How to sow snapdragons? Detailed sowing method explained
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) originated in the Mediterranean region and are perennial herbaceous plants of the genus Antirrhinum in the family Scrophulariaceae. They are named for their flowers, which resemble goldfish. They are a common flowering plant with brilliant flower colors and attractive flower shapes. Not only are the flowers beautiful, but they also have certain medicinal value. Now let us take a look at the sowing method for snapdragons!
Sowing time
Snapdragons like sunlight and can also tolerate partial shade. They are relatively cold-tolerant and not tolerant of intense heat. They are suitable for growing in loose, fertile, well-drained soil, and can also grow normally in calcareous soil. Sowing can be done in spring or autumn. In the Yangtze River basin, autumn sowing is mostly used, and in northern regions, autumn sowing is also mostly used for pot sowing. Autumn-sown seedlings grow more robustly and bloom more profusely than spring-sown seedlings.
Disinfection treatment
Disinfection of snapdragon seeds and the medium is very important. Before sowing, soak the seeds in a potassium permanganate solution at a concentration of about 0.5% for 1 to 2 hours. Add 150 to 200 grams of thiophanate-methyl powder per cubic meter of medium (about 20 bags), stir 2 to 3 times so that the agent and the medium are fully mixed, then stir while spraying water, adjusting until the medium forms a ball when held in the hand and crumbles when released. Cover with plastic film, pile for 8 to 10 hours, and then place it in plug trays.
Sowing the seeds
Each plug tray can sow 200 seeds, placing one seed per cell. After sowing, gently press with your hand so that the seeds adhere to the medium, then spray thoroughly with water using a sprayer, and cover with newspaper or plastic film. If the seedling nursery can control dryness, moisture, and temperature, then covering is not necessary. Keep the newspaper moist for a long time, and after the seeds germinate, uncover the newspaper.
Management after sowing
When snapdragon seedlings have grown for 5 to 7 weeks, they can be directly potted into 7 to 8 cm pots. If the pot diameter is more than 10 cm, at least one transplanting should be carried out. Snapdragons like sunlight, but harm from excessively high temperatures should be prevented. Snapdragons are long-day plants. A day length greater than 12 hours is beneficial for flower bud differentiation, and appropriate supplemental lighting can be used to make them bloom earlier.