How to Grow Snapdragon From Start to Finish

An easy-to-grow annual, snapdragon is a member of the foxglove family. The plant blooms in early summer and grows up to three feet with long-stemmed spikes that hold blooms of pinks, purple, bronze, red, yellow and white. The long-lasting flowers with blossoms that resemble a dragon’s head make for a sturdy cut flower for vase bouquets. Snapdragons are an excellent choice for beds, edging or even container gardens. Snapdragons can be grown from seeds, which take about three weeks or more to germinate indoors. However, they are a popular staple at nurseries as bedding plants and can be easily transplanted.

Snapdragon seeds
Starter pots, 2-inch
Germination mat, if needed
Vermiculite
General purpose fertilizer
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Fill 2-inch starter pots with vermiculite.
- 2
  Begin in early April, or eight weeks before the last frost, by sprinkling the seeds on the surface and gently pressing into the vermiculite without covering the seeds.
- 3
  Place the starter pots in a shallow dish with about one inch of water.
- 4
  Remove the pots when the vermiculite is wet and place in warm location, such as on top of the refrigerator.
- 5
  Move the seedlings under a fluorescent grow light or onto a window sill that receives lots of sun after they have germinated.
- 6
  Harden the seedlings two weeks before last frost by placing the starter pots outdoors during the day in shaded spots. This acclimates the plants to the temperature changes.
- 7
  Wait until the last frost has past, and choose a garden bed that is in the full sun. If the soil is poor, add a general-purpose fertilizer before transplanting the seedlings.
- 8
  Gently remove seedlings from the starter pots, aerating the roots and separating the plants.
- 9
  Space the snapdragons 10 to 12 inches apart.
- 10
  Keep the soil moist and fertilize every four to six weeks.
- 11
  
  Snapdragons, when properly maintained, will bloom a second time.
  
  Cut the plant back to roughly six inches after the flower heads die off.
- 12
  Add more fertilizer to promote new growth and a second bloom.

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