Snapdragons: Growing, Harvesting, and Designing with a Timeless Favorite
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are a nostalgic favorite for many gardeners, evoking memories of playful puppet shows with their snapping jaws. Beyond childhood fun, these vibrant blooms have become a staple in flower farming, offering both charm and versatility.
While snapdragons are often seen as simple garden flowers, there’s much more to them than meets the eye. With a wide range of shapes, colors, and day-length varieties, snapdragons can be tailored to suit any garden or bouquet. Over the years, we’ve learned how to grow these flowers to their fullest potential, overcoming challenges to achieve lush, productive plants.
In this guide, I’ll share our journey with snapdragons—from hard lessons learned to the methods and varieties that now make them a must-have in our flower farm. Let’s dive into how to grow, harvest, and design with this timeless favorite.
A dreamy harvest of Madame Butterfly Bronze snapdragons, captured during golden hour.
Starting and Growing Snapdragons
Snapdragons are surprisingly robust once established, but they start from incredibly tiny seeds that require patience and care. Here’s how to give them the best start:
Starting from Seed:
Surface sow the seeds and lightly dust with vermiculite to keep them in place.
Gently bottom water or mist the surface to avoid dislodging the seeds.
Snapdragons take time to germinate, especially in cool conditions, but patience pays off with strong, healthy plants.
Pinching for Better Branching:
Snapdragons naturally branch when grown in cooler conditions, but warmer-grown plants may need a little help. Pinch back seedlings when they have 4–5 sets of true leaves, cutting just above the second or third set. This encourages the plant to produce more stems, which results in longer, fuller blooms.
Propagation by Cuttings:
Snapdragons can also be propagated from cuttings. Take a cutting from a healthy plant, remove the lower leaves, and place it in water or a moist growing medium. Once roots develop, transplant the cutting into soil. This method is ideal for cloning specific varieties and ensuring consistency in your patch.
Cold and Slow Growing:
Snapdragons thrive in cool temperatures. For the best results, start seeds in late fall and grow them slowly in a minimally heated greenhouse or under low tunnels. This method yields longer, sturdier stems and healthier plants. If growing during warmer months, provide partial shade to reduce heat stress.
Curious about the best timing for planting? Check out our blog on When to Plant: Frost Dates, Soil Temps, and Timing for insights to help you schedule your plantings perfectly.
Our Tray System:
Start seeds in 128- or 200-cell trays (or 3/4-inch soil blocks).
Once seedlings have a couple of sets of true leaves, bump them up to 50-cell trays to allow roots to establish before planting out.
For transplanting, use low tunnels with frost cloth and greenhouse plastic to protect young plants from temperature swings.
Want to master starting seeds? Check out our blog on Seed Starting Essentials for tips to get your snapdragons and other flowers off to a strong start.
Looking for the best tools to start your seeds? Check out our blog, Our Favorite Seed Starting Supplies, to find the trays, tools, and tips we trust for successful seed starting.
Preparing for planting: healthy snapdragon seedlings ready to go into the field.
Soil Preparation and Spacing
Snapdragons thrive in well-prepared beds with adequate spacing and soil conditions:
Soil Preparation and Lessons Learned
Snapdragons thrive in well-prepared beds, but as we learned the hard way, poor soil health can significantly impact their success.
When we moved to a new property with challenging soil, snapdragons became the canaries in the coal mine for our soil health issues. Despite drip irrigation and soil amendments, our transplants quickly wilted, turned yellow, and died. Tissue testing confirmed what we suspected—malnourished, dehydrated plants suffering from salty soil caused by poor-quality composted manure.
This experience taught us the importance of starting with a soil test and sourcing high-quality compost from a reputable supplier. Snapdragons are particularly sensitive to salts, and without balanced nutrients and well-prepared beds, even healthy transplants will struggle.
Soil Prep Tips:
Ensure soil is well-draining and enriched with compost and a balanced fertilizer.
Conduct a soil test beforehand to identify nutrient imbalances or potential issues like salt buildup.
Avoid low-quality or overly salty composted manure, which can dehydrate plants and lock up essential nutrients.
Ready to transplant your seedlings? Check out our Transplanting Seedlings Guide for expert tips to ensure your snapdragons thrive from day one in the field.
Setting up for success: planting snapdragon seedlings under protective low tunnels.
Spacing for Cut Flower Production
Snapdragons can be planted 6–12 inches apart, depending on your growing conditions and goals. On our farm, we space snapdragons at 7x7 inches in full sun. This setup encourages sturdy stems and natural shading, which helps suppress weeds and optimize space in our arid climate.
For growers in more humid areas, the industry standard is to space snapdragons closer to 9 inches to improve airflow and reduce the risk of disease. Wider spacing, up to 12 inches, can be beneficial for maximizing airflow or when growing in nutrient-rich soil.
Want to learn how to optimize spacing for maximum production? Check out our blog on Maximizing Production for a Small-Scale Flower Farmer for more tips tailored to cut flower farming.
Ivory Madame Butterfly snapdragons glowing in the evening sun—harvesting at its finest.
Trellising Snapdragons
Snapdragons grow tall and are geotropic, meaning their stems will curve if they aren’t supported properly. Horizontal trellising is essential to maintain straight, high-quality stems that are easier to harvest and more appealing for floral designs.
Our Trellising Method:
We use Hortanova netting for horizontal trellising, installing the first layer after planting once plants are about 6–8 inches tall.
Shorter T-posts are used to anchor the netting during the part of the season when we are no longer concerned about hard frosts.
During colder periods or when using low tunnels, we incorporate the trellising inside our DIY tunnels, attaching the netting to the hoops for support.
Additional layers of netting are added every 6–8 inches as the plants grow to provide continuous support.
Why Trellising Matters:
Prevents geotropic bending, which occurs when snapdragons aren’t stored or grown upright.
Reduces the risk of wind damage, especially in open fields or areas prone to strong gusts.
Makes harvesting easier and ensures stems are straight and uniform, ideal for market bouquets and designs.
Looking for the right tools?
We recommend Hortanova netting for reliable trellising—durable, reusable, and a staple for supporting tall, delicate blooms like snapdragons.
Lavender Potomac snapdragons: the perfect addition to market bouquets.
Pests, Diseases, and Management
Snapdragons are loved by pollinators, but unfortunately, they also attract several pests and are prone to certain diseases. Here’s how we manage these challenges:
Key Pests:
Conchuelas and Shield Bugs (Stink Bugs):
Conchuelas (Stink Bugs): These pests often show up after nearby alfalfa fields are cut and can wreak havoc on snapdragons.
Shield Bugs: Similar in behavior to conchuelas, these pests also feed on sap and damage plants, but they are slightly larger and may have a more pronounced shield-like shape.
Best Defense:
Handpick both conchuelas and shield bugs in the early morning when they’re sluggish, and knock them into a bucket of soapy water.
Scrape off egg clusters from leaves and stems and dispose of them.
Treat with organic sprays like pyganic or spinosad, applied sparingly and at dusk to protect beneficial insects.
Encourage natural predators like birds or parasitic wasps to reduce their population over time.
Caterpillars:
Often spotted on snapdragon leaves and stems.
Best Defense: Handpick and offer them as chicken snacks, or use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) for control.
Thrips:
More noticeable on lighter-colored snapdragons, these pests can leave blooms looking unsightly.
Best Defense:
Shake them off into soapy water.
Use beneficial nematodes in the fall to help reduce their numbers.
Aphids:
Common sap-sucking pests that weaken plants and spread disease.
Best Defense:
Spray plants with a strong stream of water to knock them off.
Use insecticidal soap or neem oil as needed.
Spider Mites:
Thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing webbing and stippled leaves.
Best Defense:
Increase humidity around plants.
Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap if infestations occur.
Slugs and Snails:
Chew on leaves and stems, especially in damp climates.
Best Defense:
Use iron phosphate-based slug bait.
Create barriers with diatomaceous earth or copper tape.
Diseases:
Fungal Issues: Snapdragons are prone to powdery mildew, rust, and other fungal diseases, especially with overhead watering.
Best Defense:
Use drip irrigation to keep foliage dry.
Ensure proper airflow by spacing plants appropriately.
Regularly scout for early signs of disease and remove infected leaves.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM):
We prioritize handpicking pests and using organic treatments sparingly to protect the pollinator-friendly environment in our snapdragon patch. Bumblebees, in particular, love snapdragons, and their buzzing presence adds to the charm of the garden as they play their important role in having a healthy ecosystem.
Weed Management
Weeds can quickly become a problem in snapdragon patches, harboring pests like aphids and caterpillars and increasing the risk of fungal diseases by reducing airflow.
Best Practices:
Silage Tarp for Row Prep: Before planting, we use a silage tarp to smother weeds and create a clean slate for planting. This method reduces labor and minimizes weed pressure during the growing season.
Use Weed Cloth: Once planted, weed cloth helps keep rows weed-free while maintaining consistent soil moisture and temperature.
Regular Hand Weeding: For areas not covered by weed cloth, hand weeding is essential, especially early in the season when snapdragons are establishing.
Mulching: In cooler climates, organic mulches like straw can suppress weeds and keep the soil cool during warmer months.
Pro Tip: Combining silage tarps with weed cloth ensures your rows are weed-free and ready to support thriving snapdragons.
Looking for the tools we use? Check out our favorite weed cloth and silage tarps to streamline your weed management and prep your rows like a pro!
Proper handling starts in the field: bundling snapdragons for optimal vase life.
Harvesting and Post-Handling
Snapdragons are a long-lasting cut flower, but proper harvesting and handling are essential to maximize vase life and stem quality.
Harvesting Tips:
Timing: Harvest snapdragons early in the morning when temperatures are cooler. If harvesting later in the day, place stems directly into a cooler to remove field heat.
Ideal Stage: Harvest when at least 3 florets have opened on the stem. This ensures the flowers will continue to open beautifully in the vase.
If more blooms have opened, watch for signs of pollination, as pollinated flowers will fall off. You can strip spent blooms if needed.
Avoiding Stem Curves: Snapdragons are geotropic, meaning they respond to gravity. To prevent curved stems, store them upright in buckets immediately after harvesting.
Post-Harvest Care:
Place stems in clean, sanitized buckets filled with cool water and a CVBN tablet to prevent bacterial growth.
Snapdragons benefit from commercial flower food, which helps promote full bloom and prolongs vase life.
Keep snapdragons in a cooler set to 38°F for 12–24 hours before arranging or delivering. This conditioning ensures maximum vase life and stronger stems.
Design Considerations:
As snapdragons open, new florets tend to have a lighter or faded color compared to the initial blooms. For the freshest look, move stems quickly to market or arrangements.
Snapdragons can last a week or more in the vase when handled properly, making them a favorite for both florists and customers.
Rows of blooming snapdragons ready for harvest—Madame Butterfly Ivory stealing the show.
Favorite Snapdragon Varieties
Snapdragons offer a vast array of shapes, colors, and textures, making them an incredibly versatile crop. Here are our favorite varieties, their seasonal performance, and why they’ve earned a place in our garden:
1. Chantilly Series:
Known for their open, airy form and upward-facing blooms, Chantilly snapdragons are perfect for design work.
Top Picks: Bronze and white, which are staples in our wedding work. These colors blend beautifully with softer palettes and lend an elegant touch to arrangements.
Bloom Time: Best in early spring; thrives in cooler temperatures and finishes before the heat of summer.
Market Appeal: Highly sought after for weddings and high-end florals due to their delicate appearance.
2. Madame Butterfly Series:
With their fluffy, azalea-like blooms, this series offers a unique look that often leaves customers amazed they’re snapdragons.
Top Picks: Ivory and bronze for wedding work, and red for a standout fall crop. Their bubblegum-pink option is stunning but less in demand for our market.
Bloom Time: Performs well in late spring into early summer and again in the fall when temperatures cool.
Unique Trait: Often mistaken for other flowers due to its double, ruffled petals.
3. Potomac Series:
These classic snapdragon varieties are reliable workhorses, producing strong stems and consistent blooms.
Top Picks: Potomac Lavender and Potomac Appleblossom are great for spring and summer bouquets, while Potomac Dark Orange adds depth to fall arrangements.
Bloom Time: Performs well throughout the growing season but still prefers cooler months for optimal quality.
Height: Produces tall, robust stems perfect for bouquets and floral arrangements.
4. Costa Series:
Another favorite classic series with excellent color options and reliable performance.
Top Picks: Costa Silver for its pale pink elegance and Costa Apricot for its rich, sophisticated tones.
Bloom Time: Thrives in early spring and fall, when cooler temperatures allow for vibrant blooms.
5. Rocket Series:
A versatile series that can handle a range of growing conditions and produces sturdy stems.
Top Picks: Vibrant reds and yellows are excellent for late-season bouquets or summer markets.
Bloom Time: Performs well throughout the growing season, though cooler months yield the highest quality blooms.
Regional Consideration: Handles warmer climates better than some other series.
General Note: While all snapdragons perform best in cooler months, proper succession planting can help extend their harvest window. For example, start with Chantilly in early spring, transition to Potomac or Rocket during summer, and finish with Madame Butterfly in the fall.
Pro Tip: Focus on unique shapes and colors to differentiate your snapdragons from standard garden varieties. Customers will notice the extra effort and quality.
The end of a beautiful day: snapdragon harvest complete under the glow of the setting sun.
Bringing Snapdragons to Life on Your Farm
Snapdragons are a timeless favorite that can bring vibrant color, texture, and versatility to any flower farm. With proper care, from seed starting to harvesting, these blooms will reward you with strong, long-lasting stems and delighted customers. Whether you’re looking to grow staples for market bouquets or unique varieties for wedding work, snapdragons offer something for everyone.
Ready to grow your best snapdragon crop yet?
Check out our related guides for more tips and tricks:
We are looking forward to sharing more blooms with you soon.
Jessica & Graham
