Snapdragon Seeds

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) earns its name from the curious lipped flowers that gently open and close when pressed at the sides, delighting children and gardeners alike. It carries dense, upright spikes of velvety florets in a wonderful range of colours, opening from the base upwards. Equally at home in winter borders, mixed beds, and the vase, its tall, long-lasting stems make it one of the most rewarding cool-season cut flowers you can grow.

Planting

Surface-sow the seed and leave it uncovered, as light is needed for germination; press gently onto the surface, adding at most a fine dusting of vermiculite to hold moisture. Keep the medium around 17-18 C and emergence follows in roughly 7-14 days. In Egypt, sow in nursery beds in autumn (September-October), then transplant once seedlings have two to three true leaves. Set plants about 15 cm apart for dwarf types and up to 30 cm for tall cultivars, in full sun.

Fertilizing

Feed with a balanced nitrogen-potassium fertiliser at about 150-200 ppm nitrogen, every other watering at the plug stage and every third watering as plants grow on. Snapdragons dislike high salt levels, so avoid over-feeding; in cool spells below 18 C, steer clear of ammonium-heavy feeds.

Care

Keep the soil moist but well-drained, bottom-watering or misting seed trays to protect the surface-sown seed; avoid waterlogging. For bushier plants, pinch back to 4-5 cm once seedlings reach 8-10 cm. Grow in full sun to part shade with good airflow to limit rust and mildew, and deadhead spent spikes to extend the winter-spring display.