Maine Garden Ideas
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How to Grow and Care for Snapdragons

Snap Dragon Picture

There is something about snapdragons that tickles the soul. These delightful flowers grow on tall spikes creating a rich display of color - but that isn't the fascinating part. Individual flowers resemble the head of a dragon. When pinched the dragon's tiny mouth opens in a silent roar and quickly snaps shut when released. To delight the children in your life, plant snapdragons in a variety of colors and watch their imagination soar. Snap dragons are believed to have originated as wildflowers in Spain and Italy.


Light

​Snapdragons prefer a sunny location that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day, but will tolerate partial shade. I've found that bright morning light, afternoon shade, and late afternoon sun works well for my garden. Your experience may vary depending on your location.


Soil
Snapdragons prefer rich, well-drained soil. Til the area to a depth of 8 to 12 inches and remove rocks and other debris. Amend with a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost or aged manure and work it into the top six inches of soil. Starter fertilizer (5-10-10 or 10-10-10) should be applied at this time by following the recommended application rate on the container. Work the fertilizer into the existing soil to avoid injuries to young roots and seeds.

Planting
Start snapdragon seeds inside 12 weeks before the last expected frost in your area or purchase seedlings from your local nursery. Direct seeding in the garden is not recommended as these plants take time to reach the blooming stage. Burpee Seed recommends pressing the seeds into seed starter and covering lightly with soil when starting your own seedlings. Otherwise transplant nursery- grown seedlings to the garden once all danger of frost has passed in the spring.

Watering
Water snapdragons deeply once or twice a week to prevent soil from drying completely. If the soil feels dry one inch below the surface, it is time to water snapdragons. The amount of water required depends on the weather conditions, rate of growth of your snapdragons, and soil conditions. Those grown in containers may require daily watering, as soil in containers dries quickly in the summer sun.

Fertilizing
Fertilize snapdragons sparingly unless they show signs of nutrient deficiencies, such as slow, stunted growth or yellowed foliage. A water-soluble fertilizer applied once a month is typically sufficient. However, plants grown in raised beds or containers may require more frequent fertilizer as nutrients leach from the soil with watering. Let the health of your snapdragons be your guide.

Varieties: Snapdragons are classified as dwarf (6 to 8 inches tall), medium (18 to 22 inches tall), and tall  (24 to 36 inches tall). Blooms stretch across the color palette with every color besides true blue. Always check the expected height of your snapdragon seedlings before purchasing them to avoid surprises.





Copyright © 2014 Nannette Richford



  • Home
  • Garden Thyme Blog
  • Themes
    • Butterfly Gardens
    • Moon Gardens
    • Sensory Gardens
    • All About Fairies
  • Flowers
    • Annual Flowers >
      • Alyssum
      • Cosmos
      • Geraniums
      • Marigolds
      • Morning Glories
      • Nasturtiums
      • Petunias >
        • Reviving Petunias
      • Snapdragons
      • Sunflowers
      • Sweet Peas
      • Zinnias
    • Perennial Flowers >
      • Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Hortensia’)
      • Lupines
      • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
    • Maine Wildflowers
  • Veggies
    • Warm Season Vegetables >
      • About Beans >
        • Growing Beans
        • Growing Pole Beans
        • How to Make a Teepee Trellis
      • About Corn >
        • Growing Corn
        • What is Baby Corn, anyway?
        • Can you grow corn in containers?
      • Cucumbers >
        • Grow a cucumber in a bottle
        • Growing Pickling Cucumbers
        • Growing cucamelons (Mexican Gherkin)
        • Why do cucumbers blossom but fail to set fruit?
        • Trellising Cucumbers
        • Making Cucumber Relish
        • Powdery Mildew on Cucumbers
      • Melons
      • Peppers >
        • Growing Peppers
      • Squash >
        • Growing Zucchini
        • Spaghetti Squash
      • Tomatoes >
        • How to Harden Off Tomato Plants
        • How (and when) to Prune Tomatoes
        • Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) for Tomatoes
        • Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes
        • Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Hanging Baskets
        • 4 Best Tomatoes for Short Seasons - Early Tomatoes
        • 5 Early Maturing Tomatoes for Short Season Gardening
        • How to Ripen Green Tomatoes
        • How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Home
        • How to Grow a Pomato Plant
    • Cool Season Vegetables >
      • Cole Crops
      • Greens >
        • How to Grow Spinach
        • How to Grow Malabar Spinach
        • How to Grow Swiss Chard
        • Harvesting and Cooking Beet Greens
        • How to Grow Microgreens
      • Onions & Garlic >
        • How to Grow Garlic
        • How to Grow Onions
      • Peas >
        • Growing Garden (shelling) Peas
        • Growing Sugar Snap Peas
      • Potatoes >
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Containers
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Hay Bales
      • Root Crops >
        • Growing Beets
        • How to Grow Carrots
        • Turnips vs Rutabagas
  • Herbs
    • Growing Basil
    • Growing Chives
    • Growing Lavender
    • Herbal Tea Garden
    • How to Grow a Culinary Herb Garden
    • How to Grow Herbs in Sponges
    • Colonial Herb Garden - Classroom Project
    • Herbed Butter
    • Making Herbed Oils
  • Gardening Basics
    • Seed Starting Basics
    • Grafting Basics
    • Soil >
      • Starting a New Garden
      • How to Prepare Soil
      • How to Test Soil Drainage
      • What Type of Soil Do You Have
      • Soil Mix Recipe for Containers
      • How to Make Compost Tea
      • How to Use Mulch
  • Garden Pests
    • How to Control Japanese Beetles
    • How to Control Blister Beetles
    • How to Get Rid of Colorado Potato Beetles
  • Birds
    • Hummingbirds >
      • DIY Hummingbird Feeders from Recycled Bottles
      • Annuals for Hummingbird Gardens
      • Perennials for Hummingbird Gardens
    • About Birdseed
    • Choosing a Birdfeeder
  • Fiddleheads and Fairies
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • How to Marinate Roasted Vegetables