Is it possible to transplant snapdragons in the fall. Snapdragon: varieties, photos, planting and proper care in the open field

INTRODUCING ANTIRRINUUM

Systematics

Snapdragon - a flower with a funny name, familiar from childhood. Among professionals, its botanical name is often used - antirrinum (Antirrhinum), or more precisely - antirrinum large (Antirrhinum majus). This is one of the 50 species of the genus Antirrinum of the Plantain family; on its basis, decorative varieties of culture have been created. In nature, snapdragon is a herbaceous perennial that grows in the countries of the Mediterranean coast. In our country, its rhizome cannot overwinter in freezing soil, so the annual cultivation of snapdragon from seeds is simply a necessary procedure if you want to have these wonderful flowers in the garden or on the balcony.

Titles

The scientific "antirrinum" in Greek means "resembling a nose" ("anti" - similar, "rhinos" - nose). And the flower got the usual name "snapdragon" for the property, when you press the "throat", to open its "mouth", like a lion's mouth. 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 is more familiar to our grandmothers under the affectionate name "dogs". Interestingly, according to legend, he owes his appearance to the goddess Flora, who created him after the victory of Hercules over a lion.

Description

The height of a branched pyramidal woody bush at the bottom varies from 30 to 70 cm (in varieties from 15 to 110 cm). Very rarely in nature there are 2-meter specimens. Leaves are lanceolate, medium-sized, small above. The flowers are bisexual, from 3 to 4.5 cm (in varieties up to 7 cm), irregularly shaped, two-lipped, with a closed long corolla, they are collected in large racemose inflorescences. Only bees and bumblebees can get to the treasured nectar, capable of opening the lower lip of the flower with the weight of their body and penetrating into the "pharynx". After that, the flower closes its lips over them, leaving pollen on the bodies of insects, thus taking care of the appearance of its “offspring” (small numerous seeds).

Snapdragon is traditionally grown in private households, used in urban landscaping of parks, squares, streets. Why is he so good?

5 REASONS TO PLANT ANTIRRINUUM IN THE GARDEN

1. A huge variety of varieties for every taste - both in size, and in color, and in the degree of doubleness.
2. Long and abundant flowering: 3-4 months without interruption.
3. Cold resistance - seedlings and hardened seedlings withstand short-term frosts on the soil down to -4 ⁰С, they bloom even in October.
4. The ability to save mother liquors from especially liked varieties. Snapdragon on their own biological features is a perennial plant and petunia , ageratum , verbena and many other crops traditionally used as annual flowers.
5. Abundant self-seeding - this property comes in handy!

HOW TO CHOOSE A VARIETY?

One of the most important characteristics of the snapdragon, in addition to the color and doubleness 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 undersized (from 15 to 35 cm) varieties of snapdragons. The latter group also includes the latest varieties of ampelous antirrinums, grown in hanging pots or outdoor containers - solo or as part of compositions with other flowers. So, choose varieties for planting, based on their further use - for cutting, in a flower garden or in a pot culture.

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 decided on the choice, you can start sowing snapdragons.

GROWING A Snapdragon FROM SEEDS

The seedling method is the 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 encounter the problem of iron deficiency and, as a result, leaf chlorosis at snapdragons.

When to plant snapdragon for seedlings?

Calculate the timing based on the fact that the age of the seedlings by the time of planting in open ground should be about 6-8 weeks. For the middle lane, sowing in mid-March will be acceptable, if seedlings are planned to be planted in open ground in mid-May.

Sowing

So, in the sifted and heat-treated soil, sow the seeds on a moistened surface along the marked grooves. Do not close deep, just lightly powder with dry, clean sand or vermiculite, you can completely spread the seeds over the surface and slightly press them against the soil. Then spray them with a spray bottle. Cover the seed container with cling film or glass/plastic. Seeds germinate in the light at t + 20-22⁰C for 5-7 days, but sometimes the wait is extended up to 2 weeks. Antirrinum seeds are very small and are often sold in granules. During germination, the shell of the granule should remain moist, but neither wet nor dry.

picking

With the appearance of the first true leaf, pick into small pots or cassettes (up to 7 cm in diameter). Further, 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 start to stretch.

seedling care

A week after picking, snapdragons can be fed for the first time with ready-made complete mineral fertilizer (Mortar, Crystallon, Fertika, etc.), or you can mix 1 tbsp. carbamide, superphosphate and any potash fertilizer, for example, potassium sulfate, and dilute all this 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 seedlings begins. To do this, lower the daily temperature, air the plants more often and reduce watering.

Cultivation from seeds by direct sowing in the ground

Some amateur flower growers prefer to sow snapdragons immediately in open ground, this can be done when the daytime air temperature is around + 10-12⁰C. Growing from seeds in this way, of course, has the right to exist, although with it you can admire the first flowering of antirrinum not 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 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 a covering film. Plants grown using winter sowing bloom earlier than others and have enviable health.

Features 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 ampelous plants, on the contrary, elongated shoots are important, effectively hanging over the edge of the pots. Pinching will delay their flowering.

WHERE TO PLANT ANTIRRINUM

Snapdragon grows well in a sunny, calm place, but can tolerate partial shading 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 irrigation.

Snapdragon: CARE DURING THE SUMMER

1 week after planting seedlings in a permanent place, you need to carry out the first top dressing. The key nutrients for snapdragons are nitrogen, calcium and magnesium, and according to some sources also boron. Calcium is needed for the special resistance of the plant, i.e. the strength of its stems, and magnesium is responsible for healthy and resilient leaves. Fertilizer application rates up to 10 g / m², frequency - every 7-10 days until the beginning of flowering.

Withered inflorescences do not add elegance to the flower garden, moreover, they reduce flowering, so it is better to remove them in a timely manner.

In May and September, snapdragons do not need frequent watering (with sufficient rainfall), in the remaining months they are watered on average once or twice a week, wetting 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 trouble in the form of fungal diseases.

We must not forget about weeding and loosening the soil around the antirrinum. Tall plants are best tied to a support so that they are not broken by the wind. And if the summer is not very hot, flowering will last a long time. In the southern regions, plants often suffer from strong sun and drought, so their growing season is short here.

DISEASES AND PESTS

One of the most common diseases of snapdragons is rust, which is caused by a rust fungus. Preventive measures are basal watering of plants and non-thickened 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 downy mildew, fusarium wilt, "black leg" (at the seedling stage). Of the pests, caterpillars, aphids, thrips and others can cause significant harm, and not at the growth stage (the foliage does not attract them!), But at the beginning of flowering. Here we can only advise you to regularly check the plantings, preferably at least 1 time in 3 days, in order to have time to take measures to destroy pests.

HOW TO HARVEST SWAT SEEDS

Seed ripening occurs on the same plant at different times. This is due to the fact that the flowers on the brush bloom, starting from the lower buds, and the seed pods ripen in the same order. When acquiring a yellow-brown color, the lower 2/3 of the infructescences are collected and the seeds are carefully removed, which remain viable for 4 years. Remember that you can only collect seed material from varieties, and not from hybrids. But even in this case, one important condition must be observed. 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 the varietal qualities.

CUTTINGS OF A Snapdragon

If you have grown a snapdragon flower from seeds of stunning beauty, but you did not have time to collect seeds from it (or it was a hybrid labeled F1), then you can save the mother plant until next spring. How? Easy peasy! In September, dig up a bush you like in the garden, plant it in a suitable flowerpot, cut off all thin branches and withered inflorescences and put it in a cool place, for example, on a closed loggia or veranda), not forgetting to water occasionally, BUT! without fanaticism! Optimum temperature the content of snapdragon in such conditions is not lower than +5⁰C.

In January or February, bring the mother liquor into a warm, bright room, cut it to a height of 7-10 cm and wait for the young shoots to appear. They must be cut or torn off “with a heel”, each cutting must have at least 2 pairs of leaves. The lower leaf blades must be completely removed, and the upper ones should be cut in half.

Dip slices of cuttings in Kornevin powder or simply in a crushed tablet 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. Arrange 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 airing, and bottom heating will help speed up the process. After another couple of weeks (when a young growth appears), it will be possible to plant the plant in separate containers. By the end of May, 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 - PERENNIUM?!

In our latitudes, it’s still a juvenile. You can try to leave it in open field for the winter, but success is possible only with a sufficiently reliable shelter and a relatively mild snowy winter. In autumn, the antirrinum bushes are cut into a stump (up to a height of 8-10 cm), spudded 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 in the garden or left in the old place. Such plants bloom later grown from seeds through seedlings.

On the video: a wonderful antirrinum

EFFICIENT CUT

Snapdragon is a flower especially attractive in bouquets. Inflorescences can be cut already at the stage of dissolution of the first bud, because. the rest will bloom quietly already in a vase. Antirrinum flowers stay fresh in water for up to 2 weeks.

On the video: the use of snapdragons in a flower garden with conifers

GARDEN USE

Finding a place in the garden for the antirrinum will not be difficult; it will be appropriate in almost any case. Bright snapdragon flowers will brighten up a front flower bed, pastel-colored varieties are best for a natural-style garden. Plant dwarf and low-growing plants along the edge of the path or in the foreground of the flower garden, and medium-sized and tall antirrinums in a separate group or in mixed flower beds (in the center or in the background).
For balconies, patios, terraces, ampel varieties planted in flowerpots or other containers are suitable.

On the video: snapdragon (antirrinum) terry Twinny F1

You can add variety to the landscaping of your summer cottage with the help of cute flowers with the royal name snapdragon (antirrinum). The plant got its unusual name due to the shape of the petals outwardly similar to the open mouth of a lion. Many of these flowers are remembered by the name "dogs".

The dwarf type of flowers reaches a height of only 20-25 cm, and the tall one is 1 m. The columns in the garden are beautifully decorated with ampelous varieties, outwardly it looks like falling waterfalls of flowers. The plant is often added to. Snapdragons are unpretentious and bloom until frost. Grown from seeds, sowing seedlings in March-April, depending on the climatic conditions of the area.

Seedling containers should have drainage holes, a layer of river sand is poured on the bottom, then fertile soil mixed with sand, leveled, moistened with water from a spray bottle. Since snapdragon seeds are very small, for ease of planting they are mixed with sand and distributed over the surface of moistened soil. Top cover with a transparent film or glass and expose to a bright place where the temperature is 22-23 ° C. Every day, crops are opened for ventilation and condensate is removed from the shelter. After 2 weeks, sprouts appear, the plantings are immediately removed from bright light, and after 3-4 days, when the seedlings begin to sprout en masse, they remove the shelter.

The percentage of germination of snapdragon seeds is high, so if they do not germinate, then the storage process has been violated or the expiration date has expired. Pay attention to the packaging before buying, to its appearance, so that there are no signs of damage, check the expiration date.

seedling care

Water the snapdragon in the morning moderately so that there is no stagnation of water. Waterlogging leads to disease root rot.

In cloudy weather, seedlings are illuminated with additional lighting.

If the seedlings began to fall, they are immediately removed with tweezers, and the soil is sprinkled with crushed charcoal or washed and calcined sand.

When 2 true leaves appear, they are carried out in separate pots one at a time or in small bunches. After that, the planted plants are put out again in a bright place, but covered from bright sunlight. Before planting in open ground (May), seedlings are hardened by opening the window, increasing the opening time every day. Make sure there are no drafts.

Transplanting snapdragon seedlings in open ground

On warm days of settled weather (in the middle lane this occurs at the end of May-June), seedlings are transplanted into open ground. You should not be afraid of night colds, since even seedlings that have not yet grown stronger are able to survive a temperature drop to -5 ° C.

Snapdragon is grown in a sunny, windless area, with well-drained, light, fertile soil. Soil that is prone to sourness is not good. In the shade, flowering is scarce, and the color of the flowers is pale. The distance between tall varieties of snapdragons is 40-50 cm, between medium-sized varieties - 25-30 cm, undersized - 20 cm, and for dwarf ones - 15 cm. The depth of the hole corresponds to the size of the root system.

Rooting in a new place is painless, and young seedlings quickly turn into a lush bush.

Care of snapdragons in the open field

When the seedling already has 5 true leaves, pinch the central shoot, then the plant looks well-groomed and more attractive. With intensive growth of lateral shoots, pinching is also carried out.

A week after transplanting into open ground, seedlings are fed with fertilizer for annuals.

Otherwise, caring for snapdragons comes down to watering at the root (you can’t use the leaves), removing weeds, and top dressing. Water only in the morning as needed. A day after moistening, the soil around the plant is loosened and cleared of weeds. Tall species are tied to a support.

Faded inflorescences are removed, and for longer flowering, the flower arrow is removed, preventing the plant from setting seeds. When flowering is reduced, flower stalks are cut below the lower flower to stimulate a new wave of flowering.

Snapdragon can be affected by rust. When spots of a rusty appearance appear, the plants are removed, and the rest are treated with a solution of "Zircon" (5 drops per 1 liter of water). For prevention, spraying with a weaker solution of the drug (2 drops per 1 liter of water) is carried out.

To grow snapdragons next year, unripe seeds are collected from the strongest and most beautiful bush and ripened in a well-ventilated room. Store in a cardboard box or paper bag at a temperature of 3-5°C in a dry place. Germination is maintained for 3 years.

In autumn, after flowering, snapdragon bushes are cut to a height of 5-8 cm and covered with mixed peat with sawdust or dry leaves and grass. In winter, if possible, heat snow on the bushes. In the spring, after wintering, many new shoots will grow from the roots.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), or antirrinum - unpretentious flowering herbaceous plant, which does not require much time and effort for care and maintenance and is characterized by a long flowering period that lasts from early June to mid-October. The flower brings a noticeable revival to any flower bed or flower garden, it is popular among amateur flower growers and among true landscape design professionals.

The culture is rich in a variety of species and hybrid varieties, the abundance of which many owe to the painstaking and long-term work of breeders. Among the many varieties of snapdragon, you can find different shades and colors, except for blue and blue. In the people, the plant is affectionately called "dogs", since the shape of the flower resembles an open mouth (a lion's or a dog's - this is how you see it).

Methods for breeding snapdragons

A flowering culture is easily propagated by seeds - seedling and seedless way. Planting seeds in open ground is not often used, since the germination of seeds with insufficiently warmed soil in spring is low. Growing a flower in this way is quite troublesome, so the most popular method is growing a crop from seedlings. Snapdragon seedlings are grown indoors, after which, under favorable weather conditions, they are transferred to open ground in a flower garden or garden.

When buying ready-made seedlings, you need to pay attention to its quality, which can be determined by several criteria. Quality seedlings should have a healthy and well-developed root part, on which particles of moist (not overdried) soil have been preserved. The stems should be strong and not thin, and the leaves should be well formed and have a healthy green color. Other (opposite) signs will indicate improper care and inadequate growing conditions for young plants.

It is possible to grow high-quality seedlings at home, observing all the rules, deadlines and preliminary measures. Unpretentious flowers do not require a special substrate and special conditions of detention. The plant is very hardy and undemanding. Even under the minimum conditions and taking into account the individual characteristics of the snapdragon, you can get excellent results.

In order to sow seed material approximately from the twentieth of April to the twentieth of May, it is necessary to purchase high-quality seeds of the selected variety, containers or boxes for seedlings, a suitable soil mixture, a small spatula, a rake and a sieve.

You can use individual containers or medium-sized wooden boxes for general planting of seeds. The selected container must be filled to the top with a soil mixture, having previously treated it with a weak manganese solution, and level its surface with a miniature garden tool or with your hands.

The soil should be light, breathable, loose. In specialized stores for gardeners and florists, you can purchase a soil mixture for growing seedlings or a substrate intended for flowering perennial garden plants.

After chaotic sowing of seed material on the surface, it is recommended that each seed be slightly pressed into the substrate with a finger or reverse side regular pencil or pen. Crops must be sprinkled with a thin layer of earth and sprayed from a spray bottle with water at room temperature. After all these procedures, the containers must be covered with a dense transparent film or glass to create a mini-greenhouse and placed in a warm room. Moisturizing the soil should be carried out regularly and in a timely manner.

For the rapid emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the room from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius. It is very important to maintain soft diffused lighting for 10-12 hours a day. The first shoots will begin to appear after about 15 days, after which the procedure for airing and hardening the young seedlings is added. Every day, the time spent by seedlings without cover should increase and soon lead to the removal of the glass or film. Hardening of seedlings contributes to the good survival of young crops in the open air and rapid adaptation in conditions of different day and night temperatures.

The most important element of care is timely watering and sufficient soil moisture. Watering volumes are moderate, without excess moisture. After about 30-40 days, two full-fledged leaves will appear on the plants - you can pick up. The roots of the "dogs" are very fragile, so when transferring plants to individual pots, you need to be very careful. In one flower pot, you can plant 2-3 sprouts at once.

To form lush flowering plants and stimulate the growth of side shoots, it is recommended to carry out the procedure of pinching the tops of seedlings. It is carried out when the snapdragon grows to a ten-centimeter mark.

It is possible to transfer seedlings to open flower beds only when the weather is warm, without the threat of the return of night frosts. The most favorable time is the second half of May. By this time, the snapdragon should look like a small, well-formed bush - strong, strong and with a juicy green color.

Snapdragon is a photophilous plant, so it needs to choose a well-lit area in the garden. If only a slightly shaded plot of land or penumbra is available, then it is possible to plant flowers on it.

The distance between planting seedlings of dwarf and undersized varieties is about 15 cm, for tall ones - at least 40 or 45 cm.

Care of snapdragons in the open field

Flowers should be watered moderately, but regularly, as crops are very fond of moisture. For irrigation, you can use settled water or plain water, directly from the water supply. It is advisable to water young flowers from a scattering watering can so that a strong stream of water does not damage delicate bushes.

It is recommended to use as the first supplementary food organic fertilizers about 15-20 days after planting seedlings in open ground (for example, nitrophoska). Subsequently, top dressing should be made regularly at intervals of two weeks. You can use complex mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Mulching the soil will protect against weeds and retain moisture in the soil, which will reduce the need for watering many times over. As mulch, you can take sawdust, straw or humus.

Loosening is carried out periodically and shallow. It provides air access to the roots and destroys emerging weeds.

Planting a snapdragon in the garden, caring for it and the whole growing process is not difficult, even an inexperienced grower can handle it. With great love for plants, perseverance and patience, snapdragons will thank you with their endurance, high decorativeness and a long flowering period. A variety of varieties of flowering crops will fit perfectly into various natural ensembles and compositions, and will also look great among members of their family.

- a perennial herbaceous plant with large green stems of the Plantain family, which we grow as an annual. The plant forms many stems. Snapdragon stems are straight, branched, of various heights: there are undersized varieties, only about 20 cm, and there are tall ones, up to one meter high, which form pyramidal bushes during the growing season. Snapdragon leaves are elongated, lanceolate or slightly oval green in color, pubescent with thin villi.

Flowers at snapdragon large, irregularly shaped, two-lipped, resembling a gaping lion's mouth, pubescent on the outside. There are varieties with simple and double flowers. The flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. Coloring of snapdragon flowers will be able to please you with a wide colors: they are white, pink, yellow and two-tone. In the wild, there are species of snapdragon with yellow, blue, purple flowers.

The plant is native to North America. In Russia, snapdragon has long been popular and is a very common garden plant that adorns flower beds and flower beds. Snapdragon is a wonderful sunny annual that will fill your garden with a pleasant fragrant aroma, attract not only bees, but also butterflies.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

Sowing snapdragon seeds for seedlings can be done from the end of February, in March, to the beginning of April. snapdragon seeds when sowing, lightly sprinkle with earth. The first shoots begin to appear after ten days, however, the germination of snapdragon seeds can take up to a whole month. For better germination, cover the container with snapdragon seeds with a glass or plastic bag. As soon as shoots begin to appear, the film or glass must be removed. For better germination, keep a container with snapdragon seeds at an air temperature of at least +18 ° C. Snapdragon seeds can be sown immediately in open ground in May, covering the bed with a film or agrospan.

For the first time after the germination of the snapdragon, monitor soil moisture: overdrying, as well as severe waterlogging of the soil, can lead to the death of seedlings. Transplantation of snapdragon seedlings do not put it off for a long time: it must be carried out at the stage of the first two or three true leaves. When the snapdragon seedlings grow to 4-6 pairs of true leaves, the tops of the plants should be pinched to form additional stems.

Care of snapdragons in the open field

In open ground snapdragon seedlings planted already partially blooming in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed, leaving 30 cm between plants. Snapdragon grows best in open sunny places. If you have no open sunny places left at all, snapdragons can be planted in partial shade. Only the flowering will be a little delayed, it will not be too abundant, the color of the flowers will be softer, and not as bright as in the open sun.

Soil for snapdragons should be well fertilized. If you have on the site clay soil, add more organic matter, peat, peat, sand to it, in order to make the soil looser and eliminate the stagnation of excess moisture. If your site has sandy soil, add black soil, rotted organic matter, leafy soil, try to improve the soil structure so that it can retain water and stay moist longer.

Don't forget to water the snapdragon. The next watering is carried out no earlier than the topsoil dries out. To preserve precious moisture, mulch the snapdragon plantings with a layer of freshly cut grass, humus, and rotted sawdust. With strong waterlogging, snapdragons are prone to various rots, including root rot.

First snapdragon nutrition after transplanting into open ground - not earlier than in two to three weeks, so as not to burn the roots of the plant damaged by transplantation. That's when the plant is fully adapted to the open air, new leaves will grow, then you can carry out the first fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. It is desirable that the fertilizers have a full NPK formula, the additional content of microelements is only welcome. Especially the plant needs top dressing during the flowering period. And a strong healthy plant is able to resist diseases and pest attacks.

Snapdragon when grown through seedlings blooms in June and continues to bloom until frost. Try to remove faded inflorescences in time. This procedure greatly prolongs the flowering period of all plants.

Healing properties of snapdragon

In addition to being very decorative, snapdragon flowers can be used in traditional medicine. An infusion of snapdragon flowers is drunk for intestinal swelling, it can be used as an additional remedy for certain liver diseases. A mixture of snapdragon flowers, helichrysum and corn stigmas is especially good during the recovery period after hepatitis. Infusions and decoctions of snapdragon flowers are used for severe headaches, dropsy and shortness of breath. When used externally, infusions and decoctions of snapdragons help with hemorrhoids, open skin ulcers, and boils.

Snapdragon will not only decorate your flower beds and flower beds. It can be used for growing on balconies, terraces, window decoration from the outside. Snapdragon flowers are great for cutting.

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Antirrinum belongs to the Norichnikov family. In the Mediterranean, this plant is considered a perennial, but in our harsh, frosty latitudes in winter it is grown as an annual.

It is rightfully in demand in horticulture and floriculture, although planting and caring for this plant have some distinctive features.

Fans of flowerbeds often ask questions:

• Are frosts terrible for annuals?
• is pinching important?
• grow seedlings or sow in the ground?

Varieties

The throat stalk branches well, creating a compact dense bush, reaching a height of 20 to 150 centimeters. The flower is large and in shape resembles the open mouth of an animal, for which they are called dogs in conversation. Bright with a pronounced aroma, they are collected in spicate or racemose inflorescences. The coloration is so diverse and depends on the type of antirrinum. The most popular are white, lilac, yellow, red flowers.

Currently, flower growers are growing about 900 different varieties, which, in turn, , are divided into one and a half dozen groups:

• tall 150–160 cm in height;
• high up to 100 cm;
• medium height up to 60–70 cm;
• undersized up to 40–50 cm;
• dwarf up to 20–25 cm.

In tall varieties there is one main distinguishing detail - the central stem of the flower rises above the side stems, creating a peduncle with large strong inflorescences.

All medium-sized varieties branch well and radically differ in terms of flowering. So, among them you can find early and late species of this annual.

Low-growing varieties of "dogs" are ball-shaped with many stems, form miniature bushes, the size of the flowers is smaller than that of tall relatives.

All varieties are divided into several classes

And also according to the time of flowering they are traditionally divided like all other garden flowers:

• early start of flowering, the first flowers open in May;
• medium terms, bloom no earlier than July;
• late flowering, flowers appear closer to August.

Landing and care

Antirrinum is a very light-loving flower, and with a lack of heat, it slows down its growth and seed production. It can tolerate small frosts down to -5–0 degrees.

Dogs are grown on any soil, but it is noticed that it grows better in light fertile soil. When choosing a place for sowing in the front garden, look for sunny, bright, protected from drafts.

Growing from seeds

Antirrinum is grown as an annual plant by the method of sowing a seed for seedlings or directly into the ground. Each of these methods has a number of advantages.

Planting seeds in the soil.

This method is suitable for gardeners who live near the greenhouse, in their home or in the country. The easier it will be to observe sowing and seedlings. Sometimes it seems that planting immediately into the ground is much easier, but whether your young growth survives or not depends entirely on caring for it. Sow the seeds of Antirrinum in the soil in late autumn or early spring in early April. He is not afraid of cold weather and also tolerates spring night frosts well.

Seeds are introduced into the soil immediately in a flower bed and do not cover them with earth. Antirrinum seeds are too small, so for even distribution over the surface it is better to mix them with sand. The bed on which the flower bed will be located will need care, it needs to be well cleaned of grass and weeds, because young bores will choke. When the first shoots appear, the flower needs care, weeding and regular, careful watering.

The grown flowers are thinned out so that the distance between them remains from 15 to 25 cm. The "dogs" grown in the ground begin to bloom much later around July and end early due to the threat of cold weather.

Planting Antirrium seeds for seedlings

This care begins from the first decade of February and until the beginning - mid-April. Seedlings from seedlings will bloom much earlier and in early May they will delight you with their diversity. seedling growing process Antirrinum has its own distinctive features that it is desirable to know and apply to every grower:

Seedlings that have already partially bloomed are planted in the front garden. To ensure lush flowering, choose the most open and sunny place. Before planting seedlings, it is advisable to flavor the soil with peat and add a little sand for looseness. Between seedlings leave 20-25 cm for free growth. But depending on the type of plant, the distance can be increased.

Snapdragon Care

This flower is a rather unpretentious and non-capricious plant, all you need is weeding, pest protection and regular watering. Must follow b, so that the flower is not flooded, the roots can get sick from this and your flower bed will die. You can control the humidity if you mulch the soil with peat, sawdust or old grass.

Top dressing of an annual flower

Even on poor soils, you can grow a beautiful and healthy plant if you feed on time. It is advisable to carry out the first top dressing 15–20 days after the seedlings have moved to the flower bed. All subsequent fertilization should be carried out at the same interval of two weeks, throughout the entire flowering period. For this, weak solutions of bird droppings or mullein, as well as weed infusion, are suitable.

Reproduction of Antirrium

For further cultivation and preservation of your favorite varieties of pharynx in a flower bed, you need to learn how to properly propagate it. You can do this in several ways:

• sowing seeds;
• cuttings.

For correct collection healthy and large individuals choose seeds for further reproduction. The snapdragon seeds are very small, and so that they simply do not dissipate themselves, the seed part of the flower is tied with a cloth and the seeds are waiting for the seeds to ripen. It is better to store seeds for the future in a cool place and no more than three years.

It is necessary to cut snapdragons in the spring, cutting young shoots from the mother bush, which overwintered in you indoors, on a veranda or in a winter garden. We move rooted seedlings to the front garden by the end of May. Planting material obtained in this way begins its flowering much earlier than its brothers, and has a prolonged flowering period.

Diseases and pests of the antirrium

Quite often, seedlings are affected by fungal diseases:

• blackleg;
• septoria;
• fusarium;
• rust.

To prevent diseases, all damaged bushes are sprayed with biological products, which is repeated after a few days to prevent spread.

Snapdragon is very susceptible to pest attacks, which, in turn, eat away the buds, spoil the stems and leaves of the flower. Most often, the owl harms. Their butterflies lay their eggs on nearby weeds, and the larvae then crawl onto a flowering bush and damage it. To prevent such damage regularly carry out weeding near the flowers. Eaten and spoiled plants are treated with special preparations and infusions several times. Snapdragon can bloom and delight the eye almost until October, if severe frosts do not come.

Antirrium in landscape design

In the design of flower beds and alpine slides, all kinds of snapdragons are used. A huge variety of varieties and bright colors have made it the leading one among all annual beauties.

Dwarf and low-growing species of the flower are well suited and look good in flower beds, they are planted along the borders or as colored circles and squares on the lawn. There are types of annual pharynx that can be grown on the balcony in a box or in a flower pot. Tall species of antirrinum suitable mainly for bouquets and will remain in a vase until the crescent moon and will delight with their decorative qualities. Snapdragon flower stalks fit perfectly into many flower arrangements.

Snapdragon flowers

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), which is also called antirrinum, is directly related to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the plantain family. This genus unites about 50 species of perennial plants, including climbers. In the wild, these plants can be found in warm climate zones, 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" in Greek means "nose-like", "like a nose". The ancient Greek myth that tells about Hercules, or rather, about his first feat, tells how he defeated the Nemean lion, whose ferocity everyone knew. Hercules, in honor of the victory, was given a gift by the goddess Flora - it was a lovely flower called "snapdragon". Since that time, the Greeks had a tradition to give the heroes a snapdragon. This plant has been cultivated for about five hundred years, and German experts took up its breeding only in the 19th century. During this time, they were able to create about 1 thousand varieties of snapdragons, while it is of interest that only 1 species was used to create various varieties, namely, antirrhinum large (Antirrhinum majus).

Snapdragon Features

This flower is represented by semi-shrubs, as well as herbaceous plants, which have straight, finely furrowed shoots, they are branched and painted green. Their height can vary from 15 to 100 centimeters. Bushes have a pyramidal shape. From above, the leaf plates are alternately arranged, and from below, they are opposite. Their shape can be lanceolate or oval-elongated, and the color varies from dark to pale green, while the veins are colored red. Fragrant flowers are relatively large, bilabiate and irregularly shaped. There are both double flowers and simple ones (depending on the variety), they are part of the spike-shaped inflorescences. Their color can be yellow, pale fawn, white, pink, red (all shades), and there are also varieties with two- and three-color flowers. The fruit is a two-celled 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 looked after, and if there are favorable conditions, then the frost-resistant snapdragon can endure wintering in the open field. At the same time, next year its flowering will be more spectacular. In garden design, such a flower is grown as a border, but it can decorate both a flower bed and a green lawn (if snapdragons are planted in groups). Terraces and balconies are also decorated with such a plant. Today, ampelous varieties of such a flower are gaining more and more popularity among flower growers, for the cultivation of which you can use hanging structures, and they will also become a wonderful decoration for galleries and terraces.

Sowing

Reproduction of this plant can be done by seeds, as well as vegetatively. Seeds have good germination for several years. In the event that you live in an area with a relatively mild climate, then the seeds of such a flower can be sown directly into open soil. 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 those places where the spring is relatively cold, this plant is recommended to be grown through seedlings. Growing snapdragons from seeds is very easy.

Sowing of seeds is carried out in the first days of March. To do this, you will need a bowl with a diameter of at least 10 centimeters, and at the bottom it must have holes for drainage. Coarse-grained sand should be poured at the bottom, and on top of it, compost soil mixed with sand. Lightly tamp and level the surface, then slightly moisten it with a spray bottle and spread the snapdragon seeds mixed with sand, pour a thin layer of the same substrate on top. Water the crops with 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 airing the seedlings and, if necessary, moistening the surface of the substrate from the sprayer. If in the place where the container is located, there will be moderate humidity and heat (23 degrees), then the first seedlings can be seen after half a month. After the first seedlings appear, the container must be transferred to a place that is well lit, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight (so that the seedlings do not stretch out). After the snapdragon begins to sprout en masse (after 3-4 days), the shelter must be removed for good.

Seedling

At first, the plants will grow for 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 it would not be too much. The fact is that waterlogging can cause the development of a “black leg”. If the seedling has fallen, then it should be carefully removed using tweezers, while 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, it is necessary to pick the seedlings into a box or container, while they must be placed so that they are not pressed against each other. Also, for picking plants, you can use individual pots, 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 that, you can start hardening the seedlings. To do this, in the daytime, you need to open the window for a while, but drafts should be avoided. When the plant has 4-5 real leaves, it will need to be pinched to increase bushiness, but if the side shoots grow quite quickly, then they should also be pinched.

Landing in open ground

What time should snapdragons be planted

The planting of snapdragon seedlings should be done 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. You can plant these flowers both in a sunny area and in shading, 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 thing for growing such a flower is a mixture consisting of compost, sand, and peat, which are taken in equal proportions. Soil acidity 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 undersized varieties - about 20 centimeters, between medium-sized ones - 30 centimeters, and between tall ones - from 40 to 50 centimeters. After the bush transplanted into open ground takes root, it grows quite quickly and becomes a spectacular flowering plant. It must be remembered that it is necessary to plant seedlings in well-watered soil in advance.

Features of care

cultivation

Such a flower is undemanding in care and it needs only timely watering, weeding, top dressing, and it is also necessary to systematically loosen the soil surface. Watering should be done only during a drought, but we must remember that this procedure cannot be carried out in the evening. After watering, it will be necessary to loosen the surface of the soil and weed it, this can be done on the same day or every other day. Experts advise to tie tall varieties to the support. After the flower begins to fade, it must be removed from the bush, as it robs the plant of strength. In order for the flowering of such a plant to be long, it should not be allowed to have seeds, and after the last flowers wither, you need to cut off the flower arrow. It is necessary to cut 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 after it takes root after transplanting into open soil, and for this they use nitrophoska and organic fertilizers. The second time you need to feed the plant during budding, in this case a nutrient solution is used, consisting of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate, while 1 large spoonful of each substance should be taken per bucket of water.

Diseases and pests

It happens that the bushes are affected by rust, while specks of a red color appear on their surface. Also, this plant is susceptible to infection with black leg, root and gray rot, septoria. Diseased plants should be destroyed as soon as possible, then it is necessary to treat the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe soil where they grew with a fungicidal (antifungal) agent. For snapdragons, pests such as fly larvae, scale insects, caterpillars, as well as butterflies that are able to lay eggs, are dangerous. It should be remembered that getting rid of diseases or harmful insects is much more difficult than preventing plant infection. For the purposes of prevention, it is necessary to follow all recommendations for the care of snapdragons, so it is necessary to destroy diseased and infected specimens in a timely manner; flowers should not be planted very close to each other; it is necessary to water correctly, avoiding waterlogging of the soil; watering should be done at the root, while making sure that water does not fall on the surface of the leaf plates.

After flowering

Flowering of such a plant can continue until the onset of the first frost in the fall. After autumn sets in, it is necessary to cut those snapdragon bushes that are cultivated as perennials very shortly, 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 foliage or sawdust mixed with peat. In the case when you have an annual snapdragon growing, then after the flowers begin to fade, you should remove them, thereby avoiding self-seeding. After all the flowers on the arrow wither, it must be cut as short as possible. Thus, you will not let the seeds ripen and crumble 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, seeds are collected from most plants only after they have fully matured. However, the collection of snapdragon seeds must be done in the phase of incomplete maturity. Then they are placed in a dry, well-ventilated room for ripening. It is necessary to collect the seeds in a long bag of paper (as for a baguette). It is necessary to start collecting seeds only after the fruits located at the bottom of the peduncle are fully ripe. To do this, the top of the peduncle, on which the still green fruits are located, must be cut off and thrown away. On that part of the flower arrow that remains, you need to put on a paper bag, tie it with a thread below the fruit. Then it remains only to cut the stem below the ligation site. Then the inverted bag must be hung in a dry and warm place and all that remains is to wait until the ripened seeds themselves spill 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 ingress.

Main types and varieties

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

1. gigantic- bush height 90-130 centimeters. In this plant, the stem, located in the center, is much higher than the stems of the second order, while there are no stems of the third order. 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, the flowers are red and pink (respectively).
2. High― the height of the bush is 60–90 centimeters. They are cultivated for cutting, and also as a vertical accent in groups or in mixborders. The central stem is much higher than the side ones. In the cut, the flowers of this plant can stand for about 7 days and even longer. The most fragrant varieties are those whose flowers are painted in various shades of yellow. Popular varieties: "Anna German" - the flowers are painted in light pink; "Canary" - flowers of a rich yellow color; a mixture of varieties "Madama Butterfly" - 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. Varieties are universal, they are cultivated both for cutting and as decoration for flower beds. They are distinguished by strong branching. The central stem is slightly higher than the side stems. Popular varieties: "Golden Monarch" - has a yellow color; "Ruby" - deep pink flowers; "Lipstick silver" - painted whitish-pink.
4. Low- bush height 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 slightly lower than them. Popular varieties: "Tip-top", "Hobbit", ampelous hybrid plant "Lampion".
5. Dwarf- The height of the bush varies from 15 to 20 centimeters. Varieties are intended for carpet flower beds, ridges, borders, rock gardens. Grow them and as a potted flower. There is strong branching to stems of the third and fourth order, while the central stem is lower or has the same height as the stems of the second order. Popular varieties: "Sakura Blossom" - there is a speck on the whitish-pink flowers; "Candy Showers" is an ampel variety.

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

Antirrinum or snapdragon is a perennial, annual or semi-shrub herbaceous ornamental flowering plant, whose homeland is 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, bizarre flower shapes and long flowering can decorate any part of the garden throughout the season.

Snapdragon - description, photo

What does snapdragon look like? The antirrinum flower is distinguished by green, straight, finely furrowed, 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 are formed on the stem. They have an irregular shape and can be simple or terry. The color of the flowers can be pink, red, dark brown, orange, yellow, white. There are varieties with flowers painted in two or three colors at once. Snapdragon blooms from the beginning of summer until the onset of autumn frosts.

In nature, the snapdragon flower is a perennial, however, in regions with cold winters, the plant is grown as an annual. Under favorable conditions and good care, antirrinum in the garden can be grown as a perennial plant.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground

In regions with a warm climate, antirrinum can be grown as a perennial, planting seeds directly in a flower bed. Sowing is carried out in early spring or from 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.

On a bed prepared in advance, the seeds are planted in a nesting way, sprinkled with a thin layer of earth, watered from a watering can with a shower head and covered with a film. Crops are ventilated daily, and the soil is moistened as necessary. As soon as seedlings appear, the film is removed on warm days. It is better to leave 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 off. When caring for them, watering should be regular, but not frequent. Seedlings are sensitive to soil moisture, when waterlogged, young plants can get sick with a "black leg". Watering is recommended to be done in the early morning.

Growing seedlings of antirrinum (snapdragon)

With the seedling method of growing annuals, sowing seeds should be done as early as early March. For this, seedling containers with drainage holes are prepared. You can fill them with store-bought potting mix or make your own with compost soil and sand.

Seeding procedure:

Features of caring for snapdragon seedlings

The air temperature for the growth of seedlings should be + 20 ... + 23 degrees. They are moistened in a timely manner, and after the appearance of two true leaves, they are seated 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 along with a clod 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. Planted plants are carefully watered.

Grow speared seedlings in a well-lit place, otherwise, with a lack of light, the stems will begin to stretch. When watering the bushes, it should be borne in mind that snapdragons do not like waterlogging of the soil. Constantly wet soil can lead to root rot and blackleg disease. However, it is impossible to overdry the soil.

To stimulate the growth of side shoots in seedlings 10 cm high, pinch the top. At this time, they should have 4 or 5 true leaves. After such a procedure, the snapdragon will turn into a beautiful, lush bush. If the overgrown side shoots begin to grow too actively, they can also be pinched.

Approximately two to three weeks before planting the antirrinum in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden off. On warm days, it is put out in the garden or on the open balcony. On the first day, hardening of plants is carried out for one hour. Every day, the time the seedlings stay in the fresh air increases. In the last days before planting, seedlings should be on the street for a day.

Planting snapdragons in open ground

For antirrinum, a sunny or slightly shaded area is selected, which should be protected from strong winds.

When to plant snapdragons?

Hardened and grown seedlings in a flower bed in the garden can be planted in late May or early June. Warm weather should be established, however, the plants are able to survive small, short-term night frosts.

How to plant a snapdragon?

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 landing hole is made, the distance between which depends on the height of the plant:

1. Dwarf antirrinums are planted in a flower bed with a distance of 15 cm from each other.
2. Between undersized specimens, the gap should be 20 cm.
3. High snapdragon bushes are seated from each other at a distance of 40 or 50 cm. Immediately during planting, it is recommended to install supports near high specimens, to which grown plants will need to be tied.

After planting, seedlings must be watered.

Snapdragon - care

Snapdragon refers to unpretentious plants that do not require much attention to themselves during the season. Bushes will bloom luxuriantly 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. At night, snapdragons are not recommended to be watered. If it rains, then you do not need to water the flowers.
2. After rain or watering about once a week, it is recommended to remove weeds and loosen the soil around the plantings. Such a procedure will not allow a crust to form on the ground, and air will flow to the roots of the plants.
3. After about two weeks, when the seedlings are rooted and begin to grow, they are fed with an all-purpose fertilizer for flowering plants.
4. During budding, the bushes are recommended to be fed with a solution prepared from a mixture of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. For its preparation, a tablespoon of each fertilizer is taken. The mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.
5. Withered flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form faster.
6. After flowering on the peduncle, fruits begin to form and ripen. If you do not need seeds, then the faded peduncle under the lowest flower is cut off. 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, the stem of the plant should be cut. The rest of the stem should have a height of 5 to 8 cm. After that, the bushes are covered with dry foliage or peat mixed with sawdust.

Pests and diseases of snapdragon

Observing all the rules for caring for antirrinum, plants will not be afraid of any diseases and pests. Preventive measures include:

1. Moderate moisture area.
2. Planting bushes at a distance from each other from 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragon).
3. Insects affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
4. Watering the bushes should be only under the root, so that water does not fall on the leaves.

If, however, pests have settled on the plants, then the bushes are treated with insecticidal preparations. Of the pests for snapdragons, caterpillars and butterflies that lay eggs, fly larvae, and scale insects are dangerous.

Of the diseases, the flower can be affected by gray or root rot, black leg and septoria. All these diseases cannot be cured and at the same time they quickly spread to other plants. Therefore, diseased bushes break out and are burned. The soil on which they grew must be shed with fungicidal antifungal drugs.

Abundantly flowering beautiful plant antirrinum (snapdragon) will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers until late autumn. Its undersized varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorate a balcony or loggia.

Snapdragon (antirrhinum) is an ornamental plant often found in garden plots. They are often decorated with flower beds in parks and boulevards of cities. In the people, these flowers are known as "dogs". The popularity of the plant among summer residents is also explained by the fact that caring for it is not particularly difficult.

Snapdragon

Snapdragon: growing from seed, when to plant

Peculiarities

Antirrinum is a herbaceous plant, the straight stems of which grow up to 1 m in height. Leaves of an elongated shape can have both light and dark colors. Flowers have a pleasant aroma, in shape they resemble an open lion's mouth. This is the secret of such an unusual name. Growing at the top of the stem, smooth or double flowers gather in an inflorescence in the form of an ear.

snapdragon flower

On a note! The flower is grown on balconies and loggias. On the street, it is planted both in flower beds and in suspended structures.

Gorgeous flower bed with antirrinums

A riot of colors of multi-colored snapdragons in a hanging planter

There are antirrinums of white, pink, red and yellow colors. Flowering continues all summer, and ends in autumn with the onset of frost. The plant is a perennial, but is usually re-planted every year. Snapdragon blooms in the year of planting. Then the seed box ripens.

Varieties of antirrinum

Snapdragon large

These plants, depending on the variety, are both very small and very tall. According to this principle, snapdragons are divided into the following groups.

1. Dwarf, maximum 20 cm in length. They decorate borders and flower beds. These antirrinums are bred in pots as houseplants. Among them there are varieties such as "Sakura Color" and "Candy Showers F1".

   Snapdragon Candy Showers F1 Orange

2. Undersized growing from 25 to 40 cm. They can also be found on borders and flower beds. These include varieties "Tip-top", "Lampion", "Hobbit".

   Snapdragon ampelous "Lampion"

3. Medium, stretching up to 40–60 cm. Used for landscape design or creating bouquets. The most common are pink "Ruby", yellow "Golden Monarch" and pale pink "Lipstick Silver".

   Snapdragon (Antirrinum) Golden Monarch

4. High, up to 60–90 cm long. They make wonderful fragrant bouquets or original flower beds. A cut flower can stand in water for more than a week. The best of them: terry varieties "Madama Butterfly F1", yellow "Canary", pink shade "Anna German".

   Snapdragon F1 "Madama Butterfly"

5. giants, reaching 1.3 m. These are varieties such as cherry "Arthur F1" and others.

Tulips and snapdragons in the same flower bed

Breeding methods

Antirrinum is usually propagated using seedlings. Tall varieties will bloom later than their undersized counterparts. This must be taken into account when sowing.

snapdragon seedlings

On a note! Plant seeds can also be sown immediately in open ground. This applies only to low varieties of snapdragon. A suitable time for sowing is the first decade of May. Flowering should be expected later than in plants planted in seedlings.

If you do not destroy the faded antirrinums, then it is likely that, after surviving the winter, their seeds will germinate in the thawed soil. Such plants give strong lush flowering bushes.

Bright Variety of Snapdragon

When to plant seedlings

The time of sowing seeds depends on the climatic conditions of the region and the plant variety. High antirrinums are sown in the third decade of February. Low and medium height - during March. Sowing of dwarf varieties is allowed until April 15.

snapdragon seeds photo

In the northern regions, snapdragons can only be grown in seedlings. Planting the plant in open ground is done later due to the fact that during almost the entire spring, the return of cold weather is likely. This must be taken into account when planting seeds for seedlings. Growing antirrinum as a perennial plant in a cold climate will not work.

On a note! Sufficiently developed plants are transplanted into flower beds only in late spring or early summer. During this period, the flowers will not suffer from a drop in temperature at night.

Sowing seeds for seedlings step by step

Table. Instructions for growing snapdragon seedlings.

	For antirrinum seedlings, a universal soil mixture is suitable, which can be purchased at a specialized store. So that the small seeds of the plant can hatch, the soil is sifted and washed sand is mixed with it. The mixture can also be prepared from earth, peat and sand, mixing them in a ratio of 1: 2: 0.5. To protect seedlings from diseases and weeds, it is recommended to steam the soil mixture using a double boiler. Steaming for 1 hour will protect the plant from blackleg. In order to make the soil slightly alkaline, after steaming, add half a tablespoon of dolomite flour or 1 tablespoon of ash per 0.5 kg of soil to it. The soil mixture needs to be slightly moistened.
	Fill the container with a mixture of soil, level the surface and tamp quite a bit. Put the seeds on the fold of a piece of paper and carefully spread over the entire surface. From above, pour the earth with a layer of no more than 1 cm.
	Spray the top layer of soil with water from a spray bottle. However, some seeds may float to the surface. This is not scary, as they need more light to germinate.
	Cover the container with a transparent lid or plastic bag. Then install it in a lighted place. For the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of + 21-24 ° C in the room. The soil must be periodically irrigated with water, otherwise the seeds will dry out and not germinate.
	In about a week, sprouts will begin to sprout. After germination, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of +16+29°C. At first, seedlings grow at a slow pace. At this time, it is especially important not to allow excess water. Watering should be carried out so that moisture does not fall on the leaves. Frequent ventilation is required. The lid of the container must be removed after 7 days. Immediately after this, the plants must be protected from direct sunlight.
	With excessive seedling density, they are thinned out using tweezers.
	Picking is done after the first two true leaves grow. Snapdragon is not afraid of this procedure. In a new place, he will feel good almost immediately. The same soil mixture is suitable, but without preliminary screening and steam treatment. Fill cups or pots with soil, lightly tamp the soil. Then you need to make holes so that there is enough space for the roots. Deepen the sprout by 3 mm and sprinkle with soil. Lightly tamp the earth, otherwise, when moistened, the sprout may tilt.
	After picking, the seedlings must be carefully watered. In this case, it is desirable to hold the sprouts until the moisture is completely absorbed.
	It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer to the soil every 14 days. The grown seedlings can be pinched between the fourth and fifth pairs of leaves to improve growth and further lush flowering.
	For the second decade of May, you can plan the transfer of seedlings to open ground. Snapdragons require a well-lit area. In shady areas, the antirrinum will not bloom so abundantly. If the seedlings were hardened, then even small frosts are not terrible for her. The land for good plant growth must be loose. A fertile slightly alkaline soil is suitable (otherwise the roots will not be sufficiently developed). Heavy soil needs to be diluted with sand, dolomite flour or ash. Before planting seedlings, mineral fertilizers, including phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, should be applied to the soil.
	Planting holes must be dug at a distance of up to 45 cm from each other, depending on the height of the future plant. The specified distance between plants must be observed if a tall variety is planted. For medium antirrinums, this interval is 30 cm. And plants of small varieties of snapdragons will get along well at a distance of 20 cm between them.
	Planting must be completed with generous watering, after which it is required to cover the soil with a layer of peat.

Snapdragon in composition with other flowers

Composition using snapdragon flowers

Video - How best to sow snapdragons

plant care

Further care of the plant does not require much effort. It needs to be periodically weeded, and the antirrinum also needs frequent loosening of the soil. During the period of active growth, the culture should be fed with a complex of mineral fertilizers. It is undesirable to allow both waterlogging of the soil and lack of moisture. Watering should be moderate. Withered inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner.

Antirrinum (snapdragon). Types and terms of work during cultivation

Snapdragon - cultivation and care

Snapdragon diseases

If the seedling root system has been exposed to excess moisture, then the antirrinum can get root rot. This can completely ruin the seedlings. You can cope with the problem with the help of a drug called "Hom". A teaspoon of the product is diluted with 1 liter of water and seedlings are treated. Re-treatment is carried out after the transfer of plants to open ground. To do this, take 1 liter of solution per 10 m2 of flower beds. The procedure must be done before flowering.

Diseases and pests of antirrinum

In cool, damp summers, there are suitable conditions for the development of rust. Red spots quickly spread on the foliage, which lead to the death of the flower. It is recommended to fight this disease with the help of special fungicides (Cumulus, Strobi, Abiga-Peak, Polyram) and one percent Bordeaux liquid. Means containing sulfur are effective. Plants affected by the disease must be burned.

"Strobe"

"Abiga Peak"

On a note! Gray spots with yellow edging on snapdragon leaves indicate infection with septoria. This happens, as a rule, in a hot but rainy summer. To eliminate the infection, such means as "Skor", "Previkur", "Fundazol", "Acrobat MC", "Ordan", "Profit Gold" are used.

"Fundazol"

The following pests are dangerous for snapdragon:

• scoop;
• slugs
• avocado scab;
• gall nematode.

To destroy them, the plants and the land on which they are planted should be treated with insecticides. Infected bushes must be removed from the flower bed and burned.

Snapdragon - beautiful flower, which is undeservedly forgotten by many flower growers

Snapdragon until late autumn is able to surprise with its lush color, as it is not afraid of light frosts. Subject to simple rules, these colorful flowers can be planted and successfully grown on their site by every amateur gardener.