How to grow Snapdragons in the UK
Squeeze a flower gently from the sides and it opens like a dragon's mouth!
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun
- Grows to45cm
- Spacing25cm
- Time to first pickabout 12 weeks
- Typeannual
When to sow, plant and harvest snapdragons
| Sow indoors | mid February to mid April |
|---|---|
| Plant out | mid May to mid June |
| In flower | mid June to mid October |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Starting it indoors
- Fill a small pot or tray with seed compost
- Push the seeds in (just covered) - a couple per pot
- Water gently, then put them on a bright windowsill
- Keep the compost damp but not soggy - check it every day
- When they have 2 proper leaves, give each seedling its own pot
Planting it out
- Toughen them up ('hardening off'): put them outside in the day for a week, bring them in at night
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 25cm apart each way
Top tips for growing snapdragons
- Pinch out the tips when 10cm tall for bushier plants.
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating snapdragons
Cut for a vase when the bottom flowers on the spike open.
Saving your own snapdragons seed
Late summer and autumn, as the flowers fade.
- Stop deadheading a few flowers - let them fade on the plant
- When the seed heads are dry and brown (and the seeds rattle), snip them off on a dry day
- Shake the seeds into a paper bag
- Spread on a plate to dry for a week
Where to buy snapdragons seeds
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Snapdragons questions
When should I sow snapdragons in the UK?
In the UK, sow snapdragons indoors from mid February to mid April. These dates suit central England; sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland and up to two weeks earlier in the mild south and south west.
When do I plant out snapdragons?
Plant snapdragons out from mid May to mid June, once the last frost has passed.
When can I enjoy snapdragons?
Snapdragons is ready from mid June to mid October. Cut for a vase when the bottom flowers on the spike open.
How long do snapdragons take to grow?
Roughly 12 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are snapdragons easy to grow?
Snapdragons are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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