INTRODUCTION TO ANTIRRINUM

Taxonomy

Snapdragon- 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, 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 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). Antirrinum for our grandmothers more familiar under the affectionate name “doggies”. 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 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 of antirrinum bloom with a difference of at least 10 days. 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 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 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 (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. tall plants It’s better to tie them to a support so that the wind doesn’t break them. 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 include root watering of plants and uncrowded 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 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 seeds of stunning beauty, 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 pot, cut off all the thin branches and wilted inflorescences and place it in a cool place, for example, on a closed loggia or veranda), not forgetting to water it occasionally, BUT! without fanaticism! The optimal temperature for keeping snapdragons 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. In another couple of weeks (when young growth appears) it will be possible to plant the plant according to 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 raked up leaf litter. In early spring, the hillock is removed, and the sprouts that appear are planted around the garden or left in the 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. 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

Antirrinum attracts with the beauty and variety of shades of its flowers. For its resemblance to the mouth of a lion, it received a second name - Snapdragon. Thanks to its unpretentiousness, it has spread widely in different climatic zones. Grown as perennial varieties, and annuals. Used to decorate flower beds, lawns, borders, alpine slides. Climbing species decorate balconies, loggias, terraces, planting them in suspended structures.

The flower is propagated by seeds, which are either sown in open ground or pre-grown seedlings. Caring for the plant consists of watering, fertilizing, loosening and weeding. If properly cared for, antirrinum does not get sick and blooms from the beginning of summer until the first frost.

Description and features of the flower

Snapdragon or antirrhinum is a herbaceous or subshrub plant from the Plantain family. Most species grow naturally in North America, but specimens are also found in the southern parts of the planet. In Russia, these flowers are often called “dogs”, in America – “snapdragon”, in France they are better known as “cleft palate”, and in Ukraine – “mouths”.

The name is associated with the legend according to which the goddess Flora awarded it to Hercules for his victory over the Nemean lion. Over 1 thousand different varieties are known that appeared thanks to the work of breeders.

The plant has straight, branched green stems 15-100 cm long, forming pyramid-shaped bushes. The lower leaves are opposite, and the upper ones are alternate, lanceolate or oval in shape. The color ranges from light to dark green tones with red stripes.

Flowers with a strong scent, large, two-lipped. Depending on the variety, they can be terry or simple. The corolla consists of five petals that are fused at the bottom. On top, nature itself formed a lip of two petals, and the bottom is made up of the remaining three. The flower looks like the face of a lion or dragon. If you tear it off and press on the sides, the lion's mouth will open.

The flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a spike; most often they are white, fawn, yellow or shades of red. It is less common to find species of two or three colors. The fruit is a multi-seeded box with two nests; one gram contains from 5 to 8 thousand seeds. Flowering of antirrinum begins in early summer and ends with the onset of cold weather.

IN wildlife The plant is a perennial, but in gardening it often grows as an annual. Under favorable growth conditions and good care Snapdragons can survive the winter outdoors and only get better after a year. On personal plots These flowers are used as border flowers, although they look great in a flower bed or planted in a group on the lawn.

They can often be found decorating terraces and balconies. Ampelous forms of snapdragons are gaining popularity, which allow them to be planted in hanging structures galleries.

Sowing seeds - step by step instructions

Propagated by seed. Seeds retain high germination rate for a long time. In places with warm in early spring You can grow a plant by sowing seed directly into the ground. Shoots will appear in 15-20 days, withstanding a slight cooling at night, characteristic of spring weather. In regions where warmth does not come immediately, it is better to use the seedling method of growing at home.

It is advisable to sow from April 20 to May 20. The procedure is a sequence of steps:

1. 1. Take bowls about 10-15 cm in size with drainage holes, pour soil into them, pre-treated with manganese solution. Compost is added to the base mixture on top.
2. 2. Next, level and compact the sowing site.
3. 3. Then the soil is sprinkled with water and the seeds are sown randomly; they are covered with a mixture of compost soil and sand on top.
4. 4. The crops are covered with glass to create a greenhouse effect. During further maintenance, remove condensation and ventilate, giving access to fresh air. If necessary, moisten the soil with a spray bottle.

If the room temperature is maintained at more than 23 degrees, sprouts will appear in 2 weeks. When there are noticeably more seedlings, the glass is removed. The sowing bowls are moved to a bright, cool place. In the first weeks, the seedlings grow slowly, so the main task is to water them with a spoon. Overmoistening should not be allowed, as the disease “black leg” may occur, leading to the death of the seedling.

When the sprouts have 4 full-fledged leaves, you can move them into separate cups or separate them three into one pot. It is better to place the flower near a window, which should be opened periodically for hardening. It is important to avoid drafts so as not to chill the plant. In order for the antirrinum to bush, after the appearance of 4 leaves, the top is carefully pinched. When the side shoots begin to grow quickly, they need to undergo the same pinching operation. While the seedlings are in the house, they can be fed with mineral supplements.

Planting in open ground

As soon as the weather permits, the grown and strong seedlings transplanted into open ground. They focus on the end of May - beginning of June, when it is warmer at night and not very hot during the day. Do not be afraid of the night cold, as the sprouts are already ready for it. Snapdragon loves the sun. If planted in the shade, it will not bloom well. Their location must be protected from strong winds so that the “dogs” do not lie down.

The soil needs to be loose and enriched with nutrients. A mixture of sand, peat and compost soil is excellent. When digging holes, you should pay attention to the distance between plants: tall ones are planted in increments of about 40 cm, for representatives of medium varieties this figure is 30 cm, and for dwarf and short varieties - about 20 cm. When planting, the sprouts are taken out of the pots along with part of the soil and replanted into holes moistened with water. When the “dogs” take root, they will quickly grow green and bloom their magnificent flowers.

In warm regions, snapdragons are sown immediately in open ground when the weather is favorable (most often at the end of spring). Then the bed with sowing is covered with dense transparent material. When the seedlings grow up, they are thinned out. Excess specimens are transplanted to another location.

Rules for caring for snapdragons

After transplantation, so that the antirrhinums quickly get used to the new environment, for the first week they control the soil to keep it moist. If there is no rain, then moisten the soil additionally in the morning. It is necessary to water more often during the period when the plants open their buds.

It is important to remember that dampness and evening watering can seriously harm snapdragons.

For the normal formation and growth of large inflorescences, it is necessary to regularly loosen and weed the soil - best in the evening. In order for the “dog” to have fewer pests and diseases, weeds should be eliminated near it.

If the snapdragon grows tall, you should take care of its straight growth - tie it to a stick or fence so that as it grows it does not break or become deformed from wind and rain.

To ensure long flowering, trim off faded inflorescences. If you need to collect seeds for subsequent sowing, you can leave a few boxes from below for ripening, others must be removed.

During the season you need to carry out at least two feedings. The first is carried out a week after planting. Nitrophoska or organic matter, for example, diluted mullein or chicken droppings, are suitable for this. The second is performed when the buds appear. To carry it out, you will need mineral supplements for flowering crops. It is advisable to apply urea, superphosphate, and potassium sulfate once every 2 weeks until late autumn.

Health problems and preparation for winter

Attentive gardeners who follow the rules of care will not get sick from snapdragons. Otherwise, the following diseases are possible:

• rust (red spots on the stem and leaves);
• fuarosis;
• septirosis;
• rot.

If a disease is detected, it is better to eliminate the plant so as not to infect other specimens. After this, the soil at the site of the diseased antirrinums must be treated with an antifungal agent or potassium permanganate. Fungicides should be sprayed on nearby plantings to prevent infection.

After the onset of cold autumn, perennials are pruned, leaving a stem of 7 cm. Then they are covered with leaves or peat with sawdust - this will help survive the winter. On annuals, you should cut off the faded flowers in time so that the “dog” does not have time to drop seeds for reproduction. After the arrival of cold weather, the area is dug up, the remains of the plants are burned to kill pests.

To preserve the most beautiful specimens, in October they are dug up and replanted together with the soil in a container or pot. Then they place it away from the windows in the house so as not to freeze.

Collecting snapdragon seeds

For most plants in the garden, the seeds are collected when they are ripe. Snapdragon material is harvested while it is immature. Next, it is brought to the desired state in a room with good air circulation.

Collect seeds in deep paper bag to eliminate moisture that the paper absorbs. Harvesting begins when the fruits appear at the bottom of the peduncle. The top is cut off and thrown away, a bag is put on the remaining part. They tie it with a rope below the seed boxes and cut it off under the bandage. Then the resulting structure is turned over and hung in a dry place, waiting for the seeds to fall out. Storage is carried out at a temperature of about +5 degrees, protecting from moisture penetration.

Types and varieties of snapdragon

Today there is a large number of different types of antirrinums, the main criterion for division is the height of the plants. There are 5 groups:

View	Description	Representatives	Photo
Dwarf	Height is from 15 to 20 cm. The main place of use is borders, rock gardens and ridges. IN room conditions grown in pots and flowerpots. Distinctive feature: strongly branches up to shoots of the fourth and third levels, the main stem is at or below the shoots of the second level	Sakura Blossom, Candy Showers, Lemon Sherbet (Lemon Yellow)
Low	They grow about 30 cm in height. Grown as flowers for flower beds or borders. These varieties are distinguished by a large number of shoots of the second and third levels with flowering, and the main one is at or below the level of the first order	Tip-top ( pastel shades), Hobbit, Lampion, Twinnie F1 (terry)
Average	They reach a height of 50 cm and are grown both for cutting and for flower beds. They branch heavily. The escape in the center is slightly higher than the rest	Golden Monarch (yellow), White Monarch (white), Ruby (pink), Lipstick Silver (pinkish white)
High	Reaching a height of 90 cm, they are grown both for bouquets and as a vertical accent in groups. The central shoot is much higher than the others. Antirrinum lasts for a long time when cut (up to a week), the strongest smell is in yellow varieties	Canary (yellowish), Anna German (pale pink), Madama Butterfly (different shades)
Giants	They grow up to 1.3 m in height. There are no shoots of the second or third order, the central one is higher than the second level	Arthur (cherry), F1 red and pink, Goshenka F1 (orange), Swallowtail (two-color raspberry-yellow)

When growing such an unusual plant, you want more variety. To do this, new ones that have just begun to grow are planted in addition to already flowering antirrinums. With these measures you can get beautiful garden with a variety of colors.

Antirrinum or snapdragon is a frequent guest of Russian flower beds due to its ability to withstand cold weather, as well as due to its lush and bright flowering. Depending on the variety, antirrinum is used for growing in flower beds, for decorating balconies, and for creating lush bouquets. Formally, snapdragons are annual plants, but with proper care from the grower, this plant can successfully survive the winter and bloom again by next summer. The flowering period of snapdragon differs in its duration, taking about three months. How to get such a bright and unusual plant in our flower beds we tell you further.

Lion's sowing is classified according to a number of different characteristics, but the most common classification is considered to be based on the size (height) of the plant, with five main varieties of antirrhinum.

Table 1. Types of antirrinum

As one could easily notice, the range of sizes of this plant truly huge. Starting from very tiny flowers, barely growing up to twenty centimeters, and ending with one and a half meter giants, snapdragons can serve for various purposes depending on the specific variety.

Planting methods

There are three main ways to grow snapdragons in your own beds:

• sowing seeds in open ground;
• sowing seeds for seedlings;
• cuttings

It should be noted that cuttings of antirrhinum are practiced quite rarely. The choice of one of these reproduction options directly depends on climatic features your region. Southern gardeners can afford to immediately plant seeds in the beds - after two weeks the plant will already be pleased with its first shoots. Even random temperature changes will not be scary for snapdragons.

By the way! Antirrinum seeds have one remarkable feature - they can remain dormant in the soil for several years, and then suddenly germinate.

If the beds are located closer to the north, and the climate is not mild, then it is recommended to choose the seedling method of propagating antirrinum. Seedlings will guarantee that the seedlings will subsequently be able to take root better in the soil of the flowerbed. Of course, the seedling method is more complicated, but its results are worth the effort.

Sowing seeds for seedlings: step-by-step instructions

The sowing of snapdragons is carried out already in early March due to the fact that the seeds of antirrinum germinate quite slowly. Those gardeners whose summer warming begins earlier are recommended to sow seeds at the end of February.

Step 1. When choosing a container, pay attention to containers that are not large. Despite the fact that snapdragon seeds are quite small, they begin to grow quickly and if there is not enough space, some seedlings may wither. There must be drainage holes at the bottom of the container.

Step 2. Prepare the soil. You can use universal flower soil as a soil mixture; if desired, you can add vermiculite to it, which will improve the quality of the soil and increase its nutritional value. It is also recommended to mix the soil mixture with coconut briquettes (after dissolving it) and sand. All these actions will make the soil more moisture- and breathable.

Step 3. Immediately before sowing the seeds, moisten the soil. To make the solution more nutritious, you can dissolve it in warm water a few drops of vermicompost for seedlings. Phytosporin or humate preparations are also suitable for these purposes. It is most convenient to pour the solution itself into a spray bottle and use it to uniformly water the soil.

Step 4. After watering the soil, spread a thin layer of sand, which will allow you to better see exactly where you will plant the seeds. Subsequently, the roots of the snapdragon will be able to cling to the sand, which will also contribute to their development.

Step 5. For convenience, take a white sheet of paper and pour seeds onto it, then bend the sheet vertically. As a result of such actions you will get something like homemade straw, from which the seeds will gradually fall out. A paper sheet will not allow the seeds to be poured out in large piles, which subsequently will not be able to take root properly.

Step 6. Sow the seeds superficially, without covering them with anything on top.

Step 7 Spray the sown seeds with a solution of epin or zircon diluted in warm water. In addition to strengthening immune system and improving germination, the solution will allow you to simply press the seeds onto the sand and deepen them a little.

Step 8 To create a greenhouse effect, cover the seedlings with a plastic bag. The optimal temperature for seed germination is twenty degrees. It makes sense to wait for the first shoots from antirrinum within a week or a week and a half after planting.

By the way! Coconut substrate is perfect for preparing soil mixture for seedlings. ABOUT positive properties given organic material can be read below.

Seedling care

Caring for snapdragon seedlings is not significantly different from caring for other seedlings and includes the following mandatory items:

• periodic ventilation of the container. A sign that the seedlings need fresh air, is the appearance of condensation on plastic film or glass (depending on what covering material you have chosen);

  

• soil moisture control. The seedlings do not need regular watering, but the soil should be moistened whenever its upper layers begin to dry out;
• stable temperature control. Optimal temperature regime for seed germination is 20-25 degrees. Any significant differences negatively affect germination;
• compliance with the light regime. When the first shoots appear, move the seedlings to a bright place. At the same time, make sure that the sun’s rays do not fall on it, otherwise the seedlings will become excessively elongated, which is undesirable;
• removing glass or film. The seedlings will no longer need a mini-greenhouse when most of the seedlings have sprouted;

  

• removing fallen sprouts. Unfortunately, not all sprouts survive to pick. If you encounter wilted sprouts, carefully pick them up with tweezers and remove them from the general container. It is advisable to treat the place where they were previously located with crushed coal for disinfection purposes.

Video - Sowing antirrinum seeds for seedlings

Picking

Not all gardeners resort to picking antirrinum, preferring to grow seedlings in a common container after they have true leaves. However, picking allows the seedlings not to crowd onto common territory and live on your own - in a nutritious substrate that helps strengthen young plants. The timing of picking varies, but on average you need to focus on the third week after planting the seeds.

Picking can be done in two ways:

• each individual seedling is moved to a separate container;
• two or three seedlings are moved into a larger container.

Choice suitable option largely depends on the presence or absence suitable quantity containers. For the convenience of growing seedlings, it is recommended to purchase special seedling cassettes, which include several small pots at once.

Among the features of transplanting and caring for picked seedlings, we will focus on the main ones:

Video - Cuttings of antirrinum

Planting in open ground

Transplanting snapdragons into open ground is a very important moment, since it involves moving the plant to outdoor conditions with an uncontrolled climate. To ensure that the seedlings do not die, it is important to consider two main factors:

• landing dates;
• planting area.

Landing dates

The timing of transplanting antirrinum seedlings into open flower beds depends on climatic conditions. Flower growers, in whose regions the beginning of May is already accompanied by stable warming, plant seedlings on the May holidays.

The northern regions of Russia are characterized by occasional frosts that return throughout May. Residents of these areas are advised to wait until the very beginning of June to be sure that the seedlings will not freeze in the soil.

Selecting a seat

Snapdragon is not picky about soil composition and is able to take root even in unprepared soil. Antirrinum has two main wishes for soil:

• the soil must be well permeable to moisture and air;
• the soil should not be strongly acidic (pH 6-8 is considered an ideal soil for growing snapdragons).

Among various types soils, this plant prefers loamy soils with sandy inclusions. Like most flower plants, the flower pharynx feels most comfortable in sunny areas protected from the wind. However, a slight darkness is also possible - it will not cause significant damage to the flowering.

Soil preparation

If desired garden soil can be mixed with a number of “additives” that will have a positive effect on the flowering of antirrinum, extending its time and improving the quality of the flowers themselves. These additives include:

• wood ash (a glass of ash per 1 m2);
• nitrophoska or, as an alternative, universal fertilizer for flower plants (a tablespoon of substrate per 1 m2);
• humus (on average, three to four kilograms of fertilizer are used per flowerbed);
• peat (kilogram per 1 m2).

Before planting the seedlings, it is also necessary to dig up the soil using a spade. This will make it more loose and breathable, which is what antirrinums require.

Planting scheme

Considering that the dimensions of the antirrinum vary significantly, there is no need to talk about a universal planting scheme. Depending on whether they belong to a particular group (dwarf, medium, etc.), there are five main ways of planting seedlings:

• 15x15 centimeters for dwarf antirrhinums;
• 20x20 centimeters for low antirrhinums;
• 30x30 centimeters for medium antirrhinums;
• 40x40 centimeters for high antirrhinums;
• 50x50 centimeters for gigantic antirrinums.

Important! Snapdragons are cross-pollinated. Accordingly, the closer you place the seedlings, the greater the likelihood that the young plants will be significantly different from the mother plants by the next season.

Landing Features

The procedure for transplanting seedlings is as follows:

• water the soil in the containers and carefully remove the seedlings along with the earthen lump;
• deepen the seedlings to the cotyledon leaves;
• compact the soil around the plants so that it tightly fixes the antirrhinums;
• moisten the soil with a small amount of water.

When choosing the right time of day for planting, it is advisable to choose the evening hours, since direct sunlight causes additional stress for seedlings and complicates adaptation. If you definitely want to transfer during the day, then it is advisable to choose a cloudy day without precipitation.

Growing

Further care of the antirrinum does not imply any key features and includes the following standard procedures:

• watering. This is carried out as the soil dries out. If the season turns out to be rainy, then antirrinums will practically not need additional watering. Dry summers will require more frequent moisturizing;

  

• loosening. Carried out immediately after watering. The purpose of loosening is not only to “ventilate” the soil, but also to remove weeds that take away nutritional resources from the soil;
• feeding The first feeding is carried out no earlier than a month after transplanting the seedlings, otherwise they simply will not be able to absorb nutrients. Snapdragon is fertilized every three weeks throughout the summer season;
• pruning Snapdragon does not need rejuvenating or shaping pruning. All he needs is the timely removal of fading flowers, which continue to consume the plant’s resources. Experienced gardeners also recommend removing the peduncle in a timely manner, thereby preventing the plant from setting seeds. This will significantly lengthen the flowering period;

  

• topping. Pinching allows you to make the flower bush more lush and spectacular. The main shoot, as well as the lateral shoots (up to the second order), are subjected to this procedure.

Top dressing

As already mentioned, snapdragon fertilization is done several times per season. Of course, throughout the entire season you can use the same complex fertilizer intended for annual flowers. However, if you want to get more lush flowering, then it is important to select certain feeding components for a specific situation:

At correct selection fertilizers and proper pruning, snapdragons can delight with their flowering for up to four months - from July until late autumn.

Collecting seeds

Although snapdragon seeds can be purchased at most flower shops, experienced gardeners are well aware that their quality cannot be compared with the quality of seeds obtained from their own plants. Collecting seeds is not a very difficult undertaking and is accessible even to a beginner.

In order to acquire such seeds, you need to take several important steps:

Seeds obtained independently are able to maintain their potential similarity for five to six years.

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Snapdragon: varieties and 3 conditions for successful cultivation

Snapdragon - herbaceous plant, belongs to the plantain family. Today there are about 50 varieties and species. This culture first appeared in North America, and only a century later it was brought to Russia. I'll tell you about the types, cultivation and care of snapdragons.

Variety of species

The plant has long, branching and lanceolate leaves. The flowers are of an unusual two-lipped shape with unfused petals.

Almost all varieties and types of snapdragons are characterized by rich and bright colors. These can be either one-color or two-color colors.

There are varietal inflorescences with stripes and specks. The most popular shades are:

• purple,
• burgundy,
• red,
• pink,
• white,
• yellow,
• orange,
• light green,
• cornflower blue,
• blue,
• blue,
• lilac.

As for varieties, there is a huge selection:

Photo	Description
	Giant snapdragon Height: 90–130 cm. Most often, this variety is grown for cutting. The trunk has a small number of branches. The flowers are quite large, sometimes double. They form large and bright inflorescences.
	Tall Height: 60–70 cm. This compact look, characterized by a small number of branches. Snapdragons are characterized by large, profuse blooms in late summer.
	Medium-sized snapdragon Height: 40–60 cm. Has many lateral branches. It is distinguished by abundant flowering, which occurs at very different periods.
	Low growing snapdragon Height: 20–40 cm. The main stem produces a significant number of branches covered with lush foliage. The first and second rows of branches are formed. Inflorescences are presented in a variety of colors. There are middle and early varieties.
	Dwarf Height: less than 20 cm. The main stem forms a huge number of short branches. The inflorescences are also quite short. Snapdragon has small, bright and graceful flowers.

The Antorrhinum variety is most often planted in open ground. A low-growing varieties can be planted on the balcony. All types of snapdragons are characterized by lush and long-lasting flowering, a fragrant and persistent odor that attracts insects. The flower stands well in a vase - from 7 days to two weeks.

How to care?

Snapdragons love and grow well in fertile soils with good drainage. The soil may have a slightly acidic or neutral environment.

Before planting the crop, the soil is dug up to a depth of 40 cm. This is due to the fact that the root of the plant has a rod shape.

The plant is quite demanding in terms of lighting. Snapdragons love the sun, but do not tolerate direct sunlight.

Flowers grow quite well in partial shade. You can, for example, plant a plant next to the crown of trees, a gazebo, or near the house. The crop is drought-resistant and requires watering exclusively during the dry period.

Some varieties of snapdragons can bloom before the first snow cover. But you shouldn’t delay preparing for the winter.

With the onset of the first autumn frosts, the plant must be cut to a height of at least 5 cm from the ground. You should also not leave the height of the bush more than 10 cm.

You need to cover snapdragon bushes with fallen leaves or spruce branches. And in early spring, it is necessary to remove the “blanket” in a timely manner in order to prevent the formation of stagnant water in the soil, which will have a detrimental effect on the subsequent development and flowering of the garden crop.

When growing annual varieties, it is necessary to promptly remove wilted inflorescences, as they slow down the further formation of peduncles.

With the onset of autumn frosts, the snapdragon bush is completely removed. It's better to dig it up and burn it. The used soil is dug up and left alone for the winter.

Condition 1. Feeding

Snapdragon is a fairly unpretentious garden crop that does not require regular nutrition or fertilization. But if you have a desire to get abundant flowering, then you should think about providing the flower with mineral and combined fertilizers.

The perennial plant is good for nitrogen, calcium and magnesium. It is worth considering this when choosing fertilizers. Fertilizing should be carried out no earlier than a week after planting the plant in open ground. Fertilizer is applied immediately before watering.

To grow the most durable and strong stems, some snapdragon varieties need to be planted close to a support. The support can be artificial, for example, a lattice with 10x10 cm cells. This size is considered optimal.

Condition 2. Reproduction methods

Photo	Description
	Method 1. Seeds Seeds can be purchased in specialized stores or collected from your favorite bush yourself. The snapdragon seed is contained in a capsule, which has time to fully form by mid-September. Seed ripening occurs two months after the start of flowering. After collecting the capsules, the seeds are released and poured into a fabric bag. It is best to store them in the refrigerator before planting.
	Method 2. Cuttings Snapdragon is successfully propagated by cuttings. Young branches can only be rooted in dry sand. You can get healthy cuttings from a mother plant that has overwintered indoors. In the spring it germinates, and all the young branches are planted in the chosen location.

Condition 3. Landing

Growing garden crops is possible by seeds. It is better if the seeds are planted immediately in a permanent place, since snapdragons do not tolerate transplantation well.

This is considered optimal for growing in the southern regions, but for the northern regions it is better to grow the crop with seedlings.

Planting of seeds begins in March. It must be taken into account that flowering occurs 90–120 days after sowing. The soil should be combined, that is, consist of sand and perlite.

Seed planting process:

• It is better to use flat and shallow containers. The earth is pre-compacted, it should be dense.
• The seeds are mixed with dry sand. This greatly facilitates the planting process, since the seeds are quite small.
• The seeds do not need to be sprinkled with soil; simply water them with water from a spray bottle.
• The container is covered with a transparent lid or plastic bag.
• During the germination process, it is advisable to maintain a constant temperature of +20 °C.

When condensation appears, it must be removed daily. Ventilation of crops is also a mandatory stage in growing seedlings. Snapdragon loves timely watering, so it is done only as needed. Do not allow the soil to dry out.

Picking is done when the third true leaf appears. The bushes are planted in small containers, which will allow the formation of a full-fledged root system. A complete root system will be considered the main root with the corresponding shoots.

In mid-April, seedlings can begin to be acclimated to natural climatic conditions:

• Regular ventilation.
• Carrying seedlings to the balcony.
• The seedlings are left overnight on a glassed-in balcony.

At the end of May, seedlings are planted in open ground. Flowering occurs at the beginning of June, and when proper care it will continue throughout the summer period.

Pests and diseases

Snapdragons, like all garden crops, are attacked by pests and may face dangerous diseases. The most common:

• Powdery mildew.
• Blackleg.
• Fusarium.
• Root rot.
• Rust.
• Verticillium.

Most often, pests, infections and diseases “attack” this garden crop during high humidity air or under conditions of high soil moisture.

In order to prevent diseases, the flower must be treated with appropriate products, which can be purchased at garden stores. For example, these could be fungicides or Alirin solution.

If a diseased plant is identified in the flowerbed, it must be removed and destroyed. This method will completely get rid of pests.

Conclusion

Snapdragon is an amazing garden plant that makes an excellent landscape addition. garden plot. The variety of colors and shapes of inflorescences will give unusual look flowerbed.

The video in this article confirms what has been said with visual information. And if you have questions or suggestions, we’ll discuss them in the comments!

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), which is also called antirrhinum, is directly related to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the plantain family. This genus includes approximately 50 species of perennial plants, including climbers. IN wild conditions These plants can be found in zones with warm climates, and most species are found in North America. In Russia, these flowers are called “dogs”, in England “snapdragon” (biting dragon), in France “cleft palate”, and in Ukraine “mouths”. "Antirrinum" translated from Greek means "nose-like", "nose-like". The ancient Greek myth telling about Hercules, or more precisely, about his first labor, tells how he defeated the Nemean lion, whose ferocity everyone knew. In honor of the victory, Hercules was given a gift by the goddess Flora - it was lovely flower, called "snapdragon". From that time on, the Greeks had a tradition of giving snapdragons to heroes. This plant has been cultivated for about five hundred years, and German specialists began breeding it only in the 19th century. During this time, they were able to create approximately 1 thousand varieties of snapdragon, and it is interesting that only 1 species was used to create various varieties, namely, Antirrhinum majus.

This flower is represented by subshrubs, as well as herbaceous plants, which have straight, finely grooved shoots, they are branched and colored green color. Their height can vary from 15 to 100 centimeters. The bushes have a pyramidal shape. Above sheet plates are alternately located, and from below - opposite. Their shape can be lanceolate or oval-elongated, and the color varies from dark to pale green, with the veins colored red. Fragrant flowers have relatively big size, they are two-lipped and have an irregular shape. There are both double flowers and simple ones (depending on the variety); they are part of spike-shaped inflorescences. Their color can be yellow, soft fawn, white, pink, red (all shades), and there are also varieties with two- and three-color flowers. The fruit is a two-locular multi-seeded capsule. 1 g contains 5–8 thousand seeds. This plant begins to bloom in July and ends after the first autumn frosts.

Often, snapdragons, which grow as a perennial in the wild, are grown by gardeners as an annual. However, if the plant is well cared for and if conditions are favorable, the frost-resistant snapdragon can survive wintering in open ground. Moreover, next year its flowering will be more spectacular. IN garden design such a flower is grown as a border, but it can also decorate a flowerbed and green lawn(if snapdragons are planted in groups). This plant is also used to decorate terraces and balconies. Today, ampelous varieties of this flower are becoming increasingly popular among flower growers, for the cultivation of which hanging structures can be used, and they will also become an excellent decoration for galleries and terraces.

Sowing

This plant can be propagated by seeds or vegetative way. The seeds have good germination for several years. If you live in an area with a relatively mild climate, then sowing the seeds of such a flower can be done directly in open ground. The first shoots can be seen after 2.5–3 weeks, while the seedlings are not afraid of cold snaps that occur at night. In places where spring is relatively cold, this plant is recommended to be grown through seedlings. Growing snapdragons from seeds is very easy.

Seeds are sown in the first days of March. To do this, you will need a bowl with a diameter of at least 10 centimeters, and it should have holes at the bottom for drainage. Coarse sand should be poured onto the bottom, and compost soil mixed with sand should be placed on top of it. Lightly compact and level the surface, then moisten it a little with a spray bottle and distribute snapdragon seeds mixed with sand, pour a thin layer of the same substrate on top. Water the crops using a fine spray bottle, and then cover the container with clear glass. Every day, condensation must be removed from the surface of the glass, while ventilating the seedlings and, if necessary, moistening the surface of the substrate with a sprayer. If in the place where the container is located there is moderate humidity and warmth (23 degrees), then the first seedlings can be seen after half a month. After the first plants appear, the container must be moved to a well-lit place, but at the same time protected from direct rays of the sun (so that the plants do not stretch out). After the snapdragon begins to emerge en masse (after 3–4 days), the shelter must be removed for good.

Seedling

At first, the plants will grow for quite a long time, and during this period it is especially important to properly moisten the soil. Watering should be done in the morning so that the plants have enough moisture, but not too much. The fact is that waterlogging can cause the development of “black leg”. If the seedling has fallen, it should be carefully removed using tweezers, and the place where it grew should be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or calcined cold river sand should be used for this. After 2 true leaves are formed, the seedlings must be picked into a box or container, and they must be placed so that they are not pressed against each other. You can also use individual pots for picking plants, or you can plant 3 seedlings at once in 1 larger pot. Then the plants should be placed in a well-lit place, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight. After this, you can begin hardening the seedlings. To do this, during the daytime you need to open the window for a while, but you should avoid drafts. When the plant has 4-5 true leaves, it will need to be pinched to increase bushiness, but if the side shoots grow quite quickly, then they should also be pinched.

Planting in open ground

What time should snapdragons be planted?

Snapdragon seedlings should be planted in last days May and the first - June. At the same time, you should not be afraid of cold snaps at night, since these plants tolerate them quite calmly. These flowers can be planted both in a sunny area and in a shaded area, but it is worth considering that it must be protected from gusts of wind and also be well-drained. Suitable soil should be light and rich in nutrients. The best mixture for growing such a flower is a mixture consisting of compost, sand, and peat, which are taken in equal proportions. The acidity of the soil should be pH 6–8.

How to plant

The distance between the bushes during planting depends on the variety of snapdragon. So, between dwarf varieties there should be a distance of 15 centimeters, between short-growing varieties - about 20 centimeters, between medium-growing ones - 30 centimeters, and between tall ones - from 40 to 50 centimeters. After the bush transplanted into open ground takes root, it will grow quite quickly and become spectacular. flowering plant. We must remember that seedlings must be planted in well-watered soil.

Features of care

Growing

Such a flower is undemanding in care and only needs timely watering, weeding, fertilizing, and also needs to systematically loosen the soil surface. Watering should be done only during drought, but we must remember that in the evening this procedure it is forbidden. After watering, it will be necessary to loosen the soil surface and perform weeding; this can be done on the same day or every other day. Experts advise tying tall varieties to a support. After the flower begins to fade, it must be removed from the bush, as it takes away the strength of the plant. In order for such a plant to bloom for a long time, it should not be allowed to set seeds; also, after the last flowers wither, you need to cut off the flower shoot. It is necessary to trim the peduncle under the flower located at the very bottom, only in this case new arrows and flowers will grow. The first time you need to feed the snapdragon is after it takes root after transplanting into open soil, and for this you use nitrophoska and organic fertilizers. The plant needs to be fed a second time during budding; in this case, a nutrient solution consisting of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate is used, and 1 large spoon of each substance should be taken per bucket of water.

Diseases and pests

It happens that bushes are affected by rust, and red spots appear on their surface. This plant is also susceptible to infection with blackleg, root and gray rot, and septoria. Diseased plants must be destroyed as soon as possible, then the area of ​​soil where they grew must be treated with a fungicidal (antifungal) agent. Pests that pose a danger to snapdragons include fly larvae, scale insects, caterpillars, and butterflies that are capable of laying eggs. It should be remembered that getting rid of diseases or harmful insects is much more difficult than preventing a plant from becoming infected. For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to follow all recommendations for the care of snapdragons, so it is necessary to promptly destroy diseased and infected specimens with harmful insects; You should not plant flowers very close to each other; it is necessary to water correctly, avoiding waterlogging of the soil; Watering should be done at the root, while ensuring that water does not fall on the surface of the leaf blades.

After flowering

The flowering of such a plant can continue until the first frost in the fall. After autumn sets in, those snapdragon bushes that are cultivated as perennials should be trimmed very short, so that the height of the shoots is about 5–8 centimeters. Then you need to mulch the area, sprinkling it with a layer of dried leaves or sawdust mixed with peat. In the case when you have an annual snapdragon, then after the flowers begin to fade, you should remove them, thereby avoiding self-seeding. After all the flowers on the arrow have withered, it needs to be trimmed as short as possible. This will prevent the seeds from ripening and scattering on the surface of the soil. After the onset of late autumn, it is necessary to dig up the soil where the flowers grew and burn the remains of the snapdragon, as harmful insects can settle on them.

How and when to collect snapdragon seeds

As a rule, most plants collect seeds only after they are fully ripe. However, snapdragon seeds must be collected in the incomplete ripeness phase. Then they are placed in a dry, well-ventilated room for ripening. You need to collect the seeds in a long paper bag (like for a baguette). You need to start collecting seeds only after the fruits located at the bottom of the peduncle have fully ripened. To do this, the top of the peduncle, on which the still green fruits are located, must be cut off and thrown away. On the part of the flower arrow that remains, you need to put a paper bag, tie it with a thread below the fruit. Then all that remains is to trim the stem below the dressing site. Then the inverted bag needs to be hung in a dry and warm place and all that remains is to wait for the ripened seeds to pour out into the bag. Ripe seeds should be poured into a small cardboard box and stored in a dry place where the air temperature will be from 3 to 5 degrees. In this case, the boxes must be protected from water.

Main types and varieties

Today, experts have several classifications of this plant according to various signs. The most popular classification is based on the height of the bush. Based on the size of the bush, snapdragon varieties are divided into 5 groups:

1. Gigantic- bush height 90–130 centimeters. This plant has a centrally located stem that is much higher than the second-order stems, while there are no third-order stems. Popular varieties: “Arthur” - bush height from 90 to 95 centimeters, cherry-colored flowers; “F1 red XL” and “F1 pink XL” - the bush reaches 1.1 meters, flowers are red and Pink colour(respectively).
2. High- bush height 60–90 centimeters. They are cultivated for cutting, as well as as a vertical accent in groups or in mixborders. The central stem is much higher than the lateral ones. When cut, the flowers of this plant can last for about 7 days or even longer. Most fragrant varieties are those whose flowers are colored in various shades of yellow. Popular varieties: “Anna German” - the flowers are light pink; "Canary" - deep yellow flowers; a mixture of Madama Butterfly varieties - double flowers can be painted in a variety of color shades.
3. Medium height (semi-tall)- a bush with a height of 40 to 60 centimeters. The varieties are universal; they are cultivated both for cutting and as a decoration for flower beds. They are distinguished by their strong branching. The central stem is not much higher in height than the lateral ones. Popular varieties: “Golden Monarch” - has a yellow color; "Ruby" - deep pink flowers; “Lipstick silver” - painted whitish-pink.
4. Low- height of the bush is 25–40 centimeters. They are cultivated as border or flower bed plants. These varieties have a large number of flowering stems of the second and third order, while the central stem has the same height as the stems of the first order or is slightly lower than them. Popular varieties: “Tip-top”, “Hobbit”, hanging hybrid plant “Lampion”.
5. Dwarf- the height of the bush varies from 15 to 20 centimeters. The varieties are intended for carpet flower beds, ridges, borders, rock gardens. They are also raised as potted flower. There is strong branching up to the third and fourth order stems, while the central stem is lower or has the same height as the second order stems. Popular varieties: “Sakura Color” - there is a spot on the whitish-pink flowers; "Candy Showers" is a hanging variety.

There is also the very popular Sanderson and Martin snapdragon classification for year-round cut varieties. However, this classification is of interest only to those gardeners who grow snapdragons for sale.

An amazing plant that follows the contour of the lips and when you press the flower, it opens like a lion’s mouth - hence the name. It seems that it has always been fashionable: it is impossible to forget the city flowerbeds and grandma’s in the village, multi-colored with snapdragons. People also called it “dogs” and loved to breed it - snapdragon, planting and caring for which does not amount to big problems, was a joy for both pensioners and young working amateur flower growers, since it did not require much time.

Sowing: everything is standard

Growing snapdragons from seeds is the most the right decision. Having your own seedlings is always of better quality and costs several times less. But if you didn’t manage to collect at least a handful of snapdragons last summer, you can buy several packages. The seeds are stored well - the plant is not picky in any form, and seed producers try not to tarnish their reputation.

To sow “dogs” you need to choose a suitable container: both are suitable plastic containers, and clay pots; prepare the soil and sow.

After sowing, it is advisable to turn the container into a mini-greenhouse by covering the seedlings with glass or cling film and placing them on the windowsill - at a temperature several degrees higher than in the room, the “dogs” will be able to germinate quickly and amicably.

During the sowing process, covering snapdragon seeds with soil is unnecessary - they are too small and it will be very difficult for them to struggle with such a pile of earth (and for them, even a millimeter is thick) during germination.

Soil composition

Snapdragon, although one of the unpretentious plants, will instantly respond to high-quality soil. As well as not of poor quality. Therefore, we advise you to pay the most attention to the composition of the soil close attention: If a plant can grow in any soil, this does not mean at all that it can grow there. But tormenting a flower with inappropriate soil is ignoble, or something...

To get a bright and strong snapdragon in the flowerbed, cultivation and care must begin with a “clean slate” - from clean, light and non-acidic soil.

Part quality soil for "dogs" includes:

• peat;
• turf land;
• humus.

Humus should be taken slightly less than the two main components, so as not to “overdo it” and not cause some “flower” troubles - soil diaper rash and infection of shoots with the notorious “black leg”.

Grow, grow, seed!

The best thing about growing snapdragons is its record-breaking fast germination rate. Due to the abundance of sun and moisture, the emerging greenery of future shoots can be observed already on the third or fourth day. The growth and development of young seedlings lasts up to two weeks.

If you need “urgent” flowers to bloom in early June, then you need to have time to sow “dogs” for seedlings before March 20th.

Features of the development of young seedlings

Young seedlings are rather weak and uncertain plants. They develop very slowly and require very careful care.

For example, watering: it is important not to overdo it here. Snapdragon is not a fan of excessive moisture; it can react to it with illness or even death. Therefore, a new watering should be done no earlier than the top layer of soil dries out after the previous one.

Seedlings can be planted no earlier than a month after sowing in containers. By this time, the seedlings will have “grown up” and acquired a pair of strong leaves, which are the main signal that the plants can be plucked or planted in a flower bed. During the transplantation process, the main task is not to harm the root system of the snapdragon. Although it looks quite powerful, it responds to damage very painfully.

Forming the right bushes

When the sprouts reach the ten-centimeter mark, it is time for another important step in growing snapdragons - forming a bush.

The height of the bushes can vary from 15 centimeters to a meter - it all depends on the variety of “dogs” and the preferences of the author of the flowerbed. You can devote one area only to the snapdragon and grow it in stages: high, medium, low, dwarf. Those who practice similar experiments at their dacha claim that they are very satisfied: planting and caring for snapdragons of all varieties is the same and not burdensome, and the joy lasts right up to the first frost.

But let's return to the process of formation in the plant correct forms: for this you need to remember to pinch the tops in time. After this simple procedure, the snapdragon will begin to produce side shoots, which after a certain time will give the bush regularity and accuracy.

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If the plant is not too generous and produces few shoots, the solution is to trim the stems that are too long.

Top dressing

We again draw the attention of flower growers to the fact that snapdragon, capable of blooming even on poor soils, will gratefully accept full-fledged feeding, expressing it (gratitude) with abundant and bright flowering.

The first time you need to “feed” the “dogs” is immediately after the picking. The second is when the seedlings take root - 12-14 days after planting in the ground. The third is after the buds appear. And then – “on demand” to provide the plant with the most comfortable conditions for flowering.

The ideal organic food for “dogs” is nitrophoska. You can mix in wood ash.

During the budding period, it is better to use mineral fertilizers as fertilizing.

For permanent residence - to the flowerbed!

Choosing a place for the snapdragon’s permanent “residence” is as easy as shelling pears. The main requirements are sunshine and light, fertile soil. The snapdragon will bloom in the shade, where should it go? But very sparingly and “without enthusiasm.”

Plants are transplanted into a flowerbed no earlier than May 25 - “dogs” love stable, stable warmth, although over the summer they harden, grow stronger and face autumn frosts without fear or withering.

The distance at which the plant needs to be planted depends solely on the variety.

Tall plants in adulthood reach 60-100 cm, they need to be planted more spaciously - at a distance of 40-50 cm. Medium-sized - 30-50 cm - need a distance of up to 30 cm. Dwarf plants, no more than 20 cm in height, feel great at a distance 20 cm apart.

The quality of flowering depends on care

There is nothing overly complicated in caring for snapdragons: watering, but not excessively, periodic fertilizing and loosening the soil. The set is standard for all types of plants and familiar to every summer resident.

It is important not to miss one point: during the flowering period of snapdragons, which is practically the entire summer, the plants must be freed from wilted inflorescences. In this way, you will preserve the aesthetic appearance of your flower garden and extend this wonderful bright flowering time of antirrinum (this is another name of the plant that is not very well known to the general public).

The apogee of sowing and caring for snapdragons is the time of riot of colors of this plant. It is quite long, but it can be extended further and further. The method is simple: tall varieties are simply dug up in the fall and left in pots in a cool room. From these bright plants you can organize a whole garden in the hallway or on closed terrace– and admire it until the New Year.

Snapdragons and frosts

This plant has earned the title of one of the most beloved summer plants for its amazing frost resistance. Snapdragon flowers retain brightness and vitality in frosts up to 5 degrees.

“Dogs” complement the picturesque and colorful picture of autumn, enliven the gray and nondescript one. Showing amazing resistance to cold, snapdragon delights owners with flowers until late autumn. This courageous plant can rightfully be considered a natural antidepressant. Therefore, if you are looking for ways to escape the autumn blues, snapdragon is the simplest and most affordable.

"Rainbow" without blue

These bizarrely shaped flowers are still neglected in modern amateur floriculture. Not everyone knows about their unpretentiousness and variety of colors. There were real people who were surprised to see snapdragons that were not yellow: their perception of “dogs” was limited to the only variety they had once seen in a village front garden.

But antirium is rich in colors, it pleases with white, burgundy, pink, orange flowers. Only blue and light blue are missing from the list. The spectrum is not complete, but surprisingly juicy and varied. In addition to the primary colors, snapdragons can be painted in shades: from delicate pastels to dark ones.

Terry varieties of this plant have a super-fancy flower. Its structure is so pretentious that at first glance one can mistake an ordinary pharynx for some kind of exotic plant.

Snapdragon in nature

Snapdragons are found in the wild in southern European countries. In Greece, for example, this plant can be seen in the forests, there are even legends about it.

The absolutely small and only yellow snapdragon can be seen in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine: the south of Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Nikolaev regions. The plant is recognizable, although it looks tiny, in these parts they say “wild”. It has some fluffiness, also opens when pressed and blooms for as long as the garden one.

Ancient legend

Since the snapdragon was the first to be “discovered” by the Greeks, they could not help but create a beautiful accompanying legend about its appearance.

Not far from the city of Nemea, an aggressive lion appeared in a dark forest. Not only was the beast vicious, it also turned out to be voracious: it attacked people too often. When the lion devoured almost a third of the population, the Nemeans sounded the alarm and turned to the gods for help, since the earthly warriors were powerless against the beast: not a single sword pierced the lion’s skin, not a single spear hit the cannibal.

Hera was the first to respond to the call. She asked Hercules to help the unfortunate inhabitants of Nemea, exhausted by the unscrupulous antics of the lion.

Knowing that it was useless to use cutting and piercing weapons against a lion, Hercules tracked down the animal, drove it into a cave and strangled it there.

This was a victory, in honor of which the goddess Flora created a flower and gave it to Hercules. The name of the new plant was given accordingly - snapdragon and its shape turned out to be suitable.

Remembering the feat of Hercules, the girls gave this flower to soldiers returning from the battlefield.

Cut flower. Shelf life

It’s not often that you can admire snapdragons in a flower arrangement, but they are the best choice for a bouquet. The plant can be used as a base or as additional element– in both cases the composition will look original.

Another indisputable advantage of the pharynx is that when cut, the flower can remain fresh for up to two weeks and not overly impose its aroma in the room.

The unpretentiousness of snapdragon when sowing and caring for, the spectacular inflorescences, frost resistance and the presence of a personal legend - isn’t this a reason to have such a wonderful plant in your garden?

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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

What does a snapdragon look like? The antirrhinum flower is distinguished by 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 leaves. By the beginning of summer, racemose inflorescences with numerous large, two-lipped flowers form on the stem. They have 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. Under favorable conditions and good care, antirrinum can be grown in the garden as perennial.

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 flower bed. Sowing takes place in 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 in a nesting manner on a bed prepared in advance and sprinkled thin layer 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 weakest 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

With the seedling method of growing annuals, seeds should be sown in early March. For this purpose, seedling containers with drainage holes are prepared. They can be filled with soil mixture from the store or you can prepare it yourself from compost soil and sand.

Sowing procedure:

1. Snapdragon seeds are very small, so they are pre-mixed with sand.
2. The soil is poured into containers, leveled and moistened.
3. Seeds are distributed over the surface of the wet soil, which are covered with a thin layer of prepared soil mixture and carefully moistened using a sprayer.
4. The top of the container is covered with cling film, glass or polyethylene to create a greenhouse.
5. Seedling boxes are placed in a place where the air temperature is maintained within +23 degrees.
6. When caring for crops, it is necessary to ventilate the soil every day for several minutes, removing the shelter for this. If necessary, moisten the soil using a sprayer. To do this, use settled water at room temperature.
7. In about two weeks the first seedlings will appear. They should be immediately placed in a well-lit place. Plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
8. In another three or four days, all the seeds should hatch, after which the film or glass will need to be removed.

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. You can use spacious pots by 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 the regrown side shoots begin to grow too actively, they can also be pinched.

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 open balcony. On the first day, plants are hardened for one hour. Every day the time spent by seedlings in the fresh air increases. In the last days before planting, the 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. The weather should be warm, however, the plants can 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:

1. Dwarf antirrinums are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
2. There should be a gap of 20 cm between low-growing specimens.
3. 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 is an unpretentious plant that does 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. After about two weeks, when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are fed with universal fertilizers for flowering plants.
4. 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.
5. Wilted flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form more quickly.
6. 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 arrows will appear on the bush and begin to grow, which will soon bloom.
7. 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. TO preventive measures relate:

1. Moderate moisture of the area.
2. Planting bushes at a distance from each other from 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragon).
3. Specimens affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
4. 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) will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers until late autumn. Its low-growing varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorated with a balcony or loggia.

In this article you will find detailed information about the snapdragon flower. Planting, care, growing seedlings, planting in open ground, popular varieties.

Snapdragon, Antirrhinum (Antirrhinum) is a plant from the Plantain family.

This is a perennial herbaceous plant; in our country it is grown mainly as an annual. Distributed in North America.

In Russia it is grown in gardens and flower beds.

The plant is considered one of the most popular; its decorative qualities attract experienced gardeners and flower lovers.

Snapdragon - planting and care

Description of the plant

The advantages include unusual shape flowers, ease of care, a wide variety of colors and colorful, long-lasting flowering in the summer.

Height ranges from 15 to 130 cm. Snapdragon forms a pyramidal branched bush.

Green branched stems with oval-shaped leaves are light green to dark green in color.

The flowers are large, collected in inflorescences, 2-4 cm in size.

The shape of the flower looks like two lips; if you squeeze the bottom of the flower, you get something like the mouth of a lion. Hence the name snapdragon.

The colors of the flowers are varied: yellow, pink, burgundy, red, white with various shades these flowers.

There are varieties where two colors are combined on one flower.

The fruit is a small capsule with many small seeds.

Snapdragon - popular varieties

In nature, there are more than 45 species of this plant and up to 1000 varieties.

Snapdragon varieties are distinguished depending on the height of the plant.

Plant groups:

1. Gigantic. The height of the plant is from 90 to 130 cm. The central shoot of these plants grows up to 130 cm in height and is characterized by the absence of lower shoots. The flowers of this variety are the largest.
2. Tall. Plant height is from 60 to 90 cm. Lateral shoots are lower in height than the central one. Grown mainly for cutting. The most fragrant varieties yellow color, cut plants can last longer than a week. They grow best in a sunny place.
3. Medium height. Height from 40 to 60 cm. This group includes universal species, grown in flower beds and also used for cutting. There are fewer flowers in the inflorescence than in other groups. Flower size is medium. The group is distinguished by strong branching of shoots.
4. Short. Height from 25 to 40 cm. The main shoot is lower in height than the side shoots. Grown in flower beds and borders. Have early dates flowering, but do not bloom as profusely as other groups. This group is the most popular among gardening enthusiasts. Beautiful, decorative flowers are grown in garden beds, flower beds, and outdoor flowerpots together with other flowers, creating garden decor.
5. Dwarf. The group is from 15 to 25 cm high. It has strong branching shoots and blooms profusely all summer. Mainly grown as annuals for decoration and garden design. In summer it looks like a colored carpet on the ground. Suitable for growing in pots, even indoors. The flowers are very small, the stems are short.

Snapdragon for seedlings - growing features

Plants are propagated by seeds and cuttings.

• How to grow snapdragon seedlings?

The most common planting method is seedlings.

You can sow the seeds directly into open ground; they will withstand a slight cold snap and sprout in three weeks.

Sowing of seeds begins in early March in seedling boxes.

Since snapdragon seeds are very small, they are sown in boxes without covering them with soil.

The soil can be sprayed with a spray bottle so that the seeds penetrate a little into its thickness.

Then you need to cover the pots with film or glass to create a microclimate.

Every day, the glass or film is removed, the condensation is wiped off, and it should be moistened only as needed.

The microclimate and high humidity are maintained under the film, and there is no particular need to water every day.

Antirrinum seeds germinate at a temperature of 22 degrees and moderate soil moisture.

Shoots appear in 8–10 days and grow very slowly.

As soon as the seeds have sprouted, the pots are placed in a bright place, without sun, and periodically opening the film is left open.

Plants need light so that they do not become weak and frail and do not stretch out.

Plant seedlings grow slowly, they need little watering, preferably in the morning.

When watering, avoid excess moisture, which will cause blackleg to develop and kill the plant. The soil between seedlings can be sprinkled with sand or charcoal.

After the development of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate pots or thinned out in the same box where they were originally planted.

Snapdragon tolerates picking well.

Plants should be left in a bright place, avoiding direct sunlight.

Seedlings should be hardened off periodically by opening the window and ventilating the room to prepare the plant for planting in the garden.

After hardening, a plant transplanted to a site can survive light frosts.

1. When the seedling grows to 8 cm in height, it must be pinched above the 5th pair of leaves.
2. After pinching, side shoots appear and quickly begin to grow. These shoots will also need to be pinched later in order for the plant to have a lush appearance. It is advisable to do this with each new shoot to form a flower bush.
3. Planting of seedlings on the plot takes place at the end of May or beginning of June. Tall varieties must be tied up, otherwise they will break from the wind.
4. Next, the snapdragon begins to grow actively and quickly and will delight you with its flowering in June.

Where can you plant snapdragons?

Tall snapdragon hybrids with large flowers They are used for cutting, the inflorescences stand in water for up to 10–14 days, low plants are used for planting in flower beds, flowerbeds are used to create flower beds.

Dwarf plants are good for low borders, balconies, and look good on alpine slides.

Snapdragon flower mixtures create stunning rugs for flowerbeds or borders.

How to care for flowers?

The plant blooms from June until the first frost. When fading inflorescences are removed in a timely manner, it blooms continuously.

It grows well on light soils saturated with organic fertilizers and microelements.

Antirrinum unpretentious plant, does not like too wet soil.

Care consists of weeding, moderate watering and rare loosening of the soil.

The plant is light-loving and cold-resistant, tolerates frosts down to -5 °C.

What to plant with?

The best neighbors are sage, marine lobularia, and cosmos. Thanks to your bright colors becomes the main thing in the flowerbed; non-blooming flowers with beautiful leaves can be planted around it.

Diseases: rust, septoria, root rot.

Treated with the drug "Hom". The first treatment is carried out on seedlings or simply for prevention: dilute 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water. During the growth period, the plants are treated again before flowering: 40 g of the “Hom” preparation are diluted in 10 liters of water and sprayed at the rate of 1 liter of solution per 8–10 sq. m. m.

Snapdragon prefers open areas, sunny place, but also grows in partial shade, although it stretches a little and blooms less profusely.

It is very useful to mulch peat and humus between plants - flowering is noticeably enhanced.

In hot, dry weather, snapdragons require watering, but over-watering the soil is harmful.

• How and when to feed snapdragons?

When the plants take root, they are fed:

1. The first feeding is carried out 12–15 days after planting the seedlings in a permanent place: 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska is diluted per 10 liters of water and organic fertilizer“Flower”, spending 2 liters per 1 sq. m.
2. The second feeding is carried out when the first buds appear: 1 tablespoon of urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate is diluted per 10 liters of water, consuming 3–4 liters of solution per 1 square meter. m.

Every year new varieties of snapdragon appear.

The ease of cultivation and care attracts gardeners. Until frost, snapdragon delights the eye with its varied blooms.

The flower fascinates with its beauty and grace.

It will create comfort and improve landscape design any garden or cottage.

Have a beautiful garden!