Growing information on how to plant, grow and harvest can be found in theSnapdragon: Care & Growing Guide.

Annuals are the most popular short-lived garden plants.They are a mainstay of classic flower gardens, with infinite uses, from mixed border gardens to flower boxes to patio containers.The shape of the individual flower heads, which look like the snout of a dragon, and which open and close in a snapping motion, is what makes the common name.

The leaves are arranged in a spiral around the stem.The name Antirrhinum majus means "like a snout" and is related to a calf's nose.Small honeybees can't open the flower's "jaws", so large bumblebees rely on them for pollination.

Bright snapdragon flowers bloom profusely throughout cool weather in intensely saturated colors and are a real highlight in either the spring or fall garden.The flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of the stalks, making for a long period of bloom.If you keep the snapdragons watered, they will perk up and carry your garden through the fall.

snapdragons are usually started indoors many weeks before the last winter frost.

When planting scurries from seeds, they are usually planted from purchased nursery seedlings, which are widely sold in economical six-packs.They are easy to grow from seeds started weeks before the last winter frost.

Though they will tolerate part shade, squalkians do best in rich, well-draining soil in a sunny location.Pinching off the stem tips on young plants will make them thicker and bushier, and deadheading the spent flowers will extend the bloom season, often right into the first frost of the late fall or early winter.The best time to bloom is in the spring and fall.They bloom all summer long in cooler climates and sometimes in the winter in milder climates.

These plants are usually grown as annuals.In their first year, snapdragons bloom as robustly as they do now.If you are lucky, they should form seedpods in the first year.

In full sun to partial shade, your snapdragons will bloom most profusely.They may stop growing once the temperature goes up.They will bloom again in fall if they are planted in part shade and kept well watered.

The soil has a neutral pH between 6.2 and 7.0.Adding organic matter will help keep the plants healthy as they are not heavy feeders.

There needs to be adequate watering for the scorches.For the first few weeks, keep the plants moist.In times of no rain, snapdragon will need 1 inch of water per week.Water near the crown of the plant to keep it healthy.Before watering, let the top inch of soil dry completely.

The plants are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11.When daytime and nighttime temperatures are in the 70s and 40s, snapdragons are at their best.They are grown as annuals to provide garden color in the cooler months of spring and fall.

snapdragons can be established in the bed and hardened off.They can last for a long time if you keep them well-watered and add a layer of pine straw mulch.

Plants need to be hardened off for 10 days to two weeks before they can be planted.

The plants first start producing flowers.For every 100 square feet of the flowerbed, use a standard, well-balanced all-purpose product at a rate of three pounds.The risk of nitrogen burning is minimized by having a water well.

From a few inches tall to spires approaching 4 feet, there are many varieties of shuriches.There are a lot of dwarf and tall varieties.There are even trailing and creeping snapdragons available, and people have been playing with them for a long time.These plants are great for planting in garden wall crevices.

Sometimes individual colors can be found in both seed and seedling, as well as multi-color blends.Some of the more classic series include named varieties.

There are many different types of snapdragons, with new ones being introduced every year.The newest introductions can be found in seed catalogs.

In milder climates, snapdragons can be thrown onto the garden soil in late fall.A few weeks before the last expected frost, they can be direct-sown in the garden.When grown from seeds, snapdragons are usually started indoors six to 12 weeks before the last expected frost.

Press the seeds onto the surface of the soil using a general seed starting mix.The tray should be positioned under bright lights just a few inches above it.As the seedlings grow, keep the light on for 16 hours a day.

If you pinch off the top of the stem, it will encourage branching and bushiness.Your last frost date is a couple of weeks away.It's possible to handle a light frost.

If you want to grow them from stem cuttings, they are fairly inexpensive to purchase as nursery seedlings, but you can also do it from seeds.

A healthy parent plant has a section of stem just below a leaf.Remove the leaves and then dip the cutting in rooting hormone.If you want to keep the cutting humid, cover the pot with a plastic bag or dome.A good root system can grow in a bright window or under artificial lighting if the cover is removed.When the last frost is in your area, transplant outside.