Antirrinum seeds

To grow snapdragons, you will need containers with tight-fitting lids. You can plant seeds directly into glasses, several seeds per glass. If the seedlings are one hundred percent, there is no need to thin them out. They can grow in one container as a bush.

Before sowing, the container is filled with substrate. It is leveled and watered well. The seeds of the plant are small. For convenience, they are mixed with sand or manipulated in the snow so that they are clearly visible.

Rules for caring for snapdragon seedlings

After the material has been sown, it is covered with a small layer of soil. Water again from a sprayer, cover with cellophane, cover to create greenhouse effect. For sprouts to germinate, you need high humidity and a temperature of 23-25C. It is important to monitor the soil; it should not dry out.

Proper care and seeds will germinate after 10-15 days. Then the young animals are transferred to a well-lit place. If there is not enough light, they will stretch upward. The film is removed a couple of days after the seeds hatch.

At first, young shoots grow slowly. At this time, the seedlings are watered moderately. When blackleg appears, the affected plants are removed and the soil is treated with crushed coal or ash.

Picking

When the second pair of true leaves has grown on the seedlings, they begin to dive. In seedling form, antirrinum grows a strong root system. Therefore, the seedlings are transplanted into a large container.

If the snapdragon grows thickly, then sometimes the roots intertwine with each other. In this case, there is no need to separate them; plant several pieces in a glass.

The plant tolerates picking perfectly. Settles in well in the new place. Do not forget, until the seedlings begin to grow, they are kept in the shade, and transferred to the sun after transplantation a few days later.

Planting snapdragon seedlings in open ground

A flower is planted in the front garden in late spring or early summer. It all depends on climatic conditions, air and land temperatures in the region.

Hardening off seedlings

In order for the seedlings to withstand night cold snaps, before sending the crop into the ground, it is hardened off. This is done by taking containers with future flowers outside two weeks before planting.

Location on the site and soil for growing snapdragons

Plant plants in protected areas from strong wind, draft. It can be slightly darkened or well lit. Best cast soil - a mixture of sand, compost, peat. The substrate is thoroughly watered. Flowers are planted depending on the variety: tall ones at a distance of 40-50 cm, short ones according to the pattern 20*20 cm, medium-sized ones at a distance of 25-30 cm.

Caring for antirrinum after planting in open ground

Further care of the flower comes down to regular irrigation, fertilizing, weeding and fluffing up the soil.

Snapdragons are fertilized with minerals such as nitroammophoska, nitrophoska, ammophoska.

The culture is demanding on moisture. It recovers quickly after generous watering. If you forget about hydration, the flower will not open well or even drop its inflorescences. Do not allow the soil to dry out. It is optimal to water in the morning.

It is advisable to water the flower under the root. If this is done superficially, the buds will accumulate water and begin to droop. Some may even fall off.

The plant blooms in waves. Don't worry if there is a sudden delay in flowering. Similar waves continue until the first frost. As soon as the flowers have faded, they are recommended to be removed.

How to collect snapdragon seeds

In order for the culture to form full-fledged seeds, which next year They will bloom beautifully in the front garden; among the flowers they choose the brightest ones in the summer. Their inflorescences are shortened by one third, making it possible to form boxes with seed material in place of large flowers. They bloom at the bottom of the inflorescences.

The inflorescences are cut off without waiting for the boxes to open and turn yellow. They are ripened in the house.

Diseases and pests of antirrinum

With the arrival of rain and cold weather, red spots form on the leaves of the plant. If this happens, the culture is treated with Zircon according to the manufacturer's instructions. For preventive purposes, the flower is sprayed with the same drug in a smaller dosage. Severely affected plants are removed from the garden completely.

Snapdragons are often attacked by mosaic disease, characterized by mottling of leaves. Diseased plants are immediately removed and burned.

Blackleg disease affects young growth due to waterlogged soil. The stems of the snapdragon will become thin and darken. Affected flowers die. They fight the disease by reducing and normalizing watering. Sick crops are destroyed. The soil is treated with potassium permanganate or formaldehyde.

If the flower begins to turn yellow and dry, it means that it has been attacked by fusarium disease. In this case, the stem rots. They fight the disease by timely removal of plants and disinfection of the soil with special preparations.

Snapdragon varieties with photos and names

Antirrinum was first selected by scientists from Germany in the nineteenth century. Today, a huge number of flower varieties have been bred for cultivation in the garden, differing mainly in the height of the crop:

  1. Tall or sharp (from 80 cm). These are varieties of snapdragons with large flowers on long stalks. This includes giant, tall varieties.

« RocketOrchid" Grows up to a meter tall. Characterized by the rare coloring of the inflorescences in a lavender tone.

« VelvetGiant" Elegant and slim. It has reddish leaves, spectacular dark purple, blackish-red inflorescences.

« TheRose" Flowers regular form with smooth, pink inflorescences. They are filled with beauty and sublimity.

  1. Medium-sized varieties or universal (40-60 cm). Snapdragons are bred for cutting and grown in front gardens. These flowers combine a small form with voluminous inflorescences.

« Wildrose" It grows to a height of 40 cm. Pedicels grow up to 20 cm. They have a loose structure. The flowers are massive with a bright, medium pink color.

« RedChif" Characterized by lush, massive greenery. The pedicels are large, red in color.

« BlackPrince" The stems are dark green and appear black. The color of the inflorescences is dark burgundy. Grows up to half a meter.

  1. Low-growing, dwarf or casing antirrinums (25-40 cm). This variety of snapdragon is distinguished by its flowering duration and small size.

« Schneeflocke" Grows up to 25 cm. It is distinguished by elongated leaves, small flowers whitish in lacy inflorescences.

« Tom-Tumb" Grows up to 20 cm. It has a spherical bush shape with thin stems. The leaves are short and large. Pedicels are dense. The color is rich lemon with dark spots on each individual flower.

« Crown" On average it grows up to 35 cm tall. Suitable for growing in the foreground of a flower garden. Characterized by a short growing season.

Many gardeners are familiar with the snapdragon plant. Growing a crop from seeds is not difficult for gardeners. The plant is attractive because it does not create problems during planting and care. With a minimum of effort, a wonderful flower will appear in a flowerbed, in the front garden and even on the balcony in a flowerpot, with a variety of colors and density of buds, pleasing to the eye.