Snapdragon - instructions for growing an elegant flower bed. What time should snapdragons be planted?

Antirrhinum belongs to the Norichinaceae family. In the Mediterranean, this plant is considered a perennial, but in our harsh, frosty winter latitudes it is grown as an annual.

It is rightfully in demand in gardening and floriculture, although planting and caring for this plant has some distinctive features.

Flowerbed lovers often ask questions:

• Are frosts dangerous for annuals?
• Is pinching important?
• grow seedlings or sow in the ground?

Varieties

The stem of the pharynx branches well, creating a compact, dense bush, reaching a height of 20 to 150 centimeters. The flower is large and shaped like the open mouth of an animal, which is why they are called dogs in conversation. Bright with a pronounced aroma, they are collected in spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences. The coloring is so diverse and depends on the type of antirrhinum. The most popular are white, lilac, yellow, red flowers.

Currently, flower growers are growing about 900 different varieties, which, in turn , are divided into one and a half dozen groups:

• tall 150–160 cm in height;
• tall up to 100 cm;
• medium-sized up to 60–70 cm;
• short, up to 40–50 cm;
• dwarf up to 20–25 cm.

In tall varieties There is one main distinctive detail - the central stem of the flower rises above the side stems, creating a peduncle with large strong inflorescences.

All medium-sized varieties branch well and differ radically in flowering time. So, among them you can find early and late species of this annual.

Low-growing varieties of “dogs” have the shape of a ball with many stems, form miniature bushes, and the size of the flowers is smaller than those of tall relatives.

All varieties are divided into several classes

They are also traditionally divided according to flowering time., like all other garden flowers:

• early start of flowering, the first flowers open in May;
• medium term, bloom no earlier than July;
• late flowering period, flowers appear closer to August.

Planting and care

Antirrinum is a very light-loving flower, and if there is a lack of heat, it slows down its growth and seed production. Can tolerate light frosts down to -5–0 degrees.

Dogs are grown on any soil, but it has been noted that they grow better in the lungs fertile soil. When choosing a place for sowing in the front garden, look for a sunny, bright place, protected from drafts.

Growing from seeds

Antirrinum is grown as annual plant method from sowing seeds to seedlings or directly into the ground. Each of these methods has a number of advantages.

Planting seeds in the soil.

This method is suitable for gardeners living near a greenhouse, in their home or in their country house. The easier it will be to monitor sowing and seedlings. Sometimes it seems that planting directly into the ground is much easier, but whether your young animals will survive or not depends entirely on how they are cared for. Antirrinum seeds are sown in the soil in late autumn or early spring at the beginning of April. It is not afraid of cold weather and also tolerates spring night frosts well.

The seeds are placed into the soil directly into the flowerbed and are not covered with soil. Antirrinum seeds are too small, so for even distribution over the surface it is better to mix them with sand. The bed on which the flowerbed will be located will need care; it needs to be well cleaned of grass and weeds, because it will choke the young shoots. When the first shoots appear, the flower needs care, weeding and regular, careful watering.

Grown flowers are thinned out so that the distance between them remains from 15 to 25 cm. “Dogs” grown in the ground begin to bloom much later, around July, and end early due to the threat of cold weather.

Planting Antirium seeds for seedlings

This concern begins from the first ten days of February until the beginning - mid-April. Seedlings from seedlings will bloom much earlier and already in early May they will delight you with their diversity. The process of growing seedlings Antirrinum has its own distinctive features, which it is advisable for every gardener to know and apply:

Already partially flowered seedlings are planted in the front garden. To ensure lush flowering, choose the most open and sunny place. Before planting seedlings, it is advisable to flavor the soil with peat and add a little sand for looseness. Leave 20–25 cm between seedlings for free growth. But depending on the type of plant, the distance may be increased.

Snapdragon Care

This flower is a rather unpretentious and unpretentious plant; all you need is weeding, protection from pests and regular watering. Be sure to watch Make sure that the flower is not flooded, as this may cause the roots to become sick and your flowerbed will die. You can control humidity if you mulch the soil with peat, sawdust or old grass.

Feeding an annual flower

Even on poor soils you can grow a beautiful and healthy plant if you fertilize it on time. It is advisable to carry out the first feeding 15–20 days after the seedlings have moved to the flowerbed. All subsequent fertilizer applications should be carried out at the same two-week intervals throughout the flowering period. For this purpose, weak solutions of bird droppings or mullein, as well as weed infusion, are suitable.

Reproduction of Antirium

For further cultivation and preserving your favorite varieties of pharynx in the flowerbed, you need to learn how to propagate it correctly. You can do this in several ways:

• sowing seeds;
• cuttings.

For proper collection Healthy and large individuals select seeds for further reproduction. The seeds of snapdragon are very small, and to prevent them from simply scattering on their own, the seed part of the flower is tied with a cloth and the seeds are allowed to ripen. It is better to save seeds for the future in a cool place and for no more than three years.

You need to cut snapdragons in the spring, cutting young shoots from the mother bush, which overwintered indoors, on the veranda or in the winter garden. We move the rooted seedlings to the front garden by the end of May. Planting material obtained in this way begins to flower much earlier than its brothers, and has a prolonged flowering period.

Diseases and pests of antirium

Quite often, seedlings are affected by fungal diseases:

• blackleg;
• septoria;
• fusarium;
• rust.

To prevent diseases, all damaged bushes are sprayed with biological products, which is repeated after a few days to prevent spread.

Snapdragon It is very susceptible to attacks by pests, which, in turn, eat up the buds and spoil the stems and leaves of the flower. The most common cause of damage is the cutworm. Their butterflies lay eggs on nearby weeds, and the larvae then crawl onto a flowering bush and damage it. To prevent such damage Regularly weed around flowers. Eaten and spoiled plants are treated with special preparations and infusions several times. Snapdragon can bloom and delight the eye almost until October, if there is no severe frost.

Antirium in landscape design

In the design of flower beds and alpine slides They use all kinds of snapdragons. A huge variety of varieties and bright colors made it the leader among all annual beauties.

Dwarf and low-growing species of the flower are well suited and look good in flower beds, they are planted along borders or as colored circles and squares on the lawn. There are types of annual pharynx that can be grown on the balcony in a box or in a flower pot. Tall species of antirrhinum They are suitable mainly for bouquets and will remain in a vase for up to a half-moon and will delight you with their decorative qualities. Snapdragon flower stalks fit perfectly into many flower arrangements.

Snapdragon flowers

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), which is also called antirrhinum, is directly related to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the plantain family. This genus includes approximately 50 species of perennial plants, including climbers. In the wild, these plants can be found in warm climate zones, and most species are found in North America. In Russia, these flowers are called “dogs”, in England “snapdragon” (biting dragon), in France “cleft mouth”, and in Ukraine “mouths”. "Antirrinum" translated from Greek means "nose-like", "nose-like". IN ancient Greek myth, which tells about Hercules, or more precisely, about his first labor, talks about how he defeated the Nemean lion, whose ferocity everyone knew. In honor of the victory, the goddess Flora presented Hercules with a gift - it was a lovely flower called “snapdragon”. From that time on, the Greeks had a tradition of giving snapdragons to heroes. This plant has been cultivated for about five hundred years, and German specialists began breeding it only in the 19th century. During this time, they were able to create approximately 1 thousand varieties of snapdragon, and it is interesting that only 1 species was used to create various varieties, namely, Antirrhinum majus.

Features of snapdragon

This flower is represented by subshrubs, as well as herbaceous plants, which have straight, finely grooved shoots, they are branched and colored green. Their height can vary from 15 to 100 centimeters. The bushes have a pyramidal shape. The leaf plates are alternate on top and opposite on the bottom. Their shape can be lanceolate or oval-elongated, and the color varies from dark to pale green, with the veins colored red. The fragrant flowers are relatively large in size, they are two-lipped and have an irregular shape. There are both double flowers and simple ones (depending on the variety); they are part of spike-shaped inflorescences. Their color can be yellow, soft fawn, white, pink, red (all shades), and there are also varieties with two- and three-color flowers. The fruit is a two-locular multi-seeded capsule. 1 g contains 5–8 thousand seeds. This plant begins to bloom in July and ends after the first autumn frosts.

Often, snapdragons, which grow as a perennial in the wild, are grown by gardeners as an annual. However, if the plant is well cared for and if conditions are favorable, the frost-resistant snapdragon can survive wintering in open ground. At the same time, on next year its flowering will be more spectacular. IN garden design This flower is grown as a border flower, but it can decorate both a flower bed and a green lawn (if snapdragons are planted in groups). This plant is also used to decorate terraces and balconies. Today, ampelous varieties of this flower are becoming increasingly popular among flower growers, for the cultivation of which hanging structures can be used, and they will also become an excellent decoration for galleries and terraces.

Sowing

Reproduction of this plant can be produced by seeds and also vegetative way. The seeds have good germination for several years. If you live in an area with a relatively mild climate, then sowing the seeds of such a flower can be done directly in open ground. The first shoots can be seen after 2.5–3 weeks, while the seedlings are not afraid of cold snaps that occur at night. In places where spring is relatively cold, this plant is recommended to be grown through seedlings. Growing snapdragons from seeds is very easy.

Seeds are sown in the first days of March. To do this, you will need a bowl with a diameter of at least 10 centimeters, and it should have holes at the bottom for drainage. Coarse sand should be poured onto the bottom, and compost soil mixed with sand should be placed on top of it. Lightly compact and level the surface, then moisten it a little with a spray bottle and distribute snapdragon seeds mixed with sand, pour a thin layer of the same substrate on top. Water the crops using a fine spray bottle, and then cover the container with clear glass. Every day, condensation must be removed from the surface of the glass, while ventilating the seedlings and, if necessary, moistening the surface of the substrate with a sprayer. If the place where the container is located has moderate humidity and warmth (23 degrees), then the first seedlings can be seen after half a month. After the first plants appear, the container must be moved to a well-lit place, but at the same time protected from direct rays of the sun (so that the plants do not stretch out). After the snapdragon begins to emerge en masse (after 3–4 days), the shelter must be removed for good.

Seedling

At first, the plants will grow for quite a long time, and during this period it is especially important to properly moisten the soil. Watering should be done in the morning so that the plants have enough moisture, but not too much. The fact is that waterlogging can cause the development of “black leg”. If the seedling has fallen, it should be carefully removed using tweezers, and the place where it grew should be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or calcined cold river sand should be used for this. After 2 true leaves are formed, the seedlings must be picked into a box or container, and they must be placed so that they are not pressed against each other. You can also use individual pots for picking plants, or you can plant 3 seedlings at once in 1 larger pot. Then the plants should be placed in a well-lit place, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight. After this, you can begin hardening the seedlings. To do this, during the daytime you need to open the window for a while, but you should avoid drafts. When the plant has 4-5 true leaves, it will need to be pinched to increase bushiness, but if the side shoots grow quite quickly, then they should also be pinched.

Planting in open ground

What time should snapdragons be planted?

Snapdragon seedlings should be planted in last days May and the first - June. At the same time, you should not be afraid of cold snaps at night, since these plants tolerate them quite calmly. These flowers can be planted both in a sunny area and in a shaded area, but it is worth considering that it must be protected from gusts of wind and also be well-drained. Suitable soil should be light and rich in nutrients. The best mixture for growing such a flower is a mixture consisting of compost, sand, and peat, which are taken in equal proportions. The acidity of the soil should be pH 6–8.

How to plant

The distance between the bushes during planting depends on the variety of snapdragon. So, between dwarf varieties there should be a distance of 15 centimeters, between short-growing varieties - about 20 centimeters, between medium-growing ones - 30 centimeters, and between tall ones - from 40 to 50 centimeters. After a bush transplanted into open ground takes root, it will grow quite quickly and become a spectacular flowering plant. We must remember that seedlings must be planted in well-watered soil.

Features of care

Growing

Such a flower is undemanding in care and only needs timely watering, weeding, fertilizing, and also needs to systematically loosen the soil surface. Watering should be done only during drought, but we must remember that this procedure cannot be carried out in the evening. After watering, it will be necessary to loosen the soil surface and perform weeding; this can be done on the same day or every other day. Experts advise tying tall varieties to a support. After the flower begins to fade, it must be removed from the bush, as it takes away the strength of the plant. In order for such a plant to bloom for a long time, it should not be allowed to set seeds; also, after the last flowers wither, you need to cut off the flower shoot. It is necessary to trim the peduncle under the flower located at the very bottom, only in this case new arrows and flowers will grow. The first time you need to feed the snapdragon is after it takes root after transplanting into open soil, and for this you use nitrophoska and organic fertilizers. The plant needs to be fed a second time during budding; in this case, a nutrient solution consisting of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate is used, and 1 large spoon of each substance should be taken per bucket of water.

Diseases and pests

It happens that bushes are affected by rust, and red spots appear on their surface. This plant is also susceptible to infection with blackleg, root and gray rot, and septoria. Diseased plants must be destroyed as soon as possible, then the area of ​​soil where they grew must be treated with a fungicidal (antifungal) agent. Pests that pose a danger to snapdragons include fly larvae, scale insects, caterpillars, and butterflies that are capable of laying eggs. It should be remembered that getting rid of diseases or harmful insects is much more difficult than preventing a plant from becoming infected. For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to follow all recommendations for the care of snapdragons, so it is necessary to promptly destroy diseased and infected specimens with harmful insects; You should not plant flowers very close to each other; it is necessary to water correctly, avoiding waterlogging of the soil; Watering should be done at the root, while ensuring that water does not fall on the surface of the leaf blades.

After flowering

The flowering of such a plant can continue until the first frost in the fall. After autumn sets in, those snapdragon bushes that are cultivated as perennials should be trimmed very short, so that the height of the shoots is about 5–8 centimeters. Then you need to mulch the area, sprinkling it with a layer of dried leaves or sawdust mixed with peat. In the case when you have an annual snapdragon, then after the flowers begin to fade, you should remove them, thereby avoiding self-seeding. After all the flowers on the arrow have withered, it needs to be trimmed as short as possible. This will prevent the seeds from ripening and scattering on the surface of the soil. After the onset of late autumn, it is necessary to dig up the soil where the flowers grew and burn the remains of the snapdragon, as harmful insects can settle on them.

How and when to collect snapdragon seeds

As a rule, most plants collect seeds only after they are fully ripe. However, snapdragon seeds must be collected in the incomplete ripeness phase. Then they are placed in a dry, well-ventilated room for ripening. You need to collect the seeds in a long paper bag (like for a baguette). You need to start collecting seeds only after the fruits located at the bottom of the peduncle have fully ripened. To do this, the top of the peduncle, on which the still green fruits are located, must be cut off and thrown away. On the part of the flower arrow that remains, you need to put a paper bag, tie it with a thread below the fruit. Then all that remains is to trim the stem below the dressing site. Then the inverted bag needs to be hung in a dry and warm place and all that remains is to wait for the ripened seeds to pour out into the bag. Ripe seeds should be poured into a small cardboard box and stored in a dry place where the air temperature will be from 3 to 5 degrees. In this case, the boxes must be protected from water.

Main types and varieties

Today, experts have several classifications of this plant according to various characteristics. The most popular classification is based on the height of the bush. Based on the size of the bush, snapdragon varieties are divided into 5 groups:

1. Gigantic- height of the bush is 90–130 centimeters. This plant has a centrally located stem that is much higher than the second-order stems, while there are no third-order stems. Popular varieties: “Arthur” - bush height from 90 to 95 centimeters, cherry-colored flowers; “F1 red XL” and “F1 pink XL” - the bush reaches 1.1 meters, flowers are red and Pink colour(respectively).
2. High- bush height 60–90 centimeters. They are cultivated for cutting, as well as as a vertical accent in groups or in mixborders. The central stem is much higher than the lateral ones. When cut, the flowers of this plant can last for about 7 days or even longer. The most fragrant varieties are those whose flowers are painted in various shades of yellow. Popular varieties: “Anna German” - the flowers are light pink; "Canary" - deep yellow flowers; a mixture of Madama Butterfly varieties - double flowers can be painted in a variety of color shades.
3. Medium height (semi-tall)- a bush with a height of 40 to 60 centimeters. The varieties are universal; they are cultivated both for cutting and as a decoration for flower beds. They are distinguished by their strong branching. The central stem is not much higher in height than the lateral ones. Popular varieties: “Golden Monarch” - has a yellow color; "Ruby" - deep pink flowers; “Lipstick silver” - painted whitish-pink.
4. Low- height of the bush is 25–40 centimeters. They are cultivated as border or flower bed plants. These varieties have a large number of flowering stems of the second and third orders, with the central stem having the same height as the first order stems or slightly lower than them. Popular varieties: “Tip-top”, “Hobbit”, hanging hybrid plant"Lampion".
5. Dwarf- the height of the bush varies from 15 to 20 centimeters. The varieties are intended for carpet flower beds, ridges, borders, rock gardens. They are also grown as a potted flower. There is strong branching up to the third and fourth order stems, while the central stem is lower or has the same height as the second order stems. Popular varieties: “Sakura Color” - there is a spot on the whitish-pink flowers; "Candy Showers" is a hanging variety.

There is also the very popular Sanderson and Martin snapdragon classification for year-round cut varieties. However, this classification is of interest only to those gardeners who grow snapdragons for sale.

Antirrinum or snapdragon is a perennial, annual or semi-shrub herbaceous ornamental flowering plant, native to the warm countries of the Mediterranean. In nature, the flower also grows in North America and Europe. The snapdragon plant is also very popular among gardeners. And this is understandable, because the amazing colors of the buds, fancy shapes flowers and long flowering are able to decorate any area of ​​the garden throughout the season.

Snapdragon – description, photo

What does a snapdragon look like? The antirrhinum flower is distinguished by green, straight, finely grooved, large stems, the height of which can be from 15 to 100 cm. The plant has opposite lower leaves and oval or lanceolate elongated upper leaves. By the beginning of summer, racemose inflorescences with numerous large, two-lipped flowers form on the stem. They have an irregular shape and can be simple or terry. The color of the flowers can be pink, red, dark brown, orange, yellow, white. There are varieties with flowers painted in two or three colors at once. Snapdragon blooms from the beginning of summer until the onset of autumn frosts.

In nature, the snapdragon flower is a perennial, however, in regions with cold winters the plant is grown as an annual. Under favorable conditions and good care, antirrinum can be grown in the garden as perennial.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground

In regions with warm climates, antirrinum can be grown as a perennial by planting the seeds directly in the flowerbed. Sowing takes place in early spring or mid to late April. It all depends on the weather in your area. Shoots will appear in about three weeks and can survive even a slight cold snap.

Seeds are planted on a bed prepared in advance in a nesting manner, sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, watered from a watering can with a shower attachment and covered with film. The crops are ventilated daily, and the soil is moistened as necessary. As soon as the seedlings appear, the film is removed on warm days. It is better to leave the shelter at night.

Slightly grown seedlings will need to be thinned out, removing the weakest plants. In order not to damage the roots of closely growing bushes, it is better not to pull out unnecessary seedlings, but to pinch them off. When caring for them, watering should be regular, but not frequent. Seedlings are sensitive to soil moisture, and if it is over-moistened, young plants may develop blackleg disease. It is recommended to water in the early morning.

Growing antirrinum (snapdragon) seedlings

With the seedling method of growing annuals, seeds should be sown in early March. For this purpose, seedling containers are prepared with drainage holes. They can be filled with soil mixture from the store or you can prepare it yourself from compost soil and sand.

Sowing procedure:

Features of caring for snapdragon seedlings

The air temperature for seedling growth should be +20…+23 degrees. They are moistened in a timely manner, and after two true leaves appear, they are planted disposable cups or other containers. You can use spacious pots by planting three bushes in them at once.

When transplanting seedlings, you can use a special spatula or a simple fork, with which the plants are taken out along with a lump of earth and carefully placed in a pot filled with earth. Antirrinums do not tolerate transplantation well, so everything must be done so as not to damage the roots. The planted plants are carefully watered.

Grow pruned seedlings in a well-lit place, otherwise, with a lack of light, the stems will begin to stretch. When watering the bushes, you should keep in mind that snapdragons do not like waterlogged soil. Constantly wet soil can lead to rotting of the roots and the appearance of a disease such as “blackleg”. However, you cannot overdry the soil.

To stimulate the growth of side shoots of seedlings 10 cm high, pinch the top. At this time they should have 4 or 5 true leaves. After this procedure, the snapdragon will turn into a beautiful, lush bush. If the regrown side shoots begin to grow too actively, you can also pinch them off.

About two to three weeks before planting antirrinum in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden. On warm days it is placed in the garden or on an open balcony. On the first day, plants are hardened for one hour. Every day the time spent by seedlings in the fresh air increases. In the last days before planting, the seedlings should be outside for 24 hours.

Planting snapdragons in open ground

For the antirrinum, a sunny or slightly shaded area is selected, which should be protected from strong winds.

When to plant snapdragons?

Hardened and grown seedlings can be planted in a flower bed in the garden at the end of May or beginning of June. The weather should be warm, however, the plants can survive small, short-term night frosts.

How to plant snapdragons?

The soil for antirrinum should be well-drained, nutritious and light. It is best if it consists of compost, sand and peat (1:1:1).

For each bush, a separate planting hole is made, the distance between which depends on the height of the plant:

1. Dwarf antirrinums are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
2. There should be a gap of 20 cm between low-growing specimens.
3. Tall snapdragon bushes are planted at a distance of 40 or 50 cm from each other. Immediately during planting, it is recommended to install supports near the tall specimens, to which the grown plants will need to be tied.

After planting, the seedlings must be watered.

Snapdragon - care

Snapdragon is an unpretentious plant that does not require much attention during the season. The bushes will bloom magnificently and for a long time if you follow simple recommendations for caring for them:

1. In dry and hot weather, plants require watering. This should be done early in the morning. It is not recommended to water snapdragons at night. If it rains, there is no need to water the flowers.
2. After rain or watering, it is recommended to remove weeds and loosen the soil around the plantings approximately once a week. This procedure will prevent the formation of a crust on the soil, and air will flow to the roots of the plants.
3. After about two weeks, when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are fed with universal fertilizers for flowering plants.
4. During budding, it is recommended to feed the bushes with a solution prepared from a mixture of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of each fertilizer. The mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.
5. Wilted flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form more quickly.
6. After flowering, fruits begin to form and ripen on the peduncle. If you do not need the seeds, then cut off the faded peduncle under the lowest flower. In this case, after some time, new arrows will appear on the bush and begin to grow, which will soon bloom.
7. In regions with not very cold winters, where snapdragon is grown as a perennial plant, in the fall, with the onset of cold days, you need to cut off the plant's stem. The remainder of the stem should have a height of 5 to 8 cm. After this, the bushes are covered with dry leaves or peat mixed with sawdust.

Pests and diseases of snapdragon

By following all the rules for caring for antirrinum, the plants will not be afraid of any diseases or pests. Preventive measures include:

1. Moderate moisture of the area.
2. Planting bushes at a distance from each other from 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragon).
3. Specimens affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
4. You should water the bushes only at the roots so that water does not get on the leaves.

If pests have settled on the plants, the bushes are treated with insecticidal preparations. Among the pests that are dangerous for snapdragons are egg-laying caterpillars and butterflies, fly larvae, and scale insects.

Among the diseases, a flower can be affected by gray or root rot, blackleg and septoria. All these diseases cannot be cured and they quickly spread to other plants. Therefore, diseased bushes are pulled out and burned. The soil on which they grew must be shed with fungicidal antifungal drugs.

The profusely blooming beautiful plant antirrhinum (snapdragon) will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers until late autumn. Its low-growing varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorated with a balcony or loggia.

Snapdragon (antirrhinum) - often found on garden plots ornamental plant. They often decorate flower beds in city parks and boulevards. These flowers are popularly known as “dogs”. The popularity of the plant among summer residents is also explained by the fact that caring for it is not particularly difficult.

Snapdragon

Snapdragon: growing from seeds, when to plant

Peculiarities

Antirrhinum is a herbaceous plant whose straight stems grow up to 1 m in height. Elongated leaves can be either light or dark in color. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and are shaped like an open lion's mouth. This is the secret of such an unusual name. Smooth or double flowers growing at the top of the stem are collected in an inflorescence in the form of a spike.

Snapdragon flower

On a note! The flower is grown on balconies and loggias. On the street it is planted both in flower beds and in hanging structures.

Gorgeous flower bed with antirrinums

A riot of colors of multi-colored snapdragons in a hanging planter

There are white, pink, red and yellow flowers. Flowering continues throughout the summer and ends in the fall with the onset of frost. The plant is perennial, but is usually replanted every year. Snapdragon blooms in the year of planting. At the same time, the seed pod ripens.

Antirrinum varieties

Snapdragon large

These plants, depending on the variety, can be either very small or very tall. According to this principle, snapdragons are divided into the following groups.

1. Dwarf, maximum 20 cm in length. They decorate borders and flower beds. These antirrinums are grown in pots as indoor plants. Among them there are such varieties as “Sakura Color” and “Candy Showers F1”.

   Snapdragon Candy Showers F1 Orange

2. short, growing from 25 to 40 cm. They can also be found in borders and flower beds. These include the varieties “Tip-top”, “Lampion”, “Hobbit”.

   Snapdragon ampelous “Lampion”

3. Average, stretching up to 40–60 cm. Used for landscape design or creating bouquets. The most common are pink “Ruby”, yellow “Golden Monarch” and pale pink “Lipstick Silver”.

   Snapdragon (Antirrinum) Golden Monarch

4. High, up to 60–90 cm long. They make wonderful fragrant bouquets or original flower beds. A cut flower can stand in water for more than a week. The best of them: terry varieties “Madame Butterfly F1”, yellow “Canary”, pink “Anna German”.

   Snapdragon F1 “Madama Butterfly”

5. Giants, reaching 1.3 m. These are varieties such as cherry “Arthur F1” and others.

Tulips and snapdragons in one flowerbed

Breeding methods

Antirrinum is usually propagated using seedlings. Tall varieties will bloom later than their low-growing counterparts. This must be taken into account when sowing.

Snapdragon seedlings

On a note! Plant seeds can also be sown directly into open ground. This applies only to low varieties of snapdragon. The right time for sowing is the first ten days of May. Flowering should be expected later than for plants planted by seedlings.

If you do not destroy faded antirrinums, then it is likely that, having survived the winter, their seeds will germinate in thawed soil. Such plants produce strong, lushly flowering bushes.

Vibrant variety of snapdragons

When to plant seeds for seedlings

The time for sowing seeds depends on the climatic conditions of the region and the plant variety. Tall antirrinums are sown in the third ten days of February. Low- and medium-growing - during March. Sowing of dwarf varieties is allowed until April 15.

Snapdragon seeds photo

IN northern regions Snapdragons can only be grown by seedlings. The plant is planted in open ground later due to the fact that cold weather is likely to return throughout almost the entire spring. This must also be taken into account when planting seeds for seedlings. It will not be possible to grow antirrinum as a perennial plant in cold climates.

On a note! Sufficiently developed plants are transplanted into flower beds only in late spring or early summer. During this period, the flowers will not suffer from lower temperatures at night.

Sowing seeds for seedlings step by step

Table. Instructions for growing snapdragons in seedlings.

	For antirrinum seedlings, a universal soil mixture is suitable, which can be purchased at a specialized store. So that the small seeds of the plant can hatch, the soil is sifted and washed sand is mixed into it. The mixture can also be prepared from soil, peat and sand, mixing them in a ratio of 1: 2: 0.5. To protect seedlings from diseases and weeds, it is recommended to steam the soil mixture using a steamer. Steaming for 1 hour will protect the plant from blackleg. In order to make the soil slightly alkaline, after steaming it is necessary to add half a tablespoon of dolomite flour or 1 tablespoon of ash per 0.5 kg of soil. The soil mixture needs to be slightly moistened.
	Fill the container with the soil mixture, level the surface and tamp it down quite a bit. Place the seeds on the fold of a piece of paper and carefully spread over the entire surface. Sprinkle soil on top with a layer of no more than 1 cm.
	Use a spray bottle to spray the top layer of soil with water. In this case, some seeds may float to the surface. This is not a problem, since they need more light to germinate.
	Cover the container with a transparent lid or plastic bag. Then install it in a lighted place. For seedlings to emerge, it is necessary to maintain a room temperature of +21-24°C. The soil must be periodically irrigated with water, otherwise the seeds will dry out and not germinate.
	In about a week, the shoots will begin to hatch. After emergence, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of +16+29°C. At first, the seedlings grow at a slow pace. At this time, it is especially important not to allow excess water. Watering should be done so that moisture does not fall on the leaves. Frequent ventilation is required. The container lid must be removed after 7 days. Immediately after this, the plants must be protected from direct sunlight.
	If the seedlings are too dense, thin them out using tweezers.
	Picking is done after the first two true leaves grow. Snapdragon is not afraid of this procedure. In the new place he will feel good almost immediately. The same soil mixture is suitable, but without preliminary sifting and steam treatment. Fill cups or pots with soil and lightly compact the soil. Then you need to make holes so that there is enough space for the roots. Deepen the sprout by 3 mm and sprinkle with soil. Lightly compact the soil, otherwise the sprout may tilt when wet.
	After picking, the seedlings must be carefully watered. In this case, it is advisable to hold the sprouts until the moisture is completely absorbed.
	It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer to the soil once every 14 days. Grown seedlings can be pinched between the fourth and fifth pairs of leaves to improve growth and further lush flowering.
	In the second decade of May, you can plan to transfer the seedlings to open ground. Snapdragons require a well-lit place. In shady areas, antirrinum will not bloom so profusely. If the seedlings have been hardened, then they are not afraid of even slight frosts. The soil must be loose for good plant growth. Fertile, slightly alkaline soil is suitable (otherwise the roots will not be developed enough). Heavy soil must be diluted with sand, dolomite flour or ash. Before planting seedlings, mineral fertilizer should be added to the soil, including phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
	Holes for planting must be dug at a distance of up to 45 cm from each other, depending on the height of the future plant. The specified distance between plants must be maintained if a tall variety is planted. For medium-sized antirrinums, this interval is 30 cm. And plants of small varieties of snapdragons will get along well at a distance of 20 cm between them.
	Planting must be completed with generous watering, after which it is necessary to cover the soil with a layer of peat.

Snapdragon in composition with other flowers

Arrangement using snapdragon flowers

Video - How best to sow snapdragons

Plant care

Further care of the plant does not require much effort. It needs to be weeded periodically, and the antirrinum also needs frequent loosening of the soil. During the period of active growth, the crop should be fed with a complex of mineral fertilizers. It is undesirable to allow both waterlogging of the soil and lack of moisture. Watering should be done moderately. Wilted inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner.

Antirrhinum (snapdragon). Types and timing of work during cultivation

Snapdragon - cultivation and care

Diseases of the snapdragon

If root system seedlings were exposed to excess moisture, the antirrinum may develop root rot. This can completely ruin the seedlings. You can cope with the problem with the help of a drug called “Hom”. A teaspoon of the product is diluted with 1 liter of water and the seedlings are treated. Repeated treatment is carried out after transferring the plants to open ground. To do this, take 1 liter of solution per 10 m2 of flower bed. The procedure must be done before flowering.

Diseases and pests of antirrinum

Cool, damp summers provide suitable conditions for rust development. Red spots quickly spread on the foliage, leading to the death of the flower. It is recommended to combat this disease with the help of special fungicides (Cumulus, Strobi, Abiga-Pik, Polyram) and one percent Bordeaux mixture. Products containing sulfur are effective. Plants affected by the disease must be burned.

"Strobe"

"Abiga Peak"

On a note! Gray spots with yellow edging on snapdragon leaves indicate infection with septoria. This usually happens in hot but rainy summers. To eliminate the infection, such products as “Skor”, “Previkur”, “Fundazol”, “Acrobat MC”, “Ordan”, “Profit Gold” are used.

"Fundazol"

The following pests pose a danger to snapdragons:

• scoop;
• slugs;
• avocado scale insect;
• root-knot nematode.

To destroy them, the plants and the land on which they are planted should be treated with insecticides. Infected bushes must be removed from the flowerbed and burned.

Snapdragon is a beautiful flower that is undeservedly forgotten by many flower growers.

Until late autumn, snapdragon is able to surprise with its lush color, as it is not afraid of light frosts. If you follow simple rules, every amateur gardener can plant and successfully grow these colorful flowers on their own plot.

Wonderful “lion cubs” are the traditional inhabitants of the flowerbed. They are unpretentious, the variety of varieties offered is amazing. Snapdragon planting and care in open ground is the topic of this article for those who want to decorate a garden or summer cottage with easy-to-care plants.

Snapdragon flower description, photo

The perennial got its name for its resemblance to the open mouth of a bloodthirsty predator. The legend of Hercules' victory over the Nemean lion speaks of saving humanity from a terrible monster. According to legend, in honor of the great feat, the goddess Flora created this wonderful plant.

Its botanical name is antirrhinum. Belongs to the Norichnikov family. Since the flower produces seeds already in the first year, it is often planted as an annual crop. Very unpretentious - even a novice gardener can handle the care. Herbaceous plant or shrub. Its height ranges from 15 centimeters to a meter. Straight stems form a pyramid-shaped bush.

The leaves are elongated-oval, can be of various shades of green (from light to dark), with reddish veins. The flowers have a pleasant aroma. They are large and, depending on the number of petals, can be simple or double. It depends on the variety. The color of the petals can be very diverse - pink, yellow, white, red.

The fruit is a capsule with a large number of seeds (up to eight thousand in one). The decorative period begins in June and ends in late autumn, with the onset of cold weather.

Origin

The homeland and permanent habitat of wild varieties are the territories of North America and the southern regions of Europe. It is not known exactly when the plant began to be grown as a crop. Pliny also recommended using a green healer to relieve inflammation of the eyeball.

Now there are more than 300 varieties of plants. Botanists from Germany were among the first to engage in flower selection. This happened already in the nineteenth century.

Snapdragon species, varieties

One popular division of varieties is based on such a characteristic as the height of the bush. In accordance with this feature, all types of antirrinum are divided into five groups:

1. Gigantic. The length of their stem varies from 90 to 130 centimeters. At the same time, the main shoot is significantly higher than the others in height. Varieties - Arthur - petals of rich cherry color, up to 95 cm in height. F1 red, F1 pink - flowers of corresponding shades, plant length is 110 centimeters.
2. Tall. Such specimens are ideal for bouquets - they retain their beautiful appearance in a vase for more than seven days. The varieties with yellow flowers have the strongest and most attractive aroma. The height of the shoots reaches ninety centimeters, the minimum is sixty. Madame Butterfly - has terry petals of various tones. Canary - bright, yellow flowers. Anna German - with light pink petals.
3. Medium height. Universal purpose - suitable not only for cutting, but also look great in a flower bed. They are characterized by excessive branching. All shoots are almost on the same level. Their height can be from 40 to 60 centimeters. Lipstick silver - light, pinkish tone of the petals. Apple Blossom is two-color, with double petals, on which the white gradually gives way to a delicate pink tint. Golden Monarch – yellow flowers. Ruby is a deep pink color.
   Bronze – color palette petals is complex and at the same time spectacular. It consists of a combination of various nuances of yellow, pink and even orange.
4. Low. For flower beds or borders. They produce many flowering shoots. In this case, the main one may even be slightly lower than the others. The plant reaches 40 cm in height. Minimum value– 25 centimeters. Crimson Velvet - with large inflorescences of a dark, rich red color. Schneeflocke - small white flowers collected in delicate, light inflorescences.
5. Dwarf. They are grown to decorate ridges, borders, flower beds, rock gardens, and create the effect of a flower “carpet”. The central shoot of this variety is the same length as the other branches. Sometimes it is a little lower. Plant height is 15-20 centimeters. Suitable for cultivation as a potted crop. Candy Showers is an ampelous variety. Sakura's color is white and pink, with a spot.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

In regions with a mild, warm climate, sowing can be done directly into the ground in the spring. In two weeks they will produce young shoots. The seeds remain viable for several years. But in areas with harsh climatic conditions, it is preferable to grow antirrinum through seedlings.

Attention! To carry out the procedure of sowing seedlings, it is necessary to prepare a container for future seedlings, soil, a spatula, two strainers with large and small cells.

When to sow seeds

Must be carried out at the end of February or at the very beginning of March. In climatic conditions middle zone Russia - at the end of April or the first ten days of May. The plant is not grown in the north.

Substrate

Can be purchased suitable type soil in the store or prepare the soil mixture yourself. The main requirement is that it must be loose and airy. You will need to take equal parts of peat, sand, turf, ash, and mature humus. The mixture must be thoroughly sifted through two types of sieves. The part with large inclusions is laid in a layer on top of the drainage elements. The finely dispersed substrate becomes the top layer.

Important! The soil must be disinfected. It is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate and left for two days. When sowing, the soil must be sufficiently, but not excessively, moist.

Containers for sowing

A regular box for young animals or a container will do. The height of the container should be approximately ten centimeters. Be sure to have holes for moisture drainage. A drainage layer is formed at the bottom of the container. It can be created from balls of expanded clay, gravel, and pebbles.

How to sow seeds correctly

Since the grains are very small, they are mixed with sand for uniform sowing. The distance between the rows is two centimeters. You can pour the seed into a paper bag and cut off a corner of it - this will make it more convenient to sow. The resulting “paths” are pressed down a little by hand and a little soil is added on top. Irrigating the soil with a spray bottle completes the procedure.

To create the effect of a mini-greenhouse, the plantings are covered with glass or polyethylene. The room temperature must be at least 18⁰C. It is necessary to ventilate the crops daily. To do this, the shelter is temporarily removed. If necessary, the substrate is moistened with a spray bottle. Young shoots appear in about ten days.

Seedling care

The young grow slowly. At this moment, it is important to maintain a balance of substrate moisture. Seedlings must have plenty of water for development. But excess moisture can lead to massive damage to the bushes by the “black leg”.

Important! Affected specimens are carefully removed using tweezers. The vacated space must be sprinkled with coal powder or calcined river sand.

Growing seedlings

Seedlings go through a picking procedure. This must be done when the first true leaves appear. You can place the “babies” one at a time in individual pots or three at a time in large flowerpots.

The container is placed in a bright place, but protected from direct sunlight. Gradually they are accustomed to the conditions in which the bushes will grow in the future. To do this, during the daytime it is necessary to ventilate the room, but under no circumstances allow a draft.

After four or five leaves appear, the seedlings are pinched. This is necessary to form a lush bush. If the side branches grow very actively, you can do a similar manipulation with them.

Snapdragon planting in open ground

The grown, hardened seedlings are moved to a permanent place of residence in the garden. In this case, it is important to perform the transplant on time, choose the right location and prepare the optimal substrate composition.

When to plant snapdragons in spring

At the very end of the last spring month, the young animals are planted in a flower bed. Do not be afraid of possible cold nights - the seedlings will withstand such temperature fluctuations.

Selecting a location

Choose a place in the garden that is well protected from the wind. Availability required good drainage. Antirrinum will feel best in a sunny area. But you can plant it in a somewhat shaded area.

Attention! Only in a place fully illuminated by the sun, on clear days, can you enjoy all the color nuances of each variety.

The soil

Light and nutritious substrate – the best choice. Compost, peat, sand, taken in equal parts - the basis for soil mixture. The acid-base balance should vary within the pH range of 6-8.

Landing technology

The layout of the bushes in the flowerbed is approximately as follows:

• between tall varieties leave a gap of half a meter;
• varieties with medium-height stems are planted at a distance of 30 centimeters from each other;
• For low-growing species a distance of 20 cm is sufficient;
• the gap between specimens of dwarf varieties is only 15 centimeters.

After the young growth takes root in the new place, the bushes quickly become lush.

Attention! Replant only in thoroughly moistened soil.

Snapdragon care

A traditional set of plant care measures will allow you to achieve amazing results - just watering, weeding, loosening the soil and timely application of fertilizers.

To achieve the effect of continuous, long flowering throughout the growing season, faded flowers must be removed. The same goes for the flower arrow. It is cut off after flowering has ended. This allows you to avoid the appearance of a seed pod, which gives you the opportunity and strength to extend the decorative period.

Watering

Irrigate only during periods of drought, if there is no rainfall at all. Watering cannot be carried out in evening hours. The next day, the soil around the antirrinum must be loosened and weeds removed. It is recommended to tie up tall varieties.

Top dressing

After the seedlings go through a period of adaptation after moving to the flowerbed, the first fertilizing is carried out organic fertilizers and nitrophoska. During the period of bud setting, a mixture consisting of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and urea is used. You will need a large spoon of each component per bucket of water.

Is it necessary to pinch and how to pinch

To form a “fluffy” lush bush, a pruning procedure is carried out. As soon as the seedling grows ten centimeters tall, its top should be pinched.

Important! Do not neglect the advice about removing inflorescences that have lost their decorative effect; this will allow the antirrinum to delight the gardener with long-term flowering.

Snapdragon reproduction methods

Antirrhinum is usually grown from seeds. In warm climates, you can sow them directly into open ground. In the middle zone, the seedling method is preferable. Watch the video: how to properly sow seeds and care for seedlings.

Cuttings are one of the possible methods. But it is usually used by breeders to obtain a new variety with double petals. A selection of powerful, healthy bushes is carried out. They overwinter indoors. The cuttings are planted in the sand until roots appear.

Snapdragon after flowering

During the final arrival of autumn cold, the bushes are cut as short as possible. There should only be a stump 6-7 centimeters high. Sprinkle sawdust and peat on top. Such a mulch shelter will allow the antirrinum to survive the frosty winter.

These measures are relevant when growing flower culture as a perennial. With the annual version, it is important to avoid self-sowing. To do this, remove wilted flowers and peduncles that have fulfilled their decorative function.

Important! Before the first frost, in late autumn, they dig up the ground and burn plant debris to destroy any pests that might remain there.

How and when to collect snapdragon seeds

Usually, ripened seeds are collected from any plant. But it is better to harvest antirrinum grains unripe and then ripen them at home in a dry, ventilated room.

It is better to collect it in a long and narrow bag, similar to those in which baguettes are sold. When the fruits ripen on the lower part of the peduncle, the upper green boxes are torn off. Then they put a bag on the peduncle, tie it with thread and cut off the branch. Hanged in warm room and wait until the seeds ripen and fall into the bag of boxes.

After this, they can be packaged in boxes and stored in the refrigerator. Optimal temperature conditions for them there will be a range of 3 to 5 degrees. It is important to protect the grains from moisture.

Pests and diseases of snapdragon (treatment)

Antirrhinum can suffer from some common plant ailments. Among them:

1. Rust. The outer side of the leaves is covered with light depressed spots, and on the back side they form first yellow and then brownish pads. The leaves are withering. The fungus spreads through the air through spores.
   The affected foliage is immediately disposed of and the cubs are treated with Topaz, Bordeaux mixture or Abiga-Peak.
2. Downy mildew. Outside, the leaves are covered with a white coating, and with reverse side– the same light or with a brown tint. When grown as a pot crop under conditions winter garden, you need to reduce the humidity level in the room as quickly as possible. Stop spraying. Ensure good air exchange. Get rid of affected specimens. In the early stages of the disease, you can treat the plantings with Previkur or Ridomil Gold. Spraying with copper oxychloride will also help.
3. Root rot. The foliage becomes matte and brightens. Over time, it withers and fades. The roots soften - the shell easily peels off from the middle. Fungal spores spread only in conditions of good moisture. Reduced soil acidity also promotes their reproduction. It is necessary to stop irrigation. In such a situation it is rarely carried out. But watering should be plentiful. Preparations of biological origin - Fitosporin-M, Glyokladin, Alirin-B - will help solve the problem.
4. Powdery mildew. On both sides of the leaves there is a white coating, similar in appearance to flour. The disease does not spare flowers either. Under the plaque, the affected area is brown. It is best to initially select and sow varieties that are resistant to this disease. For minor manifestations of the disease, treat with fungicides of biological origin. In case of obvious progress of the disease - “Skorom”, “Topaz”, “Strobe”, “Pure Flower”.
5. Brown rot. This problem usually only affects seedlings. The base of the stem becomes brown and gradually becomes thinner. Under the fallen leaves you can see threads of mycelium. The seedlings are immediately treated prophylactically with Rovral. The “babies” should not be buried too deep into the substrate. You can also irrigate with biofungicides.
6. Fusarium. The bush turns yellow and dries out very quickly. Sometimes it doesn’t even have time to bloom. The base of the stem rots. They quickly get rid of disease-affected specimens and disinfect the soil using foundation. The same drug can be used to treat other bushes for prevention.
7. Blackleg. The main enemy of young animals. The main cause of the disease is excessive soil moisture. The stalk turns black and becomes thin – eventually the seedling dies. Do not over-thicken the plantings. “Kids” should be well ventilated. Pre-sowing disinfection of seeds and moderation in watering are important. Affected specimens must be immediately destroyed.
8. Mosaic. The flowers become small and motley spots appear on the leaves. There are no effective means of combating this disease. Diseased bushes are removed and burned.
9. One of the dangerous pests is stem cutworms. Caterpillars make passages in the stems. This causes the death of garden pets. Timely weeding is recommended as a preventative measure. To destroy existing caterpillars, they are treated twice with a chlorophos solution.

Snapdragon in landscape design, combination with other plants

In those periods when changes occur in the garden - the site has changed hands and everything is being arranged in a new way, or you simply want to change the permanent “tenants”, you need to quickly decorate the garden. In this case, antirrinum will help out. All empty spaces can be safely filled with bright and unpretentious “lion cubs”.

In a flowerbed consisting of annuals, there will also be a place for them. You can experiment with colors and plant heights. It is possible to create a complex fantasy pattern in a flowerbed solely with the help of antirrinum. The variety of its color variations allows you to give free rein to your imagination.

Low and dwarf bushes can serve as a border or successfully complement a rockery. Naturally and beautifully, such “lion cubs” enliven the static appearance of stones. Ampel varieties look amazing in hanging planters or as a home potted plant. The use of antirrinum is universal - it is used equally as a background or, on the contrary, to make bright accent flower garden

Know! Groups of “lion cubs” will become the dominant color on the green lawn.

Antirrinum goes well with marigolds. Such a duet, planted in an elongated container and complemented with periwinkle, can become a real decoration for a terrace, porch or balcony. An excellent result is obtained when combined with nasturtium, cosmos, chrysanthemums, and alyssum. The flower garden looks elegant and harmonious. An excellent background for such a composition are low coniferous plants with a spherical crown.

Tall hybrids are ideal for cutting. Bouquets of these luxurious flowers look amazing and last quite a long time. You should not make the mistake of cutting off the top of the bush. In this way you can only ruin the plant.

Conclusion

With knowledge about planting snapdragons in open ground and proper care for them, you can achieve excellent results and become the owner of luxuriously flowering bushes.

The snapdragon flower has a number of undeniable advantages. First of all, it is unpretentiousness and bright, long-lasting flowering from mid-summer to late autumn. You can grow snapdragons not only in flower beds and hills, but also on loggias in pots and hanging baskets.

Snapdragon flower (Antirrinum) is a perennial plant, but it blooms and produces seeds in the first year. That is why it is mainly grown as an annual. This flower can form a powerful bush with a well-developed root system. Such bushes are able to winter safely even in the middle zone.

Thanks to the work of breeders, flower growers can grow hundreds of varieties of Antirrinum. There are dwarf varieties (15 - 20 cm), medium-sized (40 - 50 cm) and tall (90 - 100 cm). In addition, ampelous forms of snapdragons with drooping shoots have recently appeared; the length of such shoots reaches 1 meter.

Growing snapdragons from seeds

When to sow.

When growing snapdragons through seedlings, sow the seeds in early March.

Substrate for seed germination.

Snapdragon does not like to grow on peat soils. To germinate seeds, it is better to use soil from compost heap and river sand in a one to one ratio.

How to sow Antirrinum seeds.

It is convenient to grow snapdragons from seeds in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. You can sow the seeds directly into cups, with several seeds in one cup. If 3 - 4 seeds germinate, then there is no need to thin them out; let them continue to grow in one bush.

Before sowing, the container or cup is filled with soil, the soil is leveled and abundantly moistened. Snapdragon seeds are very small; for convenience, snow is poured on top of the substrate and the seeds are sown in the snow, then they are clearly visible. You just need to take into account that snow melts indoors quickly. You can mix the seeds with sand, this also greatly simplifies the sowing process.

Caring for snapdragon seedlings.

After the snapdragon seeds are sown, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, moistened again with dewdrops and covered with a lid or film. To germinate, the seeds will need high humidity and a temperature of 23 - 25 degrees. Monitor soil moisture; when the substrate dries out, it must be moistened periodically.

Young snapdragon seedlings

With proper care, the seeds will germinate in 10 - 15 days. After young sprouts appear, the container with the seedlings is transferred to a well-lit place. Otherwise, if there is insufficient lighting, the seedlings will quickly stretch out. The film can be removed a few days after seed germination.

Young plants grow slowly at first, this should not alarm you. At this time, Antirrinum seedlings should be watered very sparingly. If signs of blackleg appear, remove all affected seedlings immediately and sprinkle the soil with ash or crushed activated carbon.

As you have probably already noticed, there is nothing unusual in growing snapdragons from seeds; all other flowers are grown from seeds in much the same way.

Picking seedlings.

When the seedlings have a second pair of true leaves, you can start picking the seedlings. Antirrinum already grows a powerful root system during the seedling period, so plants need to be planted in large cups with a volume of 0.5 liters.

Antirrinum seedlings after picking.

If the seedlings grew densely, then sometimes the roots of neighboring plants grow together. In such cases, do not try to separate them, just plant several pieces in cups.

Snapdragon easily tolerates picking and is quickly accepted in a new place. But until the seedlings begin to grow, they must be kept in the shade and taken out into the sun a few days after transplantation.

Pinching seedlings.

You should not grow snapdragons in one stem. The plant looks much more attractive when it grows as a bush. To do this, the shoot of Antirrinum is pinched above the fifth leaf. If side shoots begin to grow quickly, it is better to pinch them too. As a result, a powerful, beautiful snapdragon bush grows.

Growing snapdragon from seeds in open ground

You can also grow snapdragons from seeds in open ground. You just need to say right away that these flowers will bloom only at the end of July or early August, but they will bloom until frost.

Antirrinum grown from seeds.

It is customary to sow snapdragons in the ground using so-called steeples. The twists are formed with a size of approximately 40 by 40 cm. In one twist, 4 - 5 Antirrinum bushes are grown, but much more seeds need to be sown there. Excess shoots can later be pulled back.

Seeds are sown in the ground at the end of April, beginning of May. Because the spring frosts can destroy the seedlings, the slopes are covered with some kind of covering material.

Growing and caring for Antirrinum

Flower growers rarely plant snapdragons in the foreground, considering this flower to be not spectacular enough. But this happens because few people know how to properly grow snapdragons. Most often, snapdragons are grown in one stem, and varieties are selected with a height of 30 - 40 cm.

Antirrinum should be grown in bushes. To do this, you just need to cut off the top of the plant. You can cut off the upper part of the shoot in seedlings, adults, and even flowering plants. After some time, the snapdragon will grow not one, but as many as 8 - 12 shoots.

When growing tall varieties, the height of which reaches one meter, the result is a huge flowering bush. Fading shoots should also be removed, and then new, young shoots will grow again in their place.

Snapdragon can grow in full sun, partial shade and in almost any soil. It is grown in mixborders, ridges and individual circles. Ampelous hybrids are good for planting in hanging baskets.

Antirrinum attracts with the beauty and variety of shades of its flowers. For its resemblance to the mouth of a lion, it received a second name - Snapdragon. Thanks to its unpretentiousness, it has spread widely in different climatic zones. Grown as perennial varieties, and annuals. Used to decorate flower beds, lawns, borders, alpine slides. Balconies, loggias, and terraces are decorated with climbing species and planted in suspended structures.

The flower is propagated by seeds, which are either sown in open ground or pre-grown seedlings. Caring for the plant consists of watering, fertilizing, loosening and weeding. If properly cared for, antirrinum does not get sick and blooms from the beginning of summer until the first frost.

Description and features of the flower

Snapdragon or antirrhinum is a herbaceous or subshrub plant from the Plantain family. Most species in natural conditions grows in North America, but specimens are also found in the southern parts of the planet. In Russia, these flowers are often called “dogs”, in America – “snapdragon”, in France they are better known as “cleft palate”, and in Ukraine – “mouths”.

The name is associated with the legend according to which the goddess Flora awarded it to Hercules for his victory over the Nemean lion. Over 1 thousand different varieties are known that appeared thanks to the work of breeders.

The plant has straight, branched green stems 15-100 cm long, forming pyramid-shaped bushes. The lower leaves are opposite, and the upper ones are alternate, lanceolate or oval in shape. The color ranges from light to dark green tones with red stripes.

Flowers with a strong scent, large, two-lipped. Depending on the variety, they can be terry or simple. The corolla consists of five petals that are fused at the bottom. On top, nature itself formed a lip of two petals, and the bottom is made up of the remaining three. The flower looks like the face of a lion or dragon. If you tear it off and press on the sides, the lion's mouth will open.

The flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a spike; most often they are white, fawn, yellow or shades of red. It is less common to find species of two or three colors. The fruit is a multi-seeded box with two nests; one gram contains from 5 to 8 thousand seeds. Flowering of antirrinum begins in early summer and ends with the onset of cold weather.

In the wild, the plant is a perennial, but in gardening it often grows as an annual. With favorable growth conditions and good care, snapdragons can withstand the winter in open ground and become even better in a year. In garden plots, these flowers are used as border flowers, although they look great in a flower bed or planted in a group on the lawn.

They can often be found decorating terraces and balconies. The ampelous forms of snapdragons are gaining popularity, which allow them to be planted in the hanging structures of galleries.

Sowing seeds - step by step instructions

Propagated by seed. Seeds retain high germination rate for a long time. In places with warm, early spring, you can grow the plant by sowing seed directly into the ground. Shoots will appear in 15-20 days, withstanding a slight cooling at night, characteristic of spring weather. In regions where warmth does not come immediately, it is better to use the seedling method of growing at home.

It is advisable to sow from April 20 to May 20. The procedure is a sequence of steps:

1. 1. Take bowls about 10-15 cm in size with drainage holes, pour soil into them, pre-treated with manganese solution. Compost is added to the base mixture on top.
2. 2. Next, level and compact the sowing site.
3. 3. Then the soil is sprinkled with water and the seeds are sown randomly; they are covered with a mixture of compost soil and sand on top.
4. 4. The crops are covered with glass to create a greenhouse effect. At further care remove condensation and ventilate, giving access fresh air. If necessary, moisten the soil with a spray bottle.

If the room temperature is maintained at more than 23 degrees, sprouts will appear in 2 weeks. When there are noticeably more seedlings, the glass is removed. The sowing bowls are moved to a bright, cool place. In the first weeks, the seedlings grow slowly, so the main task is to water them with a spoon. Overmoistening should not be allowed, as the disease “black leg” may occur, leading to the death of the seedling.

When the sprouts have 4 full-fledged leaves, you can move them into separate cups or separate them three into one pot. It is better to place the flower near a window, which should be opened periodically for hardening. It is important to avoid drafts so as not to chill the plant. In order for the antirrinum to bush, after the appearance of 4 leaves, the top is carefully pinched. When the side shoots begin to grow quickly, they need to undergo the same pinching operation. While the seedlings are in the house, they can be fed with mineral supplements.

Planting in open ground

As soon as the weather permits, the grown and strong seedlings transplanted into open ground. They focus on the end of May - beginning of June, when it is warmer at night and not very hot during the day. Do not be afraid of the night cold, as the sprouts are already ready for it. Snapdragon loves the sun. If planted in the shade, it will not bloom well. Their location must be protected from strong winds so that the “dogs” do not lie down.

The soil needs to be loose and enriched with nutrients. A mixture of sand, peat and compost soil is excellent. When digging holes, you should pay attention to the distance between plants: tall ones are planted in increments of about 40 cm, for representatives of medium varieties this figure is 30 cm, and for dwarf and short varieties - about 20 cm. When planting, the sprouts are taken out of the pots along with part of the soil and replanted into holes moistened with water. When the “dogs” take root, they will quickly grow green and bloom their magnificent flowers.

In warm regions, snapdragons are sown immediately in open ground when the weather is favorable (most often in late spring). Then the seed bed is covered with dense transparent material. When the seedlings grow up, they are thinned out. Excess specimens are transplanted to another location.

Rules for caring for snapdragons

After transplantation, so that the antirrhinums quickly get used to the new environment, for the first week they control the soil to keep it moist. If there is no rain, then moisten the soil additionally in the morning. It is necessary to water more often during the period when the plants open their buds.

It is important to remember that dampness and evening watering can seriously harm snapdragons.

For the normal formation and growth of large inflorescences, it is necessary to regularly loosen and weed the soil - best in the evening. In order for the “dog” to have fewer pests and diseases, weeds should be eliminated near it.

If the snapdragon grows tall, you should take care of its straight growth - tie it to a stick or fence so that as it grows it does not break or become deformed from wind and rain.

To ensure long flowering, trim off faded inflorescences. If you need to collect seeds for subsequent sowing, you can leave a few boxes from below for ripening, others must be removed.

During the season you need to carry out at least two feedings. The first is carried out a week after planting. Nitrophoska or organic matter, for example, diluted mullein or chicken droppings, are suitable for this. The second is performed when the buds appear. To carry it out, you will need mineral supplements for flowering crops. It is advisable to apply urea, superphosphate, and potassium sulfate once every 2 weeks until late autumn.

Health problems and preparation for winter

Attentive gardeners who follow the rules of care will not get sick from snapdragons. Otherwise, the following diseases are possible:

• rust (red spots on the stem and leaves);
• fuarosis;
• septirosis;
• rot.

If a disease is detected, it is better to eliminate the plant so as not to infect other specimens. After this, the soil at the site of the diseased antirrinums must be treated with an antifungal agent or potassium permanganate. Fungicides should be sprayed on nearby plantings to prevent infection.

After the onset of cold autumn, perennials are pruned, leaving a stem of 7 cm. Then they are covered with leaves or peat with sawdust - this will help survive the winter. On annuals, you should cut off the faded flowers in time so that the “dog” does not have time to drop seeds for reproduction. After the arrival of cold weather, the area is dug up, the remains of the plants are burned to kill pests.

To preserve the most beautiful specimens, in October they are dug up and replanted together with the soil in a container or pot. Then they place it away from the windows in the house so as not to freeze.

Collecting snapdragon seeds

For most plants in the garden, the seeds are collected when they are ripe. Snapdragon material is harvested while it is immature. Next, it is brought to the desired state in a room with good air circulation.

Collect the seeds in a deep paper bag to eliminate the moisture that the paper absorbs. Harvesting begins when the fruits appear at the bottom of the peduncle. The top is cut off and thrown away, a bag is put on the remaining part. They tie it with a rope below the seed boxes and cut it off under the bandage. Then the resulting structure is turned over and hung in a dry place, waiting for the seeds to fall out. Storage is carried out at a temperature of about +5 degrees, protecting from moisture penetration.

Types and varieties of snapdragon

Today there are a large number different types antirrinums, the main criterion for division is the height of the plants. There are 5 groups:

View	Description	Representatives	Photo
Dwarf	Height is from 15 to 20 cm. The main place of use is borders, rock gardens and ridges. IN room conditions grown in pots and flowerpots. Distinctive feature: strongly branches up to shoots of the fourth and third levels, the main stem is at or below the shoots of the second level	Sakura Blossom, Candy Showers, Lemon Sherbet (Lemon Yellow)
Low	They grow about 30 cm in height. Grown as flowers for flower beds or borders. These varieties are distinguished by a large number of shoots of the second and third levels with flowering, and the main one is at or below the level of the first order	Tip-top (pastel colors), Hobbit, Lampion, Twinnie F1 (terry)
Average	They reach a height of 50 cm and are grown both for cutting and for flower beds. They branch heavily. The escape in the center is slightly higher than the rest	Golden Monarch (yellow), White Monarch (white), Ruby (pink), Lipstick Silver (pinkish white)
High	Reaching a height of 90 cm, they are grown both for bouquets and as a vertical accent in groups. The central shoot is much higher than the others. Antirrinum lasts for a long time when cut (up to a week), the most strong smell in yellow varieties	Canary (yellowish), Anna German (pale pink), Madama Butterfly (different shades)
Giants	They grow up to 1.3 m in height. There are no shoots of the second or third order, the central one is higher than the second level	Arthur (cherry), F1 red and pink, Goshenka F1 (orange), Swallowtail (two-color raspberry-yellow)

When growing such unusual plant I want more variety. To do this, new ones that have just begun to grow are planted in addition to already flowering antirrinums. With these measures you can get a beautiful garden with a variety of flowers.

Dear florist, Hello.

Elena Ziborova, host of the digest and editor-in-chief of the site, is with you

The middle of the calendar autumn is approaching, it’s time to take stock of the ending gardening season. Write to us about your gardening achievements and joys, about new flower discoveries!

Unfortunately, the first ten days of October in the middle zone was rainy, which did not allow gardeners to deal with urgent matters.
If the weather is favorable in the second and third ten days of October, you can still plant cold-resistant spring-flowering plants in the garden. But reliable covering of such late plantings with a thick layer is required to ensure successful rooting and wintering of the bulbs.
We continue to plant bulbs of different types in pots for growing indoors and.

You can transplant other aromatic plants from the garden into tall containers (being careful not to damage the roots), placing them on a bright kitchen window for long-term access to fresh, vitamin-rich greens. We replant from open ground into pots and transfer our favorite heat-loving garden plants, which are preferably, to a bright, cool place.

We dig out from the garden a variety of heat-loving bulbous and corm plants that cannot overwinter in the garden of the middle zone, dry them and put them away for storage. It's time to start preparing for the corms.

At the end of the season, gardeners worry that they still have not received the ordered plants for autumn planting, because the recommended time frame for planting work will soon be completed. But many city residents do not have a cold basement for the further maintenance of late-arriving plants.
Unfortunately, not everyone selling planting material Companies send gardeners the ordered planting material on time. If your long-awaited parcel is late, take care of it in advance now. winter storage purchased plants up to spring planting.

When a steady cold snap sets in, we begin.
And there are still many other urgent matters left after the end of the gardening season. And all our thoughts and plans are already directed forward - into a new spring...

I wish you blessed October weather and success in all your endeavors!

Weather forecast and future harvest by signs

(folk calendar and traditional types works):

- October 11 – Khariton. This day was considered unkind among the people, so they tried not to go to other people's houses and not throw out garbage, but did various other household chores.

- October 12 – Feofan’s Day. Theophan the Gracious usually returns for a short period of time. “If there are a lot of stars on Feofan, it means dry autumn.” They would ward off thieves in the house, and on this day they would also try to get a hare, which was a lucky omen.

- October 13 – Grigory, Mikhail Solomenny. Having absorbed earthly and solar power, straw has always been revered in Rus'. A man was born on straw, and he died on it. They not only slept on straw, they also used it to cover the windows in the house in winter and to care for animals. In the evening on Mikhail Solomenny, young women burned their straw beds, from that night they slept on new beds, and the old women burned only their bast shoes (“to give way to winter”). And also, to renew life, they tried to burn all other old things from the house, and updated their underwear and shoes. Children were bathed on the threshold using a sieve “for illness and protection.” “If the snow does not fall on this day, then winter will not come soon.”

- October 14 – Intercession of the Virgin Mary. The great holiday from which weddings began, and snowfall on this day was considered a happy omen for the engaged. “On the Intercession - the first winter”, “It’s good for the harvest if there is snow before the Intercession”, “The rainy Intercession brings grace to the bees”, “If this day is clear - for a long autumn”, “Like the Intercession, so is the winter”, “Where there is a wind on the Intercession, and the cold will come from there,” “If the wind blows on the Intercession from the east, then the winter will be cold and with little snow; wind from the west - to a snowy winter, from the north - to a cold one, from the south - to a warm one”, “If the wind blows in gusts on this day, then the winter will be variable, unsteady”, “If snow falls on Pokrov, then in Dmitrievsky day (November 8) there will also certainly be snow”, “If the Intercession is naked - Catherine is naked (December 7)”, “On the Intercession it will be autumn before lunch, after lunch - winter”, “The Intercession will cover the ground either with a leaf or with snow”, “Departure cranes before the Intercession - for the early, cold winter”, “The Intercession did not cover, neither will Christmas”, “The Dormition sows, and the Intercession collects the last fruits.” “If a leaf from an oak tree falls cleanly, it means a light year, but no, it means a severe winter.”

- October 15 – Kupriyan and Ustinya, October 16 – Denis Pozimny, Autumn fevers. On these two days and the next day they prayed and cast protective spells against the evil eye, damage and evil spirits, they spoke water for washing and dousing. Our ancestors especially valued these medicinal plants against autumn fever - radish and radish. They made amulets from aspen bark and knots; Aspen logs were used to treat persistent migraines and relieve leg cramps.

- October 17 – Erofey. On this day, when “the forest sees and the field hears,” which is considered the beginning of persistent cold weather, we tried not to leave the house. “They don’t go to the forest or go to Erofey”, “From Yerofey the cold is stronger”, “From Yerofey winter puts on a fur coat”, “On this day only erofey (new wine) warms.”

- October 18 – Kharitiny. This day was usually dedicated to the beginning of autumn classes (knitting, embroidery, macrame weaving, weaving). Evening gatherings began when they sat down at the loom: “Kharitins are the first canvases.”

Review of the coming days according to the lunar calendar

(for mid-band conditions):

- October 11, 12 (Tuesday, Wednesday)- 12th, 13th lunar days, II Quarter Moon, waxing Moon in the sign of Aquarius. Barren days, sowing and planting are undesirable. Household work in the garden, clearing the area of ​​weeds and plant debris. Loosening the soil, hilling and garden plants. Preparing planting holes for autumn and spring planting woody plants. Preparing beds and flower beds for... Drying - to receive a new harvest and. Tying the trunks of young trees to protect against mice. Sanitary pruning, removal of dead, diseased and unpromising trees and shrubs from the garden. Removing all shoots from remontant raspberries. Weeding. healthy tops and weeds (without weed seeds), laying a compost heap. Completion of harvesting vegetables and fruits.
On Wednesday evening (at 15:44 Moscow time) the waxing Moon moves into the sign of Pisces.

- October 13, 14 (Thursday, Friday)- 14th, 15th lunar days, II Quarter of the Moon. Planting in a greenhouse for autumn growing of perennial onions, kohlrabi, broccoli, and other plants. Transfer spice plants(chives and sweet potato, etc.) from the garden into containers for home autumn-winter forcing of vitamin greens. During cold weather, digging up bulbs and corms that do not overwinter in open ground -, etc.). Transplanting from flower beds into pots (as well as valuable heat-loving garden plants for) if cold weather is expected, and transferring them into the house. Planting bulbs in pots. If the weather is favorable, plant crops in open ground. Planting winter crops, perennials of various types (air bulbs collected from the shoots of multi-tiered onions can be immediately planted in the ground), small onion sets. IN winter greenhouse and on the windowsill: sowing herbs and vegetables; forcing garlic, chard, root vegetables to obtain vitamin greens (, etc.). In an unheated greenhouse and open ground: preparing the soil for spring and winter sowing. In the garden, preparing ridges and flower beds for winter sowing of vegetables and flower perennials. Fighting, collecting and destroying carrion. Pre-winter water-recharging watering of the garden, especially if there is no rain.
On Friday evening (at 18:09 Moscow time), the waxing Moon moves into the sign of Aries.

- 15, 16, October (Saturday, Sunday)- 16th, 17th lunar days, II Quarter-Full Moon (exact Full Moon on Sunday, at 07:24 Moscow time). On these days of the Full Moon, sowing and planting work is not carried out. Autumn digging and loosening of soil, hilling and plants. Fighting, collecting and destroying carrion. Digging up corms and other heat-loving plants flower plants, drying them before storing them. If there has been frost, digging and... Pruning and hilling. Removing dead, diseased and unpromising trees and shrubs from the garden. Cutting out all the shoots of the remontant. Whitewashing the trunks of fruit trees, protecting them from frost damage for the winter. Preparation of greenhouses and greenhouses, ridges and flower beds in the garden and vegetable garden for future sowing and planting. Garden equipment repair. Procurement of garden soil and elements for growing seedlings and replanting indoor plants.
On Sunday evening (at 18:05 Moscow time) the waning Moon moves into the sign of Taurus.

- October 17, 18 (Monday, Tuesday)- 18th, 19th lunar days, Full Moon - III Quarter Moon. Monday is the day of the Full Moon, sowing and planting work is not carried out. In the greenhouse: soil preparation for spring sowing and planting, processing sulfur bombs. Pre-winter digging of soil on vacated ridges.
On Tuesday, sowing and planting work is carried out. In the winter greenhouse and on the windowsill: sowing herbs and vegetables; forcing garlic, onions, chard, and root vegetables to obtain vitamin-rich greens. Growing. Planting in a greenhouse for autumn growing of perennial onions, kohlrabi, broccoli, and other plants. Transplanting herb plants (chives and sweet potato, etc.) from the garden into containers for home-made autumn-winter forcing of vitamin-rich greens. Transplanting from flower beds into pots (as well as valuable heat-loving garden plants for) if cold weather is expected, and transferring them into the house. Planting bulbs in pots. If the weather is favorable, plant crops in open ground. Planting winter crops, perennials of various types (air bulbs collected from the shoots of multi-tiered onions can be immediately planted in the ground), small onion sets. Only with a steady cooling: the garden produces greens, root crops, cold-resistant annuals, and slow-germinating perennial seeds. Sub-winter, requiring long-term. Pruning of trees and shrubs. , .
On Tuesday evening (at 17:31 Moscow time) the waning Moon moves into the sign of Gemini.

I wish you success!

The topic of today's digest is preparation for storage of garden heat-loving perennials.

In this issue:
- article by Elena Ziborova about home wintering of heat-loving garden plants;
- Elena Ziborova’s answer to a reader’s question about wintering snapdragons in the house;
- Natalia Makarova’s experience in organizing the wintering of garden petunias and calla lilies on an insulated loggia.

Heat-loving garden plants overwinter at home

Along with perennials that reliably winter in open ground (growing for “many summers”) and indispensable annuals, whose lifespan is short (“one summer”), there is a separate group of flowers in the garden: being perennials by nature, they are grown as annuals in regions with cold winters . These heat-loving perennials die from frost, not having time to fully realize their potential growth and flowering capabilities in the short summer. You can extend their life if you transplant them into pots in time in the fall and keep them at home until spring.

Further in the article:
- favorable conditions for keeping garden plants in the house;
- vegetative propagation preserved plants;
- types of valuable garden plants that can be successfully preserved at home until the next season.

The dwarf snapdragon bushes, which I first grew from seeds, still bloom beautifully in the garden, it’s such a pity to part with them! Is it possible to repot them now, at the beginning of October, and keep them at home during the winter?

Of course, it's entirely possible to save your favorite snapdragon until next season!
Amateur flower growers carry out spring cuttings of antirrinum. To do this, the mother plants, from which cuttings are taken, are kept at home in winter. The best specimens are selected as queen cells and transplanted into pots.

It is better to transplant plants from the garden in late summer or early September. But even now, if the weather is favorable in early October, this can be done - very carefully dig up the pre-watered bushes.

In winter, snapdragon queen cells are kept in a very bright, cool room with a temperature of about +7 degrees.
Snapdragons keep well in winter; I keep them at home in bright light. kitchen window right next to the glass, where it’s cooler.

In the spring, cuttings can be taken from preserved bushes if desired. In March-April, young shoots begin to grow on the mother plants, which are used for cuttings and rooting. Cuttings are cared for in the same way as.
Don't worry that the mother plants will look almost bare after pruning. After all, when transplanted back into the garden in May, pruned snapdragon bushes quickly grow new shoots and then bloom profusely for many months in a row.

Elena Yurievna Ziborova

Then I feed the pruned plant (“Kemira” or other fertilizers for flowering plants). The petunia bush quickly grows back, and it blooms again, regardless of the time of year.

I advise all flower growers who grow petunias in the garden, and who have an insulated loggia in their house, to move the petunia bushes home for the winter.
My loggia has double glazing; the floor, walls and ceiling of the loggia are insulated with foam plastic and covered with protective panels. There is no heating here, but the door from the room to the loggia is always open. Therefore, in the most severe frosts (even at -30C), the temperature on the loggia in winter does not drop below +10 degrees.

Calla lilies of modern varieties are desired by many gardeners. The varieties of colored calla lilies are very beautiful - both their “bedspreads” of various colors and decorative foliage. But calla lilies planting material is often sold imported, and therefore it is quite expensive.
I'm trying to cross varietal callas and grow new plants from seeds. I wonder what the result will be...
I have colorful calla lilies growing in my garden. I like elegant compact varieties of calla lilies with a beautiful “bedspread” and variegated leaves. In the fall, I have calla rhizomes on a glassed, insulated loggia, at a temperature of +10...+15 degrees.”

Natalia Makarova(Khabarovsk)

The topic of the next issue of the digest is preparing for wintering the inhabitants of a garden pond.

That's all for today, see you in a week.

Prosperity to you!

Elena Yurievna Ziborova
Website editor-in-chief

P.S. The website editor receives a huge number of letters from flower growers with questions every day. For the vast majority of questions, the necessary information is already available on the site.

Due to the physical impossibility of answering letters, the editors kindly ask you to post your questions about plants and gardens. Please, before asking your question, use the site's search engine.

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