Snapdragons: seed source, growing ideas

13 years ago

Hi everyone. New kid here....

I really love snapdragons and I'm looking for ideas to do better from seed. Raised many plants from seed.

Where are places to order seeds with better selection? More than "tall mix", specific cultivars, colors? Any place specialize in them?

I've had some success starting them in Feb/Mar but I have an idea since I read they really do well cold and dry. I wonder if snapdragons could be sown dry in a plug tray about Dec 1, put outside to freeze, watered later, brought inside Jan 1 to germ at 72 degrees (warm place or heat mat), then Feb-Mar into cold frame 45 nights/45-70 days, maybe outside in Apr, covered against frosts.

My "cold frame" is like a very mini-greenhouse. Foam board insulated. It has an electric heater and ventilation fan with thermostats to control temperatures. So, it doesn't freeze at night here in Jan/Feb. I cover it with a blanklet to save on heating cost. Works well. Just can't open it when it's below freezing. I have tricks for that dog.

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Comments (7)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
Snapdragons, 'Antirrhinums' are easy to germinate and grow. They need light and should be surface sown. The normal 70 degrees suits them and they will normally sprout within about 10 days. In our climate they are grown for winter color. Starting in September they will bloom till the weather warms about May. I buy most of my seeds from Hazzards, good selection and reliable. Al
digdirt2
13 years ago
Snaps are one of those flowers that respond beautifully to Winter Sowing. You might check out that forum here for tips on how to it.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing forum
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evelyn_inthegarden
13 years ago
For a good selection of snaps, go to Chilterns Seeds or Swallowtail Garden Seeds.

They are online at: http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk and
http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Chiltern Seeds
Desirai
13 years ago
thank you for posting that website!! i have fgound so many seeds i HAVE to have!
evelyn_inthegarden
13 years ago
Your welcome!
dowlinggram
13 years ago
I can second the winter sowing idea. I often have volunteers come up in my south flower bed especially if they are in a protected area near the house.

They are fairly easy to grow if you don't overwater but they do take a while to come up and don't grow very fast at first
dirt_farmer
13 years ago
Hi,
I have started snapdragons indoors and painfully transplanted them outdoors and baby them all along the way. But late spring I went to look for something at Lowes and accidentally found they were practically giving good looking snapdragons away for sale cheap.
I could of kicked myself because I only have so much space indoors for seedlings.
I also got my snapdragon seeds from a dollar store that had three different colors available & was happy with the results. I hope they will reseed because if not I'll need a ride to Lowes :)