Snapdragon - growing from seeds, when planted on seedlings, the rules for successful cultivation. How to sow snapdragons for seedlings

Unpretentious flowers of the original form with a long flowering period are the most welcome guests on the garden plot and street flower beds. It is these qualities, as well as an amazing variety of colors, that have made snapdragon one of the most popular plants used for landscaping various areas. In this article we will talk about planting, reproduction, care for this plant.

Legend

The snapdragon flower (antirrhinum) has been known since ancient times. The mention of him can be found in the myths of Ancient Greece - in the cycle that tells about the exploits of Hercules. The myth tells how he defeated a terrible one who lived near the city of Nemea, abducted children and animals. Admiring the feat of Hercules and in memory of this event, the goddess Flora created a flower that looked like a lion's mouth, called the snapdragon. The goddess Flora gave this flower to Hercules. Since then, it has been customary in Greece to give warrior heroes this particular flower.

Spreading

In the wild, this plant can be found in Europe, on the North American continent. It grows a lot in the Mediterranean. Currently, more than 50 species of wild antirrinum are known. In our country on the territory of Siberia and in middle lane you can often see wild flaxseed - a kind of snapdragon. For the first time it appeared in gardens in the 16th century, in 1587 in books there is a mention of antirrinum large as the only cultivated plant species.

History

German gardeners were the first to become interested in this plant, and they began to conduct breeding work. They were later joined by their colleagues from other European countries. To date, there are more than one thousand varieties of antirrinum.

Description

Antirrinum should be attributed to perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the Plantain family. But in countries with frosty winters, it is grown as an annual. A strongly branching plant has a pyramidal shape, can be found in the form of a single bush. The leaves are usually lanceolate green in different shades (from light to dark). The flowers have very long inflorescences that can range from 5 to 60 centimeters. In a number of varieties, they have the shape of a pyramid. At the beginning of flowering, the lowest pair of flowers blooms, gradually it moves up. Each subsequent pair blooms a week after the previous one. Each pair continues to bloom for two weeks, and the flowering period of the whole plant is 3-4 months. The fruit of the plant is a multi-seeded box, where there are from 500 to 800 seeds.

Snapdragon flowers can be double and simple, with an open or closed corolla, they resemble the open mouth of a lion. Flowering time is very long, lasts from early summer to late autumn. The coloration of the antirrinum is diverse. There are almost all colors and shades, except for black and blue. Petals are two-color and three-color.

Types of antirrinum

All varieties of snapdragon are divided into four groups, which are subdivided according to the size of the stem. The variety of varieties and colors offers gardeners a huge selection of flowers of the right size and suitable color. Their size can be from twenty centimeters to one meter.

Dwarf

The antirrinum of this species grows no more than 25 centimeters. Used for growing in pots, flowerpots and on balconies. Gardeners often plant compact bright bushes in rockeries, they also look good as borders.

short and medium

Snapdragon of these species is most often grown for decoration of flower beds, to create flower arrangements with other flowers. The growth of a stunted plant is 40, and the average is 40-60 centimeters.

Tall and gigantic

A tall plant grows at least 60 centimeters. giant view antirrinuma has a height of at least 80 centimeters. A feature of these species is that they practically do not branch, they need to make a support.

Ampelny

The antirrinum of the ampelous variety will look very impressive in a garden in which there are buildings with columns. He will be able to decorate them with unusually beautiful flower garlands falling down.

Like all flowers, antirrinum has different ripening periods:

• early dates flowering - from June;
• medium - in early July;
• late - by the beginning of August.

Snapdragon: growing from seed, when to plant

Antirrinum propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seeds can be sown in open ground (in warm climates) and through seedlings. In the latter case, seeds are sown in March.

The plant does not like to grow on peat and clay soils. For growing seedlings, it is preferable to use a mixture of fertile soil (you can compost) and river sand on a one-to-one basis.

Snapdragon planting and care

For sowing it is very convenient to use plastic containers with a lid. You can take disposable plastic cups and sow a few seeds in them (no more than 2-3). When shoots appear, the seedlings are not thinned out, but left to grow as a bush.

Before sowing, the container is filled with suitable soil, well moistened. Antirrinum seeds are very small, so when sowing, you can use the following methods:

1. A thin layer of snow is poured onto the surface of the substrate and sowing is carried out on it.
2. Combine the seeds with fine sand, which also simplifies the process.

Seedling care

After sowing the seeds, they are sprinkled on top with a thin layer of earth (you can use a sieve) and moistened with a sprayer. Top with a lid or cover with a film. Seeds during germination need high humidity and a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C. The soil must be kept moist and not allowed to dry out.

With proper care, snapdragon sprouts when grown from seeds appear 10-15 days after sowing. As soon as sprouts appear, the container must be moved to a more lit place, otherwise the seedlings may stretch. The film should be removed a few days after shoots appear.

Plants grow quite slowly at first, but don't worry. Watering at this time should be very moderate. If a black leg is found in a plant, it must be removed immediately, and it is recommended to sprinkle the soil with crushed activated carbon or wood ash. For any type of rot, you should use the Fitosporin preparation in the amount of 10 drops per liter of water.

picking

When the snapdragon seedlings (pictured) appear in the second pair of true leaves, it's time to start diving. This procedure should be carried out with extreme caution so as not to damage the delicate roots. For a plant, containers with a diameter of no more than 10 cm are chosen, focusing on the variety; it is not advisable to use spacious pots. Before planting (per day), the soil is not moistened, this is necessary for easier extraction of seedlings with a good earthen clod. The seedling is first laid out on a flat surface, a depression is made in the pot and the seedling is placed in it.

Experts advise to carry out two snapdragon picks. The first - in the phase of the second pair of true leaves, and the second - after 30 days. When the plants reach 10 centimeters, experienced growers It is recommended to pinch the top. This promotes the emergence of new lateral shoots, which will eventually give more stems and the flower will be more lush.

In the event that ready-made seedlings are purchased, it is necessary to pay attention to its following qualities: the leaves should be juicy green in color, the stem should not be too thin. But it is especially important that the plant has developed root system.

Landing in the ground

Consider the features of planting and leaving snapdragons (with photo) in the ground. You need to be aware that when breeding different varieties and their close planting, cross-pollination is possible, in which new plants on next year(when collecting and planting these seeds) will differ significantly from their parents. Snapdragons should be planted in the ground when the threat of spring frost has passed. Depending on the region, planting is carried out from the first days of May to mid-June.

Loam and loam are considered the most suitable soil for antirrinum. sandy soil with good water and breathability. If you want to get a more lush and long flowering, then you should add to the soil:

• complex fertilizer for flowers (st. Spoon), or nitrophoska;
• peat (1 kg per square meter);
• humus (3-4 kg);
• wood ash (1 tbsp per square meter).

The soil is well dug up and loosened. In the garden for planting a snapdragon flower, the lightest place is chosen, the dark one does not fit at all - the plants will not bloom. In partial shade, less lush, scarce flowering is observed.

It is best to transplant in evening time or cloudy weather. For different varieties, when planting, different intervals between plants are provided:

• dwarf varieties - 15x15 cm;
• low grades - 20x20 cm;
• medium - 30x30 cm;
• high - from 40 centimeters.

In the wells prepared in advance, the plants from the pot are released along with an earthen clod. Deepen the flower should be to the cotyledon leaves. The earth around the plants is lightly tamped with the help of the palms and watered.

Summer flower care

To maintain moisture in the soil and better flowering, antirrinum bushes must be mulched. As a covering material, it is best to use straw, sand, sawdust. The flower does not like drought, but when excess moisture starts to hurt. Therefore, watering should be regular, but moderate. It is better to water the plant under the root in the morning: this will help to avoid diseases associated with improper watering.

25-30 days after the snapdragon flower has been planted in the ground, it must be fed with a complex fertilizer for annual garden flowers. Top dressing must be done regularly, throughout the summer. The interval between them should be 2-3 weeks.

When landing on heavy soil, in order to achieve good growth plants, it is necessary to carry out not only timely feeding, but also loosening, tying high species. Loosening protects the root system from diseases and leaching. Tying can prevent the death of tall bushes in windy weather.

If you pinch the main and side shoots second order, the splendor of the bush will increase significantly. If the antirrinum does not bloom, it is necessary to cut off the longest shoots and its flowering will resume. To make it longer, the buds that have already faded must be removed.

Cold resistance

Snapdragon is able to withstand small sub-zero temperatures(up to -4), then acquiring its original form. Therefore, you can admire the luxurious flowering until the very frost.

cut

To use cut flowers, they must be removed before they bloom. In this case, a snapdragon bouquet at home can be stored for a long time.

Healing properties

Antirrinum is very ornamental plant, but its flowers are also successfully used in folk medicine. An infusion of its flowers is used for bloating, some liver diseases. During the recovery period after hepatitis, it is good to use a mixture of immortelle flowers, snapdragons and corn stigmas. An infusion of antirrinum is used for shortness of breath, dropsy and severe headaches. Externally, an infusion of this flower is used for hemorrhoids, boils, open ulcers on the skin.

Popular varieties of antirrinum

Breeders have bred a huge number of varieties of snapdragon. Photos of flowers and a description of the most famous of them are presented below:

1. Madame Butterfly. Medium-sized variety, inflorescences are large, terry, unusually bright, of all existing shades, collected in high dense brushes.
2. Rainbow. Grows up to 40 centimeters. Differs in a large abundance of flowers of various shades.
3. Scarlett. Bush up to 60 centimeters high. Inflorescences of red juicy color, collected in tall pyramidal brushes. The variety is frost-resistant, goes well with perennials in flower arrangements.
4. Tom Thumb. Refers to dwarf species. Original variety with inflorescence colors pastel colors and shades.
5. Russian size. The variety is intended for cutting, reaches 160 centimeters. The flowers are large, usually two or three shades, with dense inflorescences.
6. Lampion F1. Absolutely unique variety ampelous type. Used for hanging planters, grown on balconies and loggias. The leaves are dark in color with a silvery tint.
7. Black Leaf. Small neat bushes. Inflorescences have a variety of colors of flowers, the leaves are dark, almost black.

Various mixes (a set of seeds with different colors) are popular. Most varieties of snapdragon (photo) have several color options. You can buy them in the form of mixes or separately.

Collection of seed material

The collection of snapdragon seeds should be carried out at a time when they are not yet fully ripe. To collect, you need to prepare a long paper bag. The desired specimen is selected, its top is cut off, where the fruits have just begun to ripen. A paper bag is put on the remaining stem, which is tied up below the fruit, and then the stem is cut off. The paper bag is turned over and stored in a dry, ventilated area until the seeds ripen. As soon as the seeds ripen, they will be poured from the seed box into the bag. After that, they are laid out in boxes or bags and stored in a cool room with an air temperature of 5-10 ° C.

Diseases and pests

Antirrinum is susceptible to the following diseases: gray rot, rust, septoria, black leg. Treatment of a plant for these diseases is complex and time consuming. Flowering during this period completely stops and the flower does not have time to fully bloom again. Therefore, diseased plants should be pulled out of the soil and burned. Infected soil is treated with a fungicide.

Insects that can lay eggs in flowers or leaf axils are dangerous for flowers. It can be various flies, scale insects, caterpillars and butterflies. To prevent this, you should follow a number of rules:

• do not plant seedlings at a close distance from each other;
• immediately remove damaged plants;
• prevent waterlogging of the soil;
• water under the root, preventing water from getting on the leaves.

After flowering is over, all plants are collected and burned to remove possible pests, and the site is dug up.

You should not grow snapdragons in one stem.

The snapdragon flower has a number of undeniable advantages. First of all, it is unpretentiousness and bright, long flowering from mid-summer to late autumn. You can grow snapdragons not only in flower beds and slides, but also on loggias in pots and hanging baskets.

Snapdragon flower (Antirrhinum) - perennial, but it blooms and produces seeds in the first year. That is why it is mainly grown as an annual. This flower can form a powerful shrub with a well-developed root system. Such bushes are able to safely winter even in the middle lane.

Thanks to the work of breeders, flower growers can grow hundreds of varieties of Antirrinum. There are dwarf varieties (15 - 20 cm), medium-sized (40 - 50 cm) and tall (90 - 100 cm). In addition, ampelous forms of snapdragons with drooping shoots have recently appeared, the length of such shoots reaches 1 meter.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

When to sow.

When growing snapdragons through seedlings, seeds should be sown in early March.

Substrate for seed germination.

Snapdragon does not like to grow on peat soils. For seed germination, it is better to use soil from compost heap and river sand in a ratio of one to one.

How to sow the seeds of Antirrinum.

Growing snapdragons from seeds is conveniently done in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. You can sow the seeds immediately in cups, and several seeds in one cup. If 3-4 seeds germinate, then there is no need to thin them out, let them continue to grow in one bush.

Before sowing, the container or cup is filled with soil, the soil is leveled and abundantly moistened. Snapdragon seeds are very small, for convenience, snow is poured on top of the substrate and the seeds are sown in the snow, then they are clearly visible. It is only necessary to take into account that the snow in the room melts quickly. You can mix the seeds with sand, this also greatly simplifies the sowing process.

Care of snapdragon seedlings.

After the snapdragon seeds are sown, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, moistened again with dewdrops and covered with a lid or film. Seeds need to germinate high humidity and a temperature of 23 - 25 degrees. Keep an eye on soil moisture; when the substrate dries, it must be moistened periodically.

Young snapdragon seedlings

With proper care, the seeds will germinate in 10-15 days. After the appearance of young sprouts, the seedling container is transferred to a well-lit place. Otherwise, with a lack of lighting, the seedlings will quickly stretch. The film can be removed a few days after seed germination.

Young plants grow slowly at first, this should not disturb you. At this time, Antirrinum seedlings should be watered very sparingly. If signs of a black leg appear, immediately remove all affected seedlings, and sprinkle the soil with ash or crushed activated charcoal.

As you probably already noticed, there is nothing unusual in growing snapdragons from seeds, and all other flowers are grown from seeds in much the same way.

Seedling picking.

When the seedlings have a second pair of true leaves, you can start diving seedlings. At Antirrinum, a powerful root system grows already in the seedling period, so the plants should be dived into large cups with a volume of 0.5 liters.

Antirrinum seedlings after picking.

If the seedlings grew densely, then sometimes the roots of neighboring plants grow together. In such cases, do not try to separate them, just plant a few in cups.

Snapdragon easily tolerates a pick and is quickly accepted in a new place. But while the seedlings have not started to grow, they must be kept in the shade, and taken out in the sun a few days after transplantation.

Pinching seedlings.

You should not grow snapdragons in one stem. The plant looks much more attractive when it grows into a bush. To do this, the Antirrinum shoot is pinched over the fifth leaf. If side shoots begin to grow rapidly, it is better to pinch them too. As a result, a powerful, beautiful snapdragon bush grows.

Growing snapdragons from seeds in open ground

You can also grow snapdragons from seeds in open ground. You just have to say right away that these flowers will bloom only at the end of July or at the beginning of August, but they will bloom until frost.

Antirrinum grown from seeds.

It is customary to sow snapdragons into the ground with so-called steeps. Krutins are formed about 40 by 40 cm in size. 4-5 Antirrinum bushes are grown in one krutin, but much more seeds need to be sown there. Excess seedlings can later be pulled through.

Sow seeds in the ground in late April, early May. Insofar as spring frosts can destroy seedlings, the twists are covered with some kind of covering material.

Growing and caring for Antirrinum

Flower growers rarely plant snapdragons in the foreground, considering this flower not to be spectacular enough. But this is because few people know how to properly grow snapdragons. Most often, snapdragons are grown in one stem, and even varieties are selected with a height of 30 - 40 cm.

Antirrinum should be grown in bushes. To do this, just cut off the top of the plant. You can cut off the upper part of the shoot both in seedlings and in adults, and even flowering plants. After some time, the snapdragon will grow not one, but as many as 8 - 12 shoots.

When growing tall varieties, the height of which reaches one meter, a huge flowering bush. Fading shoots should also be removed and then new, young shoots will grow again instead of them.

Snapdragon can grow in the sun, in partial shade and on almost any soil. It is grown in mixborders, discounts and individual crops. Ampel hybrids are good for planting in hanging baskets.

Wintering snapdragons in the open field

Antirrinum is a perennial plant that can winter in the middle zone. It is prepared for winter in the same way as most perennial flowers. In autumn, all shoots are cut off, and the roots are covered with leaves, grass, peat. After a successful wintering, many shoots grow from the roots, which can be dug up and used to decorate the site.

Snapdragon diseases

In cold rainy weather, red spots may appear on the leaves of Antirrinum. If this happens, treat the flowers with Zircon (5 drops per 1 liter of water). Plants can also be treated with the same preparation for prevention, only in smaller doses (2 drops per 1 liter of water).

For preventive purposes, snapdragons are sprayed when planting seedlings in the ground and before flowering. Heavily affected plants are best removed from the garden immediately.

How to collect snapdragon seeds

In order for snapdragons to form full-fledged seeds, which will give life to highly decorative bushes next season, the most beautiful ones are chosen among plants in the summer. Their inflorescences are shortened by one third, thereby making it possible for seed pods to form in place of the largest flowers.

And the largest flowers, as you noticed, bloom at the bottom of the inflorescences. Without waiting for the seed pods to turn yellow and open, cut off the inflorescences and ripen indoors.

If you are thinking of diversifying your landscape design with tall plants with long stems that would stand out against the background of undersized compositions, pay attention to a flower called snapdragon. The material of this article is devoted to the proper planting of these flowers and the basic rules for caring for them.

Botanical description

Snapdragon - semi-shrub or herbaceous plant with straight, slightly branching finely furrowed stems, the length of which varies from 10 cm to 1 m. Bush this plant its shape resembles a pyramid. The leaves on top are in alternate order, and those on the bottom are opposite. Their shape is lanceolate or elongated-oval, the color varies from light green to rich emerald green with reddish stripes.

Did you know? Snapdragon has found wide application in folk medicine. Decoctions, steams, infusions and teas from it are used to treat various liver diseases, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory apparatus.

The flowers have a pleasant aroma. They are quite large sizes And irregular shape, two-lipped, can be both terry and simple. Inflorescence - ear. The color of the flowers can be white, pink, yellow, any shade of red. There are also subspecies that can show several colors at the same time. The fruit is represented by a multi-seeded box, which contains an average of 6 thousand seeds.

When to Plant Snapdragon

In order to get the best result, it is worth knowing exactly the time for planting seedlings in open ground, or correctly calculating the time for sowing seeds, depending on which planting method you prefer. You can find more detailed information about the terms and conditions of disembarkation in this section.

Sowing seeds

Using this method does not guarantee a good result, especially if you live in a cold climate. However, in southern regions you can try to sow the seeds directly in the open ground in mid-April - early May. Seeds of snapdragons are quite frost-resistant and are able to survive even small night frosts.

Important! It is best to sow seeds when the average daily air temperature exceeds +7 ... + 10 ° С. Compliance with this rule is almost a 100% guarantee of their successful germination.

Transplanting

Planting seedlings gives more reliable results, because the plant, during the time you take care of it in greenhouse conditions, has time to get stronger and build up a vegetative mass, which will later help it to strengthen and continue the process of growth and development. The optimal time for planting seedlings in open ground is considered to be mid-May - early June. The average daily temperature should be around +19...+22 °C. Seedlings are considered suitable for transplanting into open ground, which have 4-5 real (not cotyledon) leaves and a well-formed, strong stem. A prerequisite for successful growth is the absence of signs of disease in the form of blackening of the stem or leaves, twisting of the leaves, rusty spots etc. It will also be useful before landing on permanent place harden seedlings by placing them on open air for short periods.

How to plant a snapdragon: step by step instructions

In general, there is nothing unusual and specific in the process of growing seedlings and transplanting snapdragons into open ground. But there are a few nuances that you need to focus on, since even experienced flower growers are sometimes not aware of them due to the relative rarity of this plant in our area. More details about them - below.

Seed selection

Choice the right seeds is an important aspect on which the entire success of the further enterprise largely depends. When choosing seeds, pay attention to the uniformity of their structure: they should not contain loose or dry inclusions, they should resemble poppy seeds in consistency.

Important! Snapdragon seeds remain viable for only 1-2 years after they are harvested, so pay attention to the expiration date when purchasing seeds.

Plants, until the first shoots appear, should be covered with thin glass or plastic wrap. Seedlings must be kept warm, the most comfortable temperature for its normal growth and development is +22...+24°C. It is desirable that as many as possible fall into the boxes with it. sunlight. As an alternative to natural lighting, UV lamps can be used.

Watering young seedlings should be done as the soil dries up 2–3 cm deep. You can make sure that the soil is dry enough by sticking a finger or a pencil into the box. When the first true leaves appear on the plant, seedlings can be planted in separate pots. It is especially important to do this if the seedlings grow densely and the plants do not have enough space for normal development.
After the development of 4-5 true leaves, the central shoots of each young plant will need to be pinned down. The same will need to be done with the side ones if you see that they are growing too actively. Starting from the first days of May, it will be useful to harden the seedlings a little, taking them out to the balcony or open air for 10-15 minutes.

Transplantation in open ground

The area of ​​​​permanent growth can be either shaded or placed in the sun. It is only important to carefully monitor that there is no surplus ground water, since snapdragons have a tendency to develop various fungal diseases. You should not plant a plant in excessively open areas, as under the influence of winds and drafts, its flowers will prematurely crumble.

Snapdragon is quite unpretentious in care and, in general, does not differ too much in terms of demands from many other representatives of its species. However, there are some subtleties that you would do well to know about if you plan to seriously engage in breeding it.

soil care

The soil in which snapdragon grows needs regular loosening and weed removal. This flower competes very poorly with various weeds, so you will have to clear at least 0.5 m of space around it from unwanted plants.

Did you know? Each nation sees something of its own in this plant. For example, the British call it "snapdragon", because for them it looks like a dragon opening its mouth.

Loosening is best done the next day after watering and removing weeds. In the process of performing this procedure, it will not be superfluous to pull out all the roots of weeds in order to prevent their further reproduction. Do not loosen the soil too deeply, as this can damage the superficial roots of the flower. Loosening 3-5 cm deep will be enough.

Watering

This flower should be watered only in very dry weather, and even then, if it has not rained for at least 2 weeks. Water consumption is low - only 3-5 liters for each bush. The only condition for watering is that it cannot be done at night, since the upper layers Soil fungi can become overly active overnight in moist soil and cause disease in the plant.

Disease and pest control

Among diseases, snapdragons are most susceptible to the development of rust, septoria, black leg and gray or root rot. The only adequate treatment for these diseases will be the immediate destruction of all affected parts of the plant (if necessary, destroy even entire bushes) and the subsequent treatment of the remaining flowers with a solution of some fungicide.

Annual flowering crops are the easiest and cheapest way to decorate your backyard. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) is essentially a perennial plant, but due to its lack of frost resistance, it is grown in most regions of our country as an annual. Of great importance when growing snapdragons from seeds is when to plant on seedlings - the earlier this is done, the more lush flowering will delight the summer. But not everything is so simple. Too early sowing leads to absolutely the opposite result. In this article, we will understand when to plant snapdragons in 2018 when growing from seed using seedlings. simple rules they will tell you how to care for seedlings and adult flowering plants.

The material contains advice from experienced gardeners. All agricultural techniques for growing snapdragons from seeds are also presented so that the antirrinum will delight with lush flowering all summer and until the very frost. Pay special attention to the landing dates for lunar calendar- these days, carrying out the recommended agrotechnical operations gives the maximum effect. Do not forget that the care of seedlings and adult plants in the garden should be regular and carried out according to all recommendations. Only in this case, you can grow a beautiful flower garden, which is a pride for the hostess of the house or summer cottage.

Look at the photo of a snapdragon grown from seeds by seedlings - these are the specimens in bloom that you should get if you follow all our tips:

When growing snapdragons from seedlings, magnificent flowers are obtained

Botanical characteristic

Presented botanical characteristic The snapdragon will be brief - for reference only or to give a general idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe culture. It belongs to herbaceous perennials, is a relative of plantain, but with less resistance to frost in winter.

For the first time as cultivated plant breeding was begun in what is now Germany in the early 19th century. Prior to this, the flower grew in the wild for at least 5 centuries. But only after the start of the work of breeders, more than 50 new species appeared. They are presented for sale in seeds of 150 varieties.

Antirrinum seeds are very small, more like dust. Therefore, sowing them is very difficult for beginner flower growers. We will reveal the secret of a simple and easy planting. If you follow this method, then the shoots will delight you with their activity.

The inflorescences are collected in a panicle and are represented by a huge number of shades. So far, only blue, purple and blue tone buds. Stems can be tall, medium-sized or miniature (dwarf). Depending on this botanical feature, snapdragons can be used for bouquet compositions (for cutting), flower beds or border groups. Ampel varieties perfectly decorate balconies, gazebos, hanging planters on the terraces.

Varieties and species groups of antirrinum

The existing species groups of antirrinum make it possible to form plantings in accordance with the tasks set. They are divided according to the type of bud structure, plant height, color, flowering period, etc. The most popular types of buds are bell-shaped and two-lobed - they create the effect of lush flowering. But the non-mesioid and penstemon-shaped forms have a restrained refinement and severity of outlines. The terry or azalea form of the snapdragon inflorescence can be represented by numerous varieties, including those with a two-tone color.

Undersized (dwarf, miniature, curb) varieties

Miniature varieties have a stem height of 10 - 25 cm. Low-growing bushes are used as casings for decorating paths in the garden, fencing flower beds and creating borders. Dwarf snapdragons have a large number of varieties. Pinching of the main stem is required at the stage of growing seedlings from seeds. This will allow you to get active branching in the internodes of the third, fourth and even fifth order.

The most popular curb varieties of antirrinum are as follows:

• suitable for ampel compositions"Candy Showers" - growing in falling cascading waves;
• "Tom Tamb" with upright stems and a variety of bud colors;
• "Lampion" is another interesting hybrid with an ampel type of bush growth with elegant white, yellow and red falling inflorescences;
• "Sakura Blossom" is intended for lovers of pink vanilla, since its buds have a delicate color in white and pink tones;
• "Pixie" with increased bushiness and unusual bright inflorescences orange tones;
• "Magic Carpet", "Madama Butterfly", "Kimozu", "Wunderteppich", "The Hobbit" and many others.

These are far from all varieties available for cultivation, the choice in flower shops huge.

Border snapdragon cultivars are suitable for container culture

Srednerosly varietal group

Antirrinums, universal in their purpose, can be found among the varieties of the medium-sized group. A distinctive feature of these types is compactness, not a high tendency to branching and an expressive, well-formed pyramidal inflorescence. Hybrids grow to a height of up to 70 cm. Suitable for decorating flower beds and flower beds. Designed for bouquet cutting. long time keep their freshness in vases.

Basically, the medium-sized universal varietal group of snapdragons is represented by the following hybrids:

• "Golden Monarch" - with exquisite rich yellow buds;
• "Scarlet Monarch" - for lovers of red flowers with amazing depth of shades;
• "Lipstick Silver" - decorates the flower garden with a vanilla pink cloud of flowering;
• "Bizari F1" has a bushy form with many side shoots topped with bright yellow and orange inflorescences;
• 'Ruby' is also notable for its pink petals;
• "Day and night" is a mixture of colors for sunny areas.

"Twinnie" and other varieties are intended for bouquet compositions and decorating areas. The choice of varieties is rich.

Medium-sized varieties of snapdragon will decorate flower beds and single plantings

Giant and tall varieties

Gigantic antirrinums can reach a height of up to one and a half meters. These tall varieties are intended mainly for decorating those areas of the garden where you need to create a natural curtain for a sloppy wall or fence. In group plantings, they can play the role of background plants. Can be used as a large cut for bouquets with a stem length of more than 1 meter.

The pink color of the buds is represented by the sutras "Brilliantrose", "Anna German", "F1 Pink XL", "Start F1". For lovers of red tones, varieties "Makhaon", "Ruby", "Julayva", "F1 Red XL", "University of California" have been developed. Canary has a yellow color, F1 Rocket Lemon has a lemon tint, Alaska has a white tint, and F1 Goshenka has orange.

Tall (giant) varieties of snapdragons can be used as a bouquet cut

Growing snapdragon seedlings from seeds (with photo)

Flower growers practice two types of reproduction of this plant. One of them is not suitable for regions with a cold climate. In Siberia and the Far East, in most regions of the Urals, this culture does not survive in frosty winters. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to breed antirrinums here by dividing the bush. What remains is the time-tested cultivation of snapdragon seedlings by sowing seeds and subsequent picking into separate containers.

strong and healthy seedlings snapdragon flowers gives the most lush flowering in the first year after planting. With properly selected sowing dates, budding begins in early May. Usually, seedlings are planted in open ground already in flowering form.

Planted in early February, snapdragon seedlings from seeds bloom in late April. These terms are suitable for ampelous and miniature varieties used to decorate balconies, loggias, terraces and verandas. And the cultivation of snapdragon seedlings of medium and tall varietal groups should be started from the end of February. The optimal landing time is the beginning - the middle of March. Seeds germinate very quickly with a friendly “brush”, with proper care they actively develop and give budding after 90 days from sowing.

Look at the photos of snapdragon seedlings and continue the fascinating story about how to sow, determine the optimal time for your climate zone and ensure proper care:

From seeds, it is possible to grow snapdragon seedlings when sown at home

Terms of sowing snapdragon for seedlings according to the lunar calendar

The answer to the question of when to sow snapdragon for seedlings depends on many determining factors. Sowing dates according to the lunar calendar in 2018 are as follows:

• February 21 - 27;
• 3-8 and 21 - 24 March;
• April 15 - 20.

It is also worth understanding that the timing when planting snapdragons for seedlings depends on the climatic zone of its cultivation in open ground conditions. The earlier in the region it becomes possible to plant plants in the ground, the earlier sowing can be carried out at home. But here it is necessary to understand that the duration of daylight hours in all regions of our country is the same. And if seedlings appear in early February, then they will need to provide illumination for 5 hours daily. Can you provide such conditions? Then start planting. And if it is not possible to highlight the seedlings, then you can immediately throw away the bags of seeds. early sowing will not give anything good. Seedlings stretch out, and since they are very thin, there will be a mass case. Do not hurry.

Calmly sow snapdragons for seedlings in early March and enjoy strong and healthy seedlings without special trouble. When exactly to plant snapdragon seedlings in the Urals, Siberia and in some regions Far East, depends on the approximate timing of the convergence of the snow cover. Remember a simple rule: it is advisable to plant seedlings in a permanent place of their growth at an age not exceeding 90 days. Therefore, if such an opportunity appears only at the beginning of June, then it is better not to start planting until the beginning of March 2018.

Sowing snapdragon seeds is actually best done on toilet paper or non-woven napkin

How to plant seeds correctly?

Very often, inexperienced flower growers complain about the low germination of sown antirrinum seeds. But it is worth knowing that the correct planting of snapdragon for seedlings gives almost 100% germination. These seeds, although very small, have excellent growth and survival potential even in adverse environmental conditions.

There can be two errors:

• the lack of sunlight necessary to activate growth and germination when the seeds are sprinkled with soil;
• pre-soaking, leading to rotting of a thin seed coat.

Before planting snapdragons for seedlings, place a bag of seeds at the very bottom of the refrigerator for several weeks. Before the sowing procedure, no mixing with sand is required. Just pour the seeds into a dry saucer.

Take a shallow plastic container. Put a non-woven cloth with good water permeability on its bottom. You can use the most common toilet paper. Lay out in several layers (3-4), moisten the surface from a spray bottle with water, to which "Epin" is added. Spread the snapdragon seeds evenly over this napkin (or paper). Spray gently from above with a spray bottle so that they are abundantly wetted. Cover with a tightly translucent material ( polyethylene film or glass). Put in a bright place on the windowsill.

Shoots will appear in 5-7 days. don't miss this crucial moment. Immediately after the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to sprinkle them with a thin layer of earth. For this, it is better to use a strainer. The bedding should reach the cotyledon leaves.

Picking and aftercare

Plant picking begins 3 weeks after germination. You can transplant snapdragon seedlings in bunches or one plant at a time. For picking, peat pots are taken with a volume of 200 - 250 ml.

Subsequent care consists in regular watering and the application of mineral fertilizers. Once a week, spray and water with a solution succinic acid. This substance has stimulating properties and provides a bookmark a large number flower buds.

Soil and suitable containers for seedlings

Soil for growing snapdragon seedlings can be prepared independently. Doing so better in autumn when all components are in the public domain. One part is taken of peat or compost, sod land, sand and wood ash. Mix everything, add 20 gr. complex mineral fertilizer for every 5 liters soil mixture. Before planting, pour boiling water with the addition of manganese.

Suitable containers for growing antirrinum seedlings from seeds are wooden boxes, plastic containers, trays and peat tablets. All of them must be carefully sterilized before sowing.

Soil for planting snapdragons is best prepared in advance

Transplantation in open ground and subsequent care

Transplanting snapdragon seedlings into open ground is possible only after the average daily temperature is established in the positive range of values. It could be the end of May or the beginning of June. Take your time, the seedlings do not withstand even a short drop in temperature below +5 degrees Celsius. If possible, you can transfer containers with seedlings to greenhouses or hotbeds for hardening. If this is not possible, then this procedure should be carried out gradually. First, the containers are taken out to fresh air for 30 minutes. The next day, the time is increased by 30 minutes. Gradually, over 10 days, the duration of the “walk” should be increased to 8 hours. After that, you can plant snapdragon seedlings in a permanent place.

The planting pattern depends on the height of adult plants:

• dwarf varieties are planted at a distance of 15 - 20 cm from each other;
• a medium-sized group requires a distance between plantings of up to 50 cm;
• tall antirrinums should be planted at a distance of 70 cm from each other.

Subsequent care consists in regular watering, mineral fertilizer application, weeding. It is also important to regularly form a bush. pinch off any excess side shoots. Too much thickening of the bush leads to the fact that the flowers become small and slightly colored (pale). Plants lose their decorative effect.

With proper care, snapdragons, when grown from seeds, begin to bloom 100 days after the first shoots appear. The flowering period stops only after the first frost.

Seed collection

In order to collect seeds, it is necessary to isolate the mother plant in advance. you need to leave a few buds on them, which will fade on their own and tie a seed basket. Wait for it to dry completely and move to a warm and dry place for ripening. The germination of such planting material very high and persists for 5 years.

Snapdragon diseases and pests

Fungal and bacterial diseases of snapdragons mainly affect flower culture with unfavorable climatic conditions. This high humidity at low temperature conditions. Among pests, aphid colonies, damage by caterpillars (scoops), thrips, miners, slugs and mites are often found. Sparse plantings and regular removal of weeds save from pest damage. Against slugs, be sure to use traps and sprinkle metaldehyde.

Regular spraying with "Zircon" eliminates the development of bacterial and fungal infections. If there are signs of a nematode, then you need to remove the damaged parts of the plant and spray the bushes with a Bordeaux mixture solution.

Look at the video on how snapdragon is planted for seedlings with seeds at home:

Categories:/ / by

The snapdragon or doggie flower belongs to the Plantain family. The Latin name of the plant Antirrhinum, meaning "snapdragon" is associated, according to legend, with the feat of the ancient hero Hercules. When the hero defeated the Nemean lion, the goddess Flora (the patroness of flowers) presented Hercules with a flower, which she called "snapdragon", in honor of the great event.

Origin

In nature, snapdragon grows in southern Europe and North America. In gardens, the plant has been grown for a very long time, about 5 centuries. Thanks to the efforts of gardeners - breeders, in modern floriculture there are almost a thousand varieties of antirrinum.

Description

It is a herbaceous or semi-shrub perennial plant that can also be grown as an annual. The stems of "dogs" are straight, often branched, from 20 cm to a meter high, covered with oval or elongated green leaves. The flowers are large, fragrant, two-lipped, can be simple or double, collected in inflorescences - spikelets. The shade of flowers can be white, yellow, pink, red, flowers painted in 2-3 colors are not uncommon. The plant blooms from early summer until frost. Snapdragon seeds are very small, 7000 seeds weigh only 1 g.

Varieties of antirrinum

All varieties of snapdragons are derived from a single plant species - Antirrinum large. Varieties of "dogs" can be classified by size into: tall (over a meter high), high (80 - 90 cm), medium-sized varieties (50 - 60 cm), undersized plants(up to 40 cm), dwarf flowers up to 25 cm in height.
Tall varieties of snapdragon form pyramid-shaped bushes, where the main stem rises above the rest of the branches. These varieties of snapdragon flowers are suitable for cutting, plants keep for a long time decorative look in a bouquet.

Popular varieties:

Medium-sized flower varieties are distinguished by branched lush bushes. These are ideal plants for decorating flower beds, mixborders, flowerpots. Varieties of antirrinum, 40 - 60 cm high:

Low-growing antirrinums grow in the form of compact spherical bushes, with medium-sized bright flowers. Suitable for creating carpet flower beds, planting along paths, decorating flower pots.

• Floral - a group of dwarf varieties suitable for growing in a pot culture; there are 13 bud colors in this cultivar group;
• Crimson Velvet - a plant, 30 cm high, velvet flowers, rich burgundy color;
• Crown - a group of varieties of snapdragons with a height of bushes up to 35 cm, and different colors of buds (pink, light lilac, white).

You can appreciate the beauty and variety of shades of snapdragon by looking at photos of flowers.

Site selection and soil preparation for antirrinum

The plant loves well-lit places and is not afraid of the hot sun. In lacy shade, its cultivation is also possible, although flowering will not be as lush. It is advisable to choose areas closed from cold winds.

Soil snapdragons need nutritious and loose, with good drainage and a neutral reaction.

Preference should be given to loams, with the obligatory addition of sand or sandy loams, with a high content of humus. The plant has a tap root system, so fertile layer the soil on the site should not be thinner than 30 - 40 cm. The close occurrence of groundwater in areas where the antirrinum will grow is not allowed.

Sowing snapdragon

On the territory of our country, snapdragon flowers are grown by sowing seeds. This is the easiest and most affordable way to propagate, especially since the seeds in the middle lane ripen well on the plant.

In the southern regions, you can sow directly into the ground in early spring, as soon as the soil warms up. In the middle lane and the Moscow region, in order to admire the flowering of "dogs" since June, the flower is grown through seedlings. Sowing is usually carried out in March - early April.

The soil for the snapdragon flower is prepared from a mixture of soddy soil and coarse river sand, with the addition of perlite and vermiculite. You can use the purchased soil "Violet". To prevent the occurrence of diseases, the soil is shed with a hot raspberry solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin. The moistened earth mixture is laid out in seedling cassettes or boxes, compacted.

Antirrinum seeds are very small, for uniform sowing they are mixed with dry sand in a ratio of 1 to 3, and scattered on the surface of the earth. You can first pour snow on the surface of the substrate, and then sow the seeds. Melt water is a natural growth stimulant for seeds. Crops covered with glass or film are harvested in warm place(good temperature for germination +24 degrees).

Snapdragon shoots will appear on the 12th - 15th day, the shelter is removed within a week, gradually accustoming the seedlings to fresh air. Flower seedlings are demanding on lighting, but snapdragons must be protected from direct scorching sunlight.

Important! To prevent the disease of seedlings with a "black leg", it is recommended to alternate watering with plain water with watering with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After watering, the soil around the seedlings needs to be loosened.

In phase 2 - 3 true leaves, antirrinum seedlings are planted in separate glasses or peat pots. 10 days after picking, snapdragons are fed with complex mineral fertilizer according to the instructions. Before planting seedlings in open ground, about a week in advance, pinch the central shoot over the 5th leaf to stimulate tillering.

In May, when the threat of sharp drops in temperature has passed, antirrinum seedlings are planted in flower beds. Tall varieties are placed according to the scheme 40 by 50 cm, medium-sized - 30 by 30 cm, undersized enough gaps of 20 cm.

Snapdragon care in the garden

Snapdragon is not demanding to frequent watering plant. Water the flowers regularly warm water, it is necessary only after planting seedlings, and during dry periods of summer. After watering, the soil around the plants needs to be loosened, simultaneously removing weeds. Snapdragon responds positively to mulching the soil around the bushes with wood chips, pine nut shells, or other decorative mulch.

High varieties of "dogs" need to be tied to supports so that high flower stalks do not break and do not droop to the ground.

To get a long flowering of the antirrinum, and not spoil its appearance, all flower arrows with faded buds must be removed from the plant.

Top dressing solutions mineral fertilizers for flowering plants, it is necessary to give every 2 weeks, starting from planting seedlings in open ground.

Snapdragon can be affected by such diseases: black leg, rust, gray rot, fusarium, septoria. Affected plants are destroyed. Prevention of diseases consists in regular treatments of plantings with antifungal drugs, especially in rainy summers.

Of the pests, caterpillars annoy the plant. In case of severe pest damage, flowers are treated with insecticides (, IntaVir).

Snapdragon in the flower garden

The variety of sizes, shapes and shades of antirrinum has made it a popular flyer among gardeners around the world. Large bright snapdragon candles look spectacular in the center of the flower beds, surrounded by undersized, pansies, And .

Fragrant "dogs" are planted along the paths, in the foreground of elongated flower beds. Dwarf varieties plants feel great in the limited space of flowerpots and flowerpots. They can decorate balconies, terraces, porches.

Tall antirrinums stand well in cutting up to 12 - 14 days, and are important component summer fragrant bouquets.

See also video