According to ancient Greek legend, snapdragon first appeared on the land of Hellas, near the Peloponnese.
This event was associated with the first feat of the mighty Hercules.
On behalf of King Eurystheus, the hero went to the vicinity of the city of Nemei to kill a giant mountain lion, which terrified all the surroundings.
Having discovered the monster and luring him out of the cave, Hercules stunned him with his club and strangled him.
To the glory of this victory, at the behest of the goddess Flora, snapdragons blossomed in the Nemean mountains.
It was believed that tea from dried petals helps with furunculosis, shortness of breath, intestinal and hepatic colic. In addition, the tincture on the leaves and flowers of the antirrinum was prescribed to a person to raise tone and give confidence.
Perhaps that is why, in the language of flowers, snapdragons always personified arrogance.
The genus antirrinum belongs to the family of plantain (formerly norinaceous) and includes about fifty species. Among them are annuals and perennials, herbaceous and semi-shrub plants. It grows in the Mediterranean countries.
Cultivated since the 16th century, the large antirrinum (A. majus) or snapdragon.
This is a herbaceous perennial grown in our country due to its low winter hardiness as an annual.
Snapdragon: variety selection
Antirrinum forms direct branching stems, often lignified from below. The leaves are elongated, lanceolate, located opposite the shoots opposite. The flowers are usually two-lipped, however, varieties with non-fused petals are known:
• non-mesiform;
• bell-shaped;
• penstemonovidnye;
• azalea (terry form).
Non-similar
Azalea
The color of the petals is from white to almost purple.
Generously and continuously blooms until late autumn.
Antirrinum is planted in flower beds, and on balconies. High varieties are cultivated in greenhouses for cutting. In water, flowers retain freshness and beauty for 7-14 days.
About eight hundred snapdragon varieties are known, combined in fifteen garden groups. They are divided into:
• Giant - above 70 cm;
• Tall - 60-70 cm;
• Srednerosly - 40-60 cm;
• Undersized - 25-40 cm;
• Dwarf - less than 25 cm.
Giant
Grow for cutting. The trunk is slightly branched, single. Large flowers (sometimes double) are collected in large inflorescences.
Tall
The bush is compact, slightly branched. Inflorescences are large multi-flowered. The flowering period is late.
Medium
They have many side branches. The central stem is slightly higher than the others. Different varieties bloom at different times.
Undersized
The central stem forms many branches of lower orders (first and second). Inflorescences are small. There are early and medium grades.
Dwarf
It forms a large number of short branches. Inflorescences are short. The flowers are small.
Varieties of antirrinum can be divided into:
• Universal;
• Cutting;
• Casing.
Varieties with large flowers on long legs are referred to as cutoff. These are tall and gigantic species.
Casing antirrinums are characterized by long flowering and compactness of the bush.
These are all undersized and dwarf antirrinums.
Universal include mid-sized varieties. They are bred for cutting, planted in flower beds. In these varieties, impressive inflorescences with a compact form are successfully combined.
In Japan, hybrids Sjuprem (Supreme F1) with 100% terry flowers. In the USA, great groups such as Rocket F1, Hit Parade F1 and many others have been created. Tall-type Tip-Top hybrids are very decorative, Tip-Top hybrids are very interesting; the Juliwa group (synonym for Bright Butterflies) with open foam-like (or gloxin-like) flowers is very interesting.
The single-stem cutting varieties Maximum Unicaulis and Maximum Hybrid Start (Start F1) have been created. The assortment of undersized antirrinums was replenished with the groups of Wunderteppich and Kimosy, dwarf ones with Pixie.
Snapdragon: care
It prefers well-drained fertile soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
The ground before planting snapdragon is dug to a depth of 35 cm, because the root of the antirrinum is rod.
Loves the sun. Tolerates partial shade, but blooms not so abundantly. Drought tolerant. Watering is needed only in drought. Caring for snapdragons is easy.
Snapdragon: top dressing
The nutritional area for the anti -rinrums ranges from 15X15 to 30X30 cm, depending on the variety.
Nutrient snapdragon is not very demanding. But in order to get beautiful high-quality flowers, nutrition is needed. Nitrogen, magnesium and calcium are especially needed. Thanks to calcium, the stems acquire stability and strength. This is important when growing antirrinum cut.
The first top dressing is carried out a week after planting snapdragon seedlings in the ground. Fertilize before watering.
Watering
Carried out if necessary. With a sufficient amount of rain, it is watered only with top dressing under the root.
Supports
High cut varieties require support. In the industrial production of flowers, a special grid with 10X10 cm cells is used.
The most common way to breed snapdragons is seed, however, cuttings are also possible.
Snapdragon: landing
Growing through seedlings
Sowing
In the southern regions, the sowing of the antirrinum is carried out immediately into the ground. In the middle lane it is grown through seedlings.
Landing of snapdragons is carried out in March. 85-110 days after emergence, the antirrinum blooms.
The container is filled with a disinfected substrate. Take garden soil with perlite or sand.
Snapdragon does not like acidic soil, so there is no peat in this mixture. Disinfect the substrate by steaming or watering with fungicides. You can use "Maxim" or Previkur. The surface is slightly tamped.
For convenience, the seeds are mixed with sand, as they are very small. Sow superficially, without planting in the soil and without falling asleep. Then sprayed from the spray gun and covered with glass, a transparent lid or a bag.
Sowing
Condensate is removed every day by airing the crops. The earth is watered from the spray only when the surface layer of the earth dries.
The optimum temperature conditions for germination are + 20- + 22 ° C. After about half a month shoots break through. Small plants need light, but not direct sun. The lid is removed a week after the appearance of the bulk of the seedlings.
Seedlings
Snapdragon: picking and further care
In the phase of two or three true leaves, the seedlings of the antirrinum are dived into 9X9 cm pots (or other containers).
After the pick
After six to eight days, the seedlings are watered with a solution of complex fertilizer (according to the instructions). When the seedlings grow to about 8 cm, pinch antirrinums over the 4-5th leaf for better tillering.
Seedlings do not tolerate excess moisture. From waterlogging, they can get sick with a "black leg".
At the first signs of the disease, the affected plants are carefully cleaned with tweezers, the soil and the remaining seedlings are treated with fungicides or biological products (phytosporin - 10 drops per 1 liter of water). The surface of the earth is sprinkled with fine, calcined sand. Reduce watering.
In April - May, seedlings begin to harden. To do this, lower the temperature to 15-17 degrees, ventilate the room.
When the air temperature warms up to ten degrees and above, the seedlings can be taken out to the balcony or to the courtyard, covered from direct sunlight.
Planted seedlings usually bloom in June, and with proper care, the abundant flowering of snapdragons can last a very long time, until the frost.
Propagation by cuttings
Bred antirrinum and cuttings. Uterine plants that have wintered indoors are germinated in spring. Root young twigs in the sand.
Harvesting Your Seeds
The fruit of the snapdragon is a multi-seeded box. The seeds ripen unfriendly around mid-September, two months after the beginning of flowering.
Boxes
The ripened seeds are black, shiny, resembling poppy seeds. They need to be gently shaken out in paper envelopes, dried, folded in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator until spring. Seedlings may lose the varietal characteristics of their parents. It is too difficult to isolate plants and prevent their cross-pollination.
Snapdragon: pests and diseases (photo)
Disease
• downy mildew;
• fusarium;
• rust;
• verticillosis;
• root rot.
They especially prevail in wet weather.
Disease
To prevent disease, snapdragon is treated with a solution of "Alirin" or other fungicides
Sick plants are removed and destroyed, and the remaining plants are treated.
Pests
• caterpillars;
• aphids;
• thrips;
• miners.
Thrips begin to harm during the bud opening phase. Once every three days, you need to inspect the plants to identify pests and diseases and take action in time.
