Snapdragon, larger, variegated - Brighton Rock

Antirrhinum majus - Brighton Rock (Variegated)

One of the most beautiful annuals that we can grow in our garden. Its tubular flowers ending in a lip resembling a small mouth. It originates from North America, where it grows as a perennial. Plants are 20-90 cm tall, depending on the variety. It has flowers in all colors except blue. It blooms from June to September.

Snapdragons are grown in various locations in ornamental beds, primarily in combination with other annuals or perennials, but they are almost exclusively grown in larger numbers. They are an inseparable part of cottage gardens. Snapdragons repel slugs. Therefore, they can be planted together with marigolds among vegetables.

How to Grow Snapdragons

• Snapdragons love sunny locations with well-drained soil. The soil should be consistently moist, but never waterlogged. If we want to achieve stem branching and more abundant flowering, it is necessary to pinch the young plant.

• We sow seeds in February and March in a hotbed or window propagators. We do not cover the seeds, just lightly press them down with a board. If we keep the seedbed constantly moist, they will germinate within 14 days. We water from below.

• Medium-heavy soils sufficiently supplied with nutrients are ideal. In poor soils, plants languish and become prey to pests. Snapdragons do not tolerate waterlogging. We never grow them in clay soils that strongly bind water.

• Liquid fertilizer is most suitable (the best results are shown when using tomato fertilizer) diluted in the recommended ratio; in the bed we can also add a little well-rotted compost.

• Aphids and spider mites occasionally parasitize on plant leaves, which you can get rid of using soapy water or by applying an insecticidal preparation. The most serious disease is snapdragon rust (Puccinia antirrhiniflora) and with insufficient fresh air between plants, gray mold also appears.