1. Variety selection
When choosing a snapdragon variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation: For cultivation as an ornamental plant, varieties with beautiful flowers are selected, which can be painted in various colors, including red, orange, yellow, white and pink.
- Plant height: Different varieties of snapdragon vary in plant height. There are low-growing varieties that reach a height of 20-30 cm, and tall varieties that reach a height of 1.5-2 meters.
- Flowering period: Different varieties of snapdragon differ in their flowering period. There are varieties that bloom from June to September, and varieties that bloom from July to August.
- Winter hardiness: Snapdragon is a heat-loving plant that does not tolerate frost.
2. Soil preparation
Snapdragon is a light-loving and moisture-loving plant, so to grow it you need to prepare a sunny and well-drained place.
The soil for planting snapdragons must be fertile and neutral or slightly acidic.
3. Landing
Snapdragon can be grown either by seedlings or by sowing seeds in open ground.
When growing seedlings, snapdragon seeds are sown in March-April in seedling boxes or containers. Shoots appear in 7-10 days. Seedlings are planted in separate pots or cups in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May-June, when the threat of frost has passed.
When sowing seeds in open ground, snapdragon seeds are sown in May-June, when the soil warms up to +15 °C. The seeding depth is 1-2 cm.
4. Plant care
Snapdragon is an unpretentious plant, but to obtain good growth and development, the following measures must be taken:
- Watering: Snapdragon is a moisture-loving plant, so during the growing season it is necessary to regularly water the plants, especially in hot weather.
- Fertilizing: During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
- Weeding: It is necessary to weed regularly so that they do not choke the plants.
- Loosening: It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil around the plants to improve aeration and moisture permeability of the soil.
5. Harvest
Flowering of snapdragons begins in June-July and continues until September.
Additional Tips
- To obtain earlier flowering, snapdragons can be grown as seedlings.
- To increase the decorativeness of the plant, you can shape the bush.