Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), are technically a short lived perennial best grown as an annual.

I find that Snapdragons bloom best in their first year, especially from a Autumn sowing (Autumn Jump Start).

Aging plants don’t flower as well and are susceptible to Antirrhinum rust (Puccinia antirrhini).

Plants can also be wiped out by a very cold winter.

I sow seeds twice, once in Autumn and then again in late Winter for flowers from late Spring to late Summer.

Start early – mid September

Seeds require light for germination, do not cover with compost.

For best results start seeds early Autumn while the greenhouse is still warm and light levels are good. No lids are needed the greenhouse is plenty warm enough and if the sun comes out you can easily cook your seedlings and lose them.

Sow either in modules or in an open seed tray. I like the quarter sized seed trays with lids and have been using them more for very slow seeds that are not upset by root disturbance. They take up less room and you don’t have any empty cells where seeds bounce to the neighbouring cell when sown.

You can find extended videos seed sowing kit on my website or check the shopping list in your handbook.

Water compost ahead of sowing so you don’t wash the tiny seeds into the soil, blocking the light and preventing germination.

Then either sow one seed per cell into a 40 cell tray or scatter thinly over damp compost.

Seeds are seriously tiny but respond well to pricking out, wait until seedlings have grown on and are less fragile before separating (there is a separate video available in the Snapdragon Video Hub showing you how to do this).

Plants will grow slowly but steadily throughout Autumn before resting and growing comes almost to a standstill during the winter.

Plants will get away again quickly when light levels return mid-February onwards.

We will pot on once before planting out 22cm apart (cut flower) in spring. Cut Flower types will require support. Space mini butterfly types 15cm apart, this variety does not need staking.

Do not sow seeds in deep winter, seedlings will struggle to survive in the low light levels risking damping off, and results will be disappointing.

Cut flower types can be sown again late winter for a second slightly later flowering. Plants will also be shorter. For this reason I don’t sow again in Spring. Plants won’t grow properly before flowering is initiated.

However the new mini butterfly types can be sown a third time in early spring giving you fresh flowers as late as August and September.

Then simply cut and deadhead to keep the flowers blooming and blooming. My Snapdragons are now onto their 3 and 4^th flush of blooms.

If you have had any problems with rust, avoid watering overhead or a preventative spray of fungicide will help keep it at bay during wet summers. A general rose spray I find is excellent if you have that already.

Much more is covered in your Grow-A-Long Handbook

Pinching Snaps, taking cuttings and late Winter sowing

From the greenhouse live September 2024 (see videos below for much more information)

Much more information in this video below, grab a cuppa and enjoy! Love Zoe xxx

New Mini Butterfly Snapdragons & sowing seeds in Quarter sized trays

If your greenhouse is still full of tomatoes and short on space then sowing in a quarter sized tray may be useful. Snapdragon seeds are tiny and take a long time to germinate and grow (compared to Cornflowers for example), so it is important to get them going sooner rather than later.

Later on once the greenhouse is empty we can prick them out into 40 cell trays, you will also be able to make sure there are no empty cells taking up space in your greenhouse or cold frame.

Pricking Out Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) seedlings

Part Two – New Mini Butterfly Snapdragons & sowing seeds in Quarter sized trays In this video we move on our broadcast sown seedlings into individual cells to grow on over winter.

See more videos on Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

Potting Up – Mini Butterfly Snapdragons in containers 8 April 2024

The Mini Butterfly Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) we started in September are now ready for planting. These gorgeous flowers look spectacular in patio pots and containers of any size. Here is how I planted out mine.

Pinching Snaps, taking cuttings and late Winter sowing

Harvesting Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) 

18th February 2024

It’s easy to root cutting from you Autumn Started Snapdragon plants, taken at the same time as we start sowing our 2nd sowing of Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) seeds when the light is better in late winter.

I explain the ‘pitfalls’ of ‘Pinching’ plants too early and rooting cuttings in water. I find I get much healthier plants when rooted in compost where the balance between air and water suits these plants much better.

I thought I would split this video into 2 parts

Part 1 – how to turn your pinched out tips into new plants

This will save you from having to fast forward the video to find the next steps which are in

Part 2 Potting up your Snapdragon cuttings and growing on

Hopefully that’s easier for you and of course you can watch both videos now if that’s what you prefer.

Love Zoe x