How to plant snapdragons in open ground? Snapdragon. growing from seed

Antirrinum or snapdragon (lat. Antirrhinum) refers to herbaceous plants of the Plantain family. The genus includes more than 50 species of perennial flowers, differing in flowering time, a variety of flower shades and distribution area. AT vivo can be found in warm climates, also found in North America. Antirrinum in Greek means "nose-like". Snapdragon Recommended to grow from seed household plots, because with minimal care, you can create incredible compositions in landscape design.

Botanical description

The perennial plant snapdragon in our latitudes is grown as an annual, since many species and varieties are not adapted to our harsh winters and freeze out during severe frosts.

Antirrinum stems simple, numerous. Depending on the species, they can reach different sizes in height. Undersized varieties barely reach 20 cm in height, and tall ones can be up to 1 meter.

On pyramidal bushes there are pubescent leaves of a lanceolate, elongated shape. On the leaves, a slight pubescence is clearly visible. blooms beautiful flowers irregular shape. When fully bloomed, the flowers are like an open lion's mouth, hence the name of the plant.

Thanks to selection work, not only natural varieties with simple flowers, but also with terry. The white, yellow, pink and bicolor flowers of the cultivated snapdragon are collected in racemose inflorescences. Flowers of wild species are purple, blue and yellow.

The homeland of the plant is North America, it has been cultivated in Russia for many decades. During this time, numerous varieties have been developed that allow you to create a beautiful bright corner in the garden. A pleasant aroma attracts not only butterflies, but also bees.

Myths about the origin of the flower

Ancient Greek legend says that snapdragons first appeared on the lands of Hellas, near the Peloponnese. Here Hercules performed his first feat. In those days, the Nemean lion raged, which was famous for its invulnerability. In an unequal battle, Hercules defeated the Nemean lion.

In honor of the victory over the evil enemy, the goddess Flora presented Hercules with a flower of unearthly beauty, which she called the snapdragon. Until now, in Greece, there is a custom to give the heroes an antirrinum.

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Here is such a beautiful antirrinum was presented to the brave Hercules in honor of his victory over the raging Nemean lion

It is believed that snapdragon is a medicinal plant. Infusion and decoction, prepared on the basis of dried parts of the plant, help get rid of shortness of breath, furunculosis, hepatic and renal colic. The tincture helps to tone up and give self-confidence. That is why the snapdragon at all times symbolizes arrogance.

Types and varieties of antirrinum: classification

Among the variety of species, giant, tall, medium, short and dwarf species snapdragon.

Giant

Snapdragon Rocket (Snapdragon Rocket)

Plants are different tall, grow more often in one stem, have a compressed bush shape. Terry blossoms on long peduncles, large flowers. Grown mainly in greenhouse conditions for cutting.

Among the varieties can be called: Start, Frontier, Supreme, Rocket, Forcing.

Tall

tall plant variety

Large and showy annual plants with a bush height of 65-110 cm. Dense and compact bushes consist of few stems arranged in rank. Snapdragon of this species is characterized by dense inflorescences with large flowers. Tall plants look beautiful in the cut.

medium height

By appearance- these are beautifully flowering, pyramidal, compact bushes, characterized by a plant height of 35-50 cm. The stems are strongly branched, look very lush.

However, among the huge variety of varieties, you can choose with different flowering periods and use them to create an interesting composition.

Undersized

Undersized varieties

Low bushes of plants barely reach 30 cm in height. On the bushes you can count many shoots. In full dissolution, antirrinums look like round ball. The inflorescences are loose, small, characterized by early and medium flowering.

Dwarf

Miniature snapdragon variety

Miniature varieties reach 15 cm in height. The species is characterized by strong branching bushes. At visual inspection it may seem as if the stems are spreading somewhere. Small flowers bloom on short peduncles.

Growing from seed

To speed up the growing process and get earlier flowering, it is necessary to sow seeds for seedlings. To do this, you need to prepare a container for planting, 2 sieves with large and small cells, a spatula.

plant achene

The selected container or container for growing seedlings in height should not be less than 10 cm. At the bottom of the container, holes must be made for a stack of water.

At the bottom of the container, you need to pour a drainage layer, which can be made from expanded clay, vermiculite, perlite or small pebbles. The next step is to prepare the soil.

The choice of soil for planting

Good seed germination is observed in loose, light soil, which can be purchased at a specialized store or prepared independently. For this, 1 part of soddy land is taken, mixed with the same amount of sand and peat. After mixing, 0.5 parts of humus and 0.3 parts of wood ash.

Beautiful "slipper" of an annual plant

After one more mixing, the prepared mixture must be sifted through a sieve. First you need to sift through a large sieve. The resulting screenings fill the container over the drainage layer.

Then screening should be carried out using a fine sieve. This part fills the remaining space to the top of the container.

Seed preparation

In the store, the attention of the buyer is presented various varieties snapdragon. From great variety you can choose exactly the variety that will meet the required characteristics: plant height, flowering time, number of double or single flowers, humidity requirements and growing conditions.

If the seeds were collected in their own garden or in a flower bed, you need to dry them, put them in a bag and send them to storage on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. There the seeds will be stored until spring. Thus, the seeds will undergo natural stratification and will be ready for sowing.

Seeds must be disinfected before sowing. To do this, prepare a solution of potassium permanganate in a light pink color. Seeds must lie in the solution for at least 0.5 hours. After the time has elapsed, you need to remove the seed and dry it on a napkin. Only after all the procedures can you start sowing.

Rules for sowing seeds for seedlings

To evenly distribute the seeds over the surface of the soil, they must be mixed in advance with fine dry sand. Small grooves are made in the prepared container with poured soil, with an interval of 2 cm.

Seeds will be more conveniently distributed over the surface if placed in a paper envelope with a cut off corner. With this method, sand with seeds is evenly poured out of the bag and gently falls into the grooves.

After sowing the seeds, they need to be lightly pressed. so that they get the best contact with the ground. A layer of sand and fertile soil should be poured over the seed layer.

It is necessary to water by spraying from a fine spray bottle.

After all the work has been done, the seed container should be covered with a film and placed in a well-lit place. Good seed germination is observed at a temperature of +18 °C. From time to time, you need to remove the film shelter and ventilate the plantings. Moisten only after drying the topsoil.

How to care for seedlings

When the seedlings hatch from the seeds, it will be possible to remove the glass or film. You need to remove it gradually, daily increasing the ventilation time by 10-15 minutes.

First, the seedlings develop a root system. The first true leaves develop after 3 weeks from the appearance of the first shoots. When 2 pairs of true leaves are well developed on the snapdragon plant, it is recommended to plant the plantings.

Young seedlings ready to pick

Dive into separate peat cups, cassettes or plastic containers. The diameter of the cup should be within 8 cm.

If picking is carried out in large containers, a 5x5 cm pattern should be observed between seedlings. After transplanting, water the soil well and place the pots with plants in a dark place.

Such a pick is called intermediate. It allows you to increase the bushiness of plants. To achieve the appearance of many stems, you need to pinch the top in time.

If the pick was carried out in a common container, then after the spreads grow up, it will be necessary to carry out another transplant. The scheme should already be like this: the distance between the seedlings should not be less than 10 cm.

Plants need to provide enough light, good watering

For successful cultivation seedlings suitable temperature +23 °C. Excessive waterlogging of the soil can lead to diseases, such as black leg, so watering should be done only after the topsoil has dried out.

If a plaque of unknown origin, any rot, is noticeable on the surface of the soil, urgent processing will be required. To prepare the solution, you need to take 1 liter of water and dissolve 10 drops of Fitosporin in it. After processing, crushed charcoal can be scattered on the surface of the soil.

Transplanting seedlings in open ground

Transplantation of snapdragon seedlings for permanent residence is carried out only after the threat of return frosts has passed. For different regions time may vary. Approximate time frame: from mid-May to mid-June.

First prepare the ground

For good growth and the development of antirrinum, loamy soil with a high sand content is suitable. In such soil, plants are provided with good air permeability. sandy soils they pass water well, which does not allow the area to become swampy. On such soils, plants grow well and do not suffer from diseases of the root system.

In order for flowering to be plentiful and long, you need to add to the soil:

• 1 glass of wood ash per 1 m2
• 3 kg of rotted manure
• 1 kg of peat per 1 m2
• 1 st. l. complex fertilizer for flowers or nitrophoska per 1 meter of plantings

Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to dig up the ground, loosen it. When choosing a place, you need to pay attention to the amount of lighting. Antirrinum will not grow in a dark place. When shading, there will be no flowering or it will be very scarce.

You need to transplant in cloudy weather or late in the evening.

Landing pattern various varieties antirrinum:

• low varieties are planted at a distance of 20x20 cm from each other
• between dwarf plants a distance of 15x15 cm must be observed
• tall ones need to be planted according to the scheme 40x40 cm
• when planting medium varieties between seedlings, you need to leave 30 cm

When planting seedlings, it is better to use the transshipment method so as not to injure the root system. Before transplanting, it is necessary to thoroughly shed the earth in order to maintain the integrity of the earthen coma. It is impossible to deeply bury plants - only to the first (cotyledonous) leaves. After planting, the soil around the plants should be well compacted.

When landing, it is undesirable to mix different varieties, since there is a high probability cross pollination and on next year you can get completely different plants.

This method is used by breeders to develop new varieties. It is possible to plant only if it does not matter which seeds will be collected or there is no need to collect them.

Outdoor care

Snapdragon prefers fertile soil, therefore, before planting seedlings in open ground it is recommended to add peat, sand, organic fertilizers to the soil. Flowers do not like clay, therefore, by introducing additional substrates, it is necessary to achieve air permeability of the soil.

The site for planting must pass moisture well, otherwise rotting of the root system cannot be avoided.. It is recommended to add humus, leafy soil, black soil to sandy soil. With such soil, everything possible must be done so that the earth retains moisture for at least a short time.

Cache-pot with antirrinum

In addition, designers use snapdragons to decorate rock gardens, discounts, flower beds, mixborders. They can plant rockeries. The most acceptable partners are sage, kosmeya and marine lobularia.

in our climate perennial often grown as an annual. If you still take a chance and try to save the planting until the new season, you will need to cut off the entire above-ground part, pour a layer of mulch and cover it with dry foliage or spruce branches.

Flowers snapdragon (lat. Antirrhinum), or antirrinum,- a genus of herbaceous plants of the Plantain family, covering about 50 species of perennials, including climbers, common in the warm zones of the Earth, but mostly in North America. The Russians call this plant "dogs", the British - "snapdragon" (biting dragon), the French - "cleft palate", and the Ukrainians - "mouths". FROM Greek the name "antirrinum" is translated as "nose-like", "like a nose."

The ancient Greek myth tells about the first feat of Hercules, when he defeated the Nemean lion, famous for its ferocity and invulnerability. The goddess Flora gave Hercules the one she created in honor of his victory. beautiful flower, which she called "snapdragon". Since then, it has become a tradition in Greece to give heroes a snapdragon. In culture, the snapdragon flower has existed for about five hundred years, and breeding work was started by German scientists in the 19th century, and today about 1000 varieties of snapdragon are grown in the gardens of the planet, and most interestingly, a single species served as the basis for this variety of forms and hybrids - Antirrhinum large (Antirrhinum majus).

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Planting and caring for snapdragons (in a nutshell)

• Landing: in warm climates by sowing seeds in the ground in April or before winter. Seedlings are sown for seedlings in mid-March, seedlings are planted in open ground closer to mid-May or early April.
• Bloom: from mid-summer to late autumn.
• Lighting: bright sunlight or penumbra.
• The soil: well-fertilized, breathable, light loamy soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0, cultivated to a depth of 30-40 cm.
• Watering: only in the mornings in the dry season, plentiful.
• Top dressing: 2-3 times before flowering with full mineral fertilizer.
• Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.
• Pests: aphids, gall nematodes, spider mites, scoops, thrips, slugs.
• Diseases: late blight, fusarium, verticillium, black leg, septoria, sclerotinia and peronosporosis.

Read more about the cultivation of snapdragons below.

Snapdragon flower - description

The snapdragon plant is a shrub or herbaceous plants with straight, branched green thinly furrowed stems from 15 cm to one meter in height, forming pyramidal bushes. The upper leaves of the snapdragon are alternate, the lower ones are opposite, they are elongated-oval or lanceolate in shape, the color is from light green to dark green with red veins.

The flowers are fragrant, rather large, irregular, two-lipped, depending on the variety, simple or double, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, they are painted in white, yellow, pink, pale fawn, all shades of red, but there are also two-color and even three-color varieties. The fruit is a two-celled multi-seeded box, in one gram from 5000 to 8000 seeds. Snapdragon bloom usually begins in June and ends with frost.

Most often, perennial snapdragons in nature are grown in horticulture as annual plant, but at good care and favorable conditions cold-resistant snapdragons can successfully winter in the garden and bloom more beautifully the next year. AT garden design antirrinum is grown as a border plant, although snapdragon looks great both in a flower bed and planted in groups against a green lawn. Often snapdragons are used to decorate balconies and terraces.

Of particular interest to flower growers today are ampelous forms of snapdragons, which can be grown in hanging structures to decorate terraces and galleries.

In the photo: Snapdragon flowering in the garden

Growing snapdragons from seeds

Sowing snapdragon

The snapdragon reproduces generatively and vegetative ways. Snapdragon seeds retain the ability to germinate for several years. If you live in a warm climate, you can grow snapdragons from seeds by sowing them directly into the ground, and they will sprout in two and a half or three weeks, surviving even a slight night cold snap, which is common in spring, but in areas where it is warm without problems comes gradually, it is better to use seedling way cultivation of snapdragon. How to grow snapdragons from seeds in a seedling way? This process is neither complicated nor labor intensive.

So, we sow snapdragons: at the beginning of March we pour coarse sand into bowls with a diameter of at least 10 cm with drainage holes, and on top of the sand - compost soil mixed with sand, compact it, level it, sprinkle it with water from a spray bottle and distribute seeds also mixed with sand over its surface, which we then cover from above thin layer of the same substrate, moisten it from a finely dispersed spray gun and cover the plate with glass sowing.

Every day we remove condensate from the glass, let the crops breathe and, as necessary, moisten the soil from the sprayer. At a temperature of 23 ºC and moderate humidity of the substrate, sprouts will appear in a couple of weeks. As soon as this happens, move the bowl to a bright, non-sunny place so that they do not stretch out, and as soon as the emergence of seedlings becomes massive (after 3-4 days), remove the glass.

In the photo: Growing snapdragons from seeds

snapdragon seedlings

Seedlings will grow slowly at first, and your task during this period is to monitor the correct soil moisture by watering the soil in morning time in such a way that moisture is in abundance, but not in excess, as this can lead to black leg disease in seedlings. “Fallen” sprouts must be removed with tweezers, and the place where they grew should be powdered with crushed coal or sprinkled with a small amount of calcined and cooled river sand. After the appearance of a pair of real - not cotyledon - leaves, the seedlings dive into a container or box, arranging them so that they grow freely.

You can plant seedlings in personal pots or, for example, dive three sprouts into larger pots.

Place the picked seedlings in a bright place, protecting them from direct sunlight, and begin to gradually accustom them to the environment and temperature in which they will find themselves after transplanting into open ground: open the window for a while during the day, but make sure that the seedlings are not in a draft. The central shoot of each seedling after the development of 4-5 leaves must be pinched to enhance tillering, but if side shoots also grow too actively, pinch them too.

In the photo: Red snapdragon

Snapdragon - landing

When to Plant Snapdragon

In late May - early June, grown, strengthened and hardened seedlings are planted in open ground. And do not be afraid of the last night cold snaps: your young "lion cubs" will survive them calmly. The site for growing snapdragons can be both sunny and slightly shaded, but be sure to be well-drained and protected from strong wind. The soil is required light and nutritious. The best soil for snapdragon- a mixture of sand, compost and peat in approximately equal proportions. The optimal soil pH for snapdragons is pH 6-8.

In the photo: Snapdragon in a flower bed

How to plant a snapdragon

Planting snapdragon flowers is carried out according to the following scheme: tall varieties are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, medium-sized - at a distance of 30 cm, undersized - after 20 cm, dwarf - after 15 cm. As soon as the snapdragon takes root, it begins to very grow quickly and turn into a lush flowering bush. You should know that snapdragon planting is carried out in well-moistened soil.

Snapdragon - care

How to grow snapdragon

This plant is unpretentious and needs only what anyone needs. garden flower: in watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds and top dressing. You will have to water the plants only in dry times, when there is no rain, but not at night. The next day after watering or on the same day in the evening, it is advisable to loosen the ground and weed out the weeds. It is advisable to tie tall varieties of snapdragon to a support. Withered flowers are best cut off so that the plant does not expend energy on them.

If you want long-lasting blooms from snapdragons, do not let them set seeds, remove the flower head as soon as the last flowers have withered. You need to cut the peduncle under the lowest flower, then new arrows and new flowers will appear.

As soon as the plant takes root in the soil after planting, it needs to be fed with nitrophos and organic matter, the second top dressing is carried out when snapdragons begin to form buds, in which case a solution of urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate is used at the rate of one tablespoon of each ingredient per 10 liters water.

On the picture: pink flowers antirrinuma

Pests and diseases of snapdragon

Sometimes red spots of rust appear on the plant, snapdragon septoria, black leg, gray or root rot can affect. Sick specimens must be immediately removed and burned, and the soil in the place where they grew must be treated antifungal drug(fungicide).

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Of insect pests, scale insects, fly larvae, caterpillars and butterflies that lay eggs are dangerous. It is always easier to take preventive measures than to treat an already existing disease or expel insects that have settled in flowers, so follow the recommendations for plant care, remove diseased or pest-infested specimens in time, do not let plants grow too close to each other, observe moderation in moistening the site, watering the flowers under the root, and not over the leaves, and snapdragons will not be afraid of either disease or insects.

In the photo: Growing snapdragons

Snapdragon after flowering

Snapdragon can bloom until autumn frosts, but when a steady autumn comes, cut the snapdragon, if you grow it as a perennial plant, so short that the rest of the stem rises above the ground 5-8 cm tall, and cover the area with peat with sawdust or dry foliage - mulch will help plants survive the winter. If you are growing an annual snapdragon, then, in order to avoid self-seeding during the entire flowering period, cut off in a timely manner withered flowers, and when all the flowers on the arrow have faded, cut the peduncle as low as possible. This must be done in order to prevent the seeds from ripening and waking up on the ground. When deep autumn comes, dig up the area and burn the remains of the plants to destroy the pests that have settled in them.

In the photo: Snapdragon flower

How and when to collect snapdragon seeds

Majority Seeds garden plants harvested when they are fully mature. But snapdragon seeds need to be harvested in the phase of incomplete maturity, in order to then finish them in a dry room with good ventilation. The collection is carried out in a long paper bag, as for a baguette. They start collecting seeds when the fruits ripen on the lower part of the peduncle: upper part the peduncle, on which the fruits are still green, is cut off and thrown away, and a paper bag is put on the rest of the flower arrow, tied with a thread below the fruit and the shoot is cut off below the dressing. The inverted bag is hung in a warm, dry room and they are waiting for the ripened seeds to spill out of the boxes into the bag. Then they are placed in cardboard boxes and stored at a temperature of +3-5 ºC, protected from possible moisture ingress.

In the photo: Antirrinum flower

Types and varieties of snapdragon

Today, in professional floriculture, there are several classifications of snapdragons, and the most common of them is according to plant height. On this basis, varieties are divided into five groups:

gigantic

The height is from 90 to 130 cm. The central shoot in plants of this group is much higher than the shoots of the second order, the shoots of the third order are absent. Varieties: Arthur - cherry-colored, 90-95 cm high, F1 red XL and F1 pink XL 110 cm high, red and pink, respectively.

High

60 to 90 cm grown for cutting or as a vertical accent in mixborders or groups. Lateral shoots are much lower than the central one. Snapdragon tall in the cut is up to a week or longer, the most fragrant varieties are yellow shades. Popular varieties: Anna German - soft pink snapdragon, Canary - bright yellow variety, a mixture of varieties Madama Butterfly - terry snapdragon different shades and others.

Pictured: Yellow snapdragon

tall or medium height

Representatives of the variety reach 40-60 cm in height, universal varieties grown both as a flower bed decoration and for cutting. They have strong branching. characteristic feature varieties of this group is also that the central shoot is slightly higher than the side shoots. Varieties: Golden Monarch - yellow color, Ruby - bright pink, Lipstick silver - pinkish-white shade.

Low

25 to 40 cm tall, grown as flower beds or border flowers. These varieties have many flowering shoots of the second and third order, while the main shoot is at the same level or slightly lower than the shoots of the first order. Varieties: Hobbit, Tip-top, Lampion ampelous hybrid.

In the photo: White snapdragon

Dwarf

15-20 cm in height, flowers for borders, carpet beds, rock gardens and flower beds. Grow them just like potted plant. These varieties differ in strong branching up to shoots of the third and fourth order, the main shoot is usually lower or at the level of shoots of the second order. Varieties: Sakura Blossom is a pinkish-white variety with a spot, Candy Showers is an ampelous snapdragon.

In addition to this classification, there is an equally popular classification by Sanderson and Martin for year-round cut varieties, but it is of interest only to those for whom the cultivation of snapdragons is not a pleasure and not an aesthetic need, but a means of enrichment.

And snapdragons, because growing from seeds is considered a waste of time, effort and money. Once they sowed seeds from two or three bags, but, without waiting for shoots, they decided not to risk it anymore. Perhaps you also encountered this problem?

Why don't small seeds germinate?

The most common reason is they have lain on the shop window for too long and have lost their germination capacity. Therefore, before buying, read everything that is written on the bags - self-respecting manufacturers must put down the expiration date and indicate other information about the seeds.

Despite the small size, snapdragon seeds (antirrhinum) remain viable for several years.

Antirrinum - the plant is unpretentious, resistant to diseases and pests. Differs in a various coloring of flowers and long blossoming. mature plant tolerates frost down to -5 °C and continues to decorate the garden after most of the other flowers have died. Under favorable conditions, propagated by cuttings and self-seeding.

How to sow snapdragons?

In areas with a warm climate, it can be sown directly into the ground. Seedlings in this case appear later, but they develop better, get sick less and tolerate small frosts without loss. But if you live where springs are cold and long, then it is better to grow snapdragons through seedlings.

Prepare small boxes or bowls in advance, about 10 cm high. Pour coarse sand on the bottom, add a mixture of compost soil and the same sand on top. Carefully level the surface and moisten the soil.

To distribute the seeds evenly, mix them with sand. After sowing, lightly sprinkle with the substrate and carefully pour from the spray bottle. Cover the bowl or box with glass plastic bag or plastic cap.

Air the crops daily by raising the cover.

Monitor the condition of the soil should not be dry or too wet, both of which can lead to the death of seedlings.

At optimal temperature 18-23°C, seedlings appear after 10–14 days. As soon as this happens, move the box to a bright room, but place it so that direct sunlight in the first days did not hit the plants. Some flower growers recommend removing the glass as soon as shoots appear. Others believe that it is possible to leave it for a few more days, but it is necessary to ventilate the crops more often.

At first, seedlings develop slowly. They need to be watered very carefully, it is best to do this in the morning. Excess moisture, poor lighting and dense planting can cause the death of seedlings. If you notice fallen seedlings, carefully remove them with tweezers, and sprinkle the soil in the box pounded charcoal (you can replace it with activated) or calcined river sand.

Take a look at this stuff -

How to sow snapdragon seeds, video:

Seedling care.

After the appearance of the second true leaf, you can start picking. It is best to use small pots, in each of which plant one plant. Placed in medium sized pots 2–3 seedlings.

After picking, protect plants from bright sunlight for several days.

Snapdragon easily tolerates a neat transplant. As soon as the seedlings get stronger and start to grow, start accustoming it to bright light and fresh air leaving for several hours open window, veranda or balcony.

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Marvelous unpretentious plant with unusual skewers of flower stalks - snapdragons, growing from seeds, when to plant seeds, what conditions are required for the further growth of seedlings - it is important to know this information in order to admire its luxurious flowering to its fullest. Snapdragon is a perennial plant, but in the northern regions it is grown as an annual.

There is probably no person who would not meet this flower - snapdragon. Planting and caring for it are not particularly difficult, the plant is not too capricious, it strikes with a variety of colors and looks wonderful both when decorating flower beds and as an ampelous one, in hanging pots and balcony boxes. Snapdragon, growing from seeds, when to plant, if you sow seeds directly into open ground and when to plant seedlings in the garden depends on the climatic zone in which the site is located, and spring weather should not be overlooked.

How to plant snapdragon for seedlings?

Gardeners prefer to cultivate snapdragons in seedlings. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out both in the traditional way - in prepared boxes for seedlings or pots, and by more advanced methods, for example, by growing planting material anthurium in, cigarette rolls and snails. If you feel insecure or afraid to fail using untested methods, then plant some of the seeds in the traditional way - in boxes, and some in new ones and compare the result.

Due to very small size seeds sowing snapdragon in a snail is distinguished by some features. To awaken such seeds, light and moisture are needed, so they are not sprinkled with earth on top. How to avoid mistakes when sowing anthurium seeds in a snail:

1. The height of the snail is 7-8 cm, the length depends on the number of seeds intended for planting. You should not make the snail too long, it will be inconvenient to work with it.
2. Before planting, the ground should be slightly damp, but not damp. Its surface in the coils of the cochlea should be slightly compacted with your fingers. Where the earth turned out to be less or it woke up - add and then compact.
3. Seeds are scattered over the surface of each turn of the snail (as if they are “salting” the ground with seeds) and carefully irrigated with water.
4. A transparent cover (for example, a bag) is put on the snail. Ventilate daily by removing the cover for 10-15 minutes. As soon as the seedlings get stronger, remove the shelter.
5. After the emergence of seedlings, sprinkle with a thin layer of earth to the cotyledon leaves.
6. Watering the snail is carried out in the pan on which it is located
7. Snails with planted seeds need to be illuminated with phytolamps.

Choose small, thick coated tablets nonwoven fabric with a closed bottom so that the tablet does not collapse. Before planting in the ground, this material must be removed, because the roots do not grow well through it. Planting snapdragons for seedlings in peat tablets:

1. Prepare the tablets for planting seeds according to the instructions on the package.
2. Pour the seeds on a saucer and with a toothpick dipped in water, carefully transfer a small amount of seeds into the recess on the tablet.
3. Set the tablets in a warm, bright place and cover with a transparent cover, which is removed as soon as the sprouts get stronger.
4. It is necessary to water the tablets as they dry out, pouring water into the pan on which they are installed.

When to plant snapdragon for seedlings?

Having made the decision to plant snapdragons, start growing from seedlings: when to plant seeds - around the month of March. For the northern regions, sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out a little later, for the southern regions - earlier. More accurately, you can calculate the timing of planting snapdragons for seedlings, knowing the characteristics of the flower variety and taking into account climate zone your region:

• tall variety a - the third decade of February;
• short and medium height- in March;
• dwarf varieties- until 15 April.

The snapdragon has risen what to do next

Despite the undemanding snapdragon to get healthy seedlings, the cultivation of young seedlings should be carried out at good lighting avoiding irregular watering. A week after - feed with nitroammophos. When 4-5 pairs of true leaves appear on the plants, pinch them so that the side shoots grow. It is possible to carry out a circular pinching when three pairs of leaves grow on the side shoots. This will make the bush lush and enhance flowering.

How to dive snapdragons

Do not rush to pick, let the plants get stronger and form a root system, but you do not need to tighten it too much. Determining when to dive snapdragons after germination is quite simple: as soon as two true leaves have appeared on the plants, you can start picking. It is better to dive snapdragons, especially in hot sunny weather, in the evening so that the plant adapts after stress overnight.

You can generally do without diving seedlings, but simply immediately plant the plants in the beds. But it is better to pick snapdragons 2-3 plants in one cup, then to transplant it to permanent place into the garden with a lump of earth, without injuring the formed roots. Water the container with sprouts generously before picking. It is preferable to prepare the soil in advance and use the same composition for both sowing seeds and picking seedlings. After picking, carefully water the glass with seedlings without pouring too much water.

Snapdragon when planted in open ground

Snapdragon seedlings have grown when planted in open ground: as a rule, already well-established seedlings are planted when the threat of a return of frost has passed, in late spring and early summer. To root system did not overheat, and the bush looked more magnificent, it is better to plant plants 2-3 in one hole. For planting, choose bright places, in last resort- partial shade (in partial shade, flowering will be poorer).

You learned what conditions snapdragon prefers for growth, growing from seed, when to plant and how to care for plantings. Having received this information, any, even an inexperienced grower, will cope with these tasks without much difficulty and grow a chic flower garden. By the way, snapdragons are loved by bumblebees, which will be interesting to watch on a beautiful summer day.

Snapdragon or antirrinum belongs to herbaceous or semi-shrub plants of the Plantain family (formerly belonged to the Norichnikov family). Flowers snapdragons amaze the imagination with their beauty and variety of colors. Serves as an irreplaceable decoration balconies , loggias and garden plots. They delight with their flowering all summer and until mid-autumn.

Strongly branched or single-stem plants with dense foliage can reach a height of 20-80 cm. Their taproot, branched roots penetrate deep into the soil. Snapdragon is a perennial. Blooms until late autumn. In warmer regions it is adapted to overwintering in open ground. In spring, the plant produces young sprouts and blooms until frost.

These flowers can also be grown as annuals. Snapdragon in this case is pulled out of the soil in late autumn, and its seeds are stored until spring sowing. About 50 species of this plant are cultivated.

Species and varieties

The very first in the 19th century, German scientists were engaged in the selection of snapdragons or antirrinum. To date, a huge number of varieties have already been bred, classified mainly by plant height:

• 80 cm - high (cut);
• 40-60 cm - semi-high (universal);
• 25-40 cm - low;
• 15-20 cm - dwarf.

Tall or cut flowers are mainly used to create bouquets that can last up to 10 days in water. This group includes the following types:

• "Alaska"- has greenish-white flowers

• "Anna German"- with light pink shades of inflorescences

• "Canary"- has bright yellow flowers

• "Rocket Orchid" and "Rocket Lemon"- flowers of lilac and pale lemon shades

• "Arthur"- large cherry blossoms

• "Goshenka"- orange

• "Swallowtail"- flowers of two colors: raspberry and yellow

The main shoots of semi-high varieties of antirrinums rise above the shoots of the second order. These types include:

• Golden Monarch
• White Monarch
• Scarie Monarch
• Ruby
• Lipstick Silver
• Tequila Sunrise

Low, as well as dwarf varieties are represented by the following species:

• Floral Showers
• Tip Top
• Magic Carpet
• Tom Thumb
• Kimozi
• Chimes
• hobbit and many others

At dwarf varieties dense and short inflorescences have a flattened shape. Dwarf snapdragons bloom more profusely than undersized varieties.

View called " ruby star' has appeared recently. It has cherry blossoms. Snapdragon ampelous, called "Lampion", bred for. It is great for hanging baskets.

reproduction

The plant is propagated by seeds or cuttings. The second option is used quite rarely, only for breeding some terry forms. Therefore, growing snapdragons from seeds is the most popular, easy and affordable way.

In a warm climate, snapdragon sowing can be done in open ground in early spring. Seeds are sown in well-moistened soil, sprinkled with a thin layer of earth and covered with a film. To ventilate the seedlings, the film must be removed daily for a while. Snapdragon seeds can not be poured, excess moisture is detrimental to them.

In more severe climatic conditions snapdragon seedlings are grown at home or in greenhouses. At home, flower containers are used for this, in which seeds are sown in early spring. They germinate in 3-4 weeks temperature regime 22-25°C.

For the substrate, a mixture of peat is used, garden soil and humus. All components are taken in equal amounts. Seeds spill well and cover with a film or glass jar. When the first shoots appear, the coating is removed. Planting snapdragons in the ground is carried out in the middle of May. For better adaptation, seedling boxes should be left outdoors for a few days before planting.

Snapdragon. Landing and care

Although this plant is unpretentious, it grows better and develops well in places well lit by the sun and in fertilized soils. The soil is prepared a week before planting snapdragons in the ground. For this, for each square meter the site selected for planting the plant must be made:

• 200 grams of wood ash;
• 3 kg of humus or compost;
• one tablespoon of nitrophoska.

The soil with additives is dug up and levelled. Snapdragon seedlings are best planted on a cloudy day. Young shoots planted in sunny weather do not take root well. The distance between seedlings is 25-30 cm. The soil must be loosened throughout summer period and remove weeds.

Watering and feeding

It will take about two weeks for the seedlings to take root. After that, the first feeding of the plant is carried out. organic fertilizer. This may be nitrophoska or other fertilizer, which contains the trace element boron.

Snapdragon flowers need constant watering, but excess moisture can kill the plant. Therefore, it is better to water the antirrinum as the soil dries. And to maintain the required level of moisture, you can mulch the soil freshly cut grass or humus.