When is the best time to sow snapdragons?

Snapdragon is a flower that blooms in summer and autumn, widely planted in Chinese gardens, and suitable for mass planting in flower beds and flower borders. So when should snapdragons be sown? Let's take a look together.

1. When are snapdragons sown?

Snapdragons can be sown in either spring or autumn. Spring sowing is done in March-April, and autumn sowing in August-September. Autumn sowing gives better results than spring sowing; the seedlings that grow are sturdy, and the flowering rate will be very high. Before sowing, soak the seeds in 50 to 400 milliliters of gibberellin, which can increase the germination rate of the seeds.

Snapdragon seeds are tiny and grayish-black, about 8000 seeds per gram, with a germination rate of 60%. Sow at 13°C-15°C, and seedlings emerge in 1-2 weeks. When sowing, mix with sand and broadcast. Usually, in order to bloom in early December, plants grown with pinching to develop 3-4 stems (one stem is one cut flower) should be sown in late July. Those grown without pinching to develop a single stem should be sown in mid-to-late August.

2. Cultivation Techniques

1. Propagation method: Mainly by seed propagation. Sowing can be done in both spring and autumn. In the Yangtze River basin, autumn sowing is mostly used; in northern regions, pot sowing also mostly uses autumn sowing. Autumn-sown seedlings grow more vigorously and bloom more abundantly than spring-sown seedlings. After autumn sowing, seedlings emerge in 7~10 days. Soaking the seeds in a 50~400 mg/L gibberellin solution can increase the seed germination rate. Spring sowing should be done in March~April, and cuttings propagation can also be used.

2. Fertilizing: After planting out, to ensure normal development of the stems, topdressing should be applied frequently, generally once every 10 days during the growing period. A mixed fertilizer containing nitrogen and potassium can be used, with a concentration of 0.01% being suitable.

3. Watering: Usually loosen the potting soil frequently and water moderately. Controlling watering in winter can keep the plants growing healthily, with many flowers and bright colors.

Snapdragons combine especially well with zinnias, petunias, marigolds, scarlet sage, and others. Tall varieties can be used as background plantings, while dwarf varieties are suitable for planting beside rocks or in windowsill flower boxes, or for edge planting. This flower can also be used as a cut flower.