Snapdragons are the gardens hero plant! Robust and full of color, these fun florals take the stand when it comes to unique blooms in a cut flower garden. Snapdragons are a perennial in zones 7 and up, and treated as an annual in the cooler zones.
How to plant Snapdragons
- Full Sun / Part Shade
- Seed Depth: 1/16"
- Plant Spacing: 4-12"
- Height: 24-36"
- Harvest: 110-115 days
Transplant (recommended) - Surface-sow into 128-cell flats or preferred seedling container 8-10 weeks before planting out. Light is required for germination; cover just enough to hold seeds in place by using a fine layer of vermiculite or soil to help maintain moisture levels and prevent algae growth. Bottom water or mist lightly to avoid covering the seed with displaced soil. Snapdragons are slow to germinate so patience is key!
Transplant to cell packs or larger containers when the first true leaves appear, approximately 3-4 weeks after sowing. If planting out, harden off for 10 days before putting in their final spot. For a bushier plant that produces more flower-producing side branches, pinch young plants back by half their height when plants have formed 4-6 leaves or are approximately 3-4 inches tall. Pinching will delay the crop time by a few weeks, but blooms will soon appear.
Growing Snapdragons
Although snapdragons tend to slow down and stop blooming in heat of mid-summer, if you keep them watered, they will perk back up once the temperatures cool and carry your garden through the fall.
Snapdragons prefer cooler temperatures and are at their best when night time temperatures are in the love 40s F and daytime temperatures in the low 70s F. Once established, snapdragons can withstand sub-freezing temperatures. Just make sure they stay well watered during cold spells and provide a blanket of pine straw mulch or leaves.
