Growing snapdragons for cut flowers

Snapdragons have been used in home gardens for a long time.  The common name comes from the fact that the individual blooms look like the head of a dragon.  Forever, children have plucked the flower off the stem and pretended they have their own pet dragon, pinching the sides of the flower to make a dragon roar. At least, that’s what I did.  That is until the delicate flower falls apart.  Snapdragons will bloom through to the fall, if kept watered routinely.  They have a long period of bloom as the flowers start at the bottom of the stock and work their way up.  Growing snapdragons for cut flowers is very satisfying and a wonderful crop for your cut flower garden.

Highly desirable

A spike-flower type, snapdragons make your bouquets highly desirable.  They bring variety to the otherwise round blossom bouquets, and alone they are truly magnificent.  If harvested correctly snaps have excellent vase life which makes them perfect for bouquets.  The myriad of colours gives so much choice for you to have in your garden. It might be difficult to find an appropriate snap in your local garden supply center. You need to have varieties that are at least 18 inches tall and if you live in a hot climate, your snapdragons will slow down or stop blooming in the summer.  Don’t panic they will start again in the fall when the weather cools.  And they are known to be frost hardy.

The right flower type

Choosing the right plant for your cut flower garden is the essential start.  I prefer traditional single blooms to the multiple blooms.  Because you need height the choicest varieties include:
Rocket

This series of snapdragon can grow to 3 feet high.  Sometimes grown as a beautiful background flower, they make perfect cut flowers because of their thick, sturdy stalks.  Rocket will grow in the summer and come in multitude of colors; red, pink, purple, yellow, and white.

Costa

Another variety that easily reaches 3 feet in height with sturdy stems, Costa can be apricot, rose and white silvery pink, and deep burgundy

Maximum

At almost 4 feet high, maximum’s single blossoms are red, orange, scarlet, pink, yellow, and white. It may be a good idea to offer this snapdragon some support due to its height.

As I said before, I love these varieties as they are the traditional single flowers.  Many double varieties are available that grow very tall, and a couple that are exceptionally beautiful are:

Chantilly

Growing up to 3 feet tall, this is one of the many double bloom snap dragons. This variety wants cool conditions to bloom and boasts a sweet smell.  Available in red, pink, yellow, orange and white. It is a beautiful snap dragon for your cut garden.

Madame butterfly

This variety boasts a large double bloom on 3 foot high thick stalks.  Many colours to choose from include white, yellow, orange, purple, pink, red and lavender. 

Starting snapdragons early

You should attempt to grow snapdragons early from seed to be transplanted in your garden when the danger of frost is gone, but it is still cool.  Snapdragon seeds are extremely small and challenging to start.  Keep them in the freezer before you plant them to mimic the natural lifecycle of the plant.  This is a good idea for all the early seedling starts.

Start the seeds 8 to 10 weeks before last frost.  Two seeds to a cell is a good practice. If both germinate transplant them both.  It isn’t necessary to thin them. You want to space your new seedlings close together – 6 to 8 inches.

Once the plants have established in the garden and set a few leaves, they should be pinched back, leaving 2 to 3 sets of leaves. This will encourage the plant to start multiple branches, which will give you multiple blooms.

Harvesting

Harvest snapdragons when one to two florets have opened and always harvest when it is cool – in the early morning or evening. Pop them in a vase with cool water.  Snapdragons do not require special care after harvest. They are ready to be gathered into magnificent bouquets that will delight your customers.

A couple of things to be aware of

Snapdragons do not need specialized soil.  A 10:10:10 fertilizer added to your soil is absolutely adequate. Beware of rust funguses with snapdragons.  Aphids and spider mites can be a significant problem but can be easily taken care of by a simple soap or horticultural oil spray.

Conclusion

Snap dragons can be a wonderful part of your flower farm. The multitude of colours allow you to offer greater choice to your customers and the spike type flowers bring richness to your offering. Be sure to include them if you can.