How to Grow Snapdragon Flowers

Starting from Seed

• 1

  Prepare seed trays with vermiculite. Plant the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil six to eight weeks before your last frost. Use a large comb to gently rake the seeds into the soil but do not cover them.

• 2

  Water from below and expect germination in 10 to 20 days.

• 3

  Place maturing snapdragon seedlings outside for a short time each day to harden them for outdoor planting.

• 4

  Prepare a spot for your snapdragons in full sun with well-drained soil. Choose a location with rich soil, or add fertilizer or compost to poor or average soil.

Planting Outside

• 5

  Plant home-grown or nursery seedlings outside after the last spring frost. Space snapdragons 10 to 12 inches apart and apply organic fertilizer to encourage growth.

• 6

  Stake young plants if necessary. Water snapdragons regularly and fertilize once a month.

• 7

  Dead-head flowers to prolong blooms. Cut snapdragons back after flowers die off and fertilize and water generously to encourage fall blooming.

• 8

  Leave one or two plants to ripen after flowering to self sow seed for the following year. Or, cut the stem at the base of the plant and shake ripe seeds into a lunch-size paper bag.

• 9

  Leave these hardy plants alone in the fall if they still have flowers, as snapdragons can survive some frost and may continue to bloom well into the fall.