05/29/2026
Snapdragon experiment! This growing season, I'm trying something different with my snapdragons. I have two sixteen foot beds of these beauties. However, I've found that no matter *when* I plant my successions of snaps (even if I start them indoors weeks apart), they always seem to bloom at the same time. I don't need thirty feet of snapdragons blooming at once, so I'm trying to stagger my harvest window in an entirely different way.
Here's how.
One bed is planted super tight. I planted two seeds per cell and left them double when planting out. These babies (first picture) are planted only three to four inches apart. I won't pinch, so in theory they will grow *en masse* and bloom together. This is similar to how some flower farmers grow their lisianthus (and I'm trying this method with lissies too, on a different part of the farm). These snaps will be "one and done" and I'm hoping for marvelous results.
The other bed (second picture) is planted out in the way I normally plant snapdragons. These guys are about six (to seven) inches apart and I will pinch them, encouraging branching. So there will be more flowers per plant, but hopefully they'll bloom weeks after the first bed of snaps are done with their blooming.
I know it's not so lovely to look at now, but happy plants tucked into a healthy bed does my heart good. It will be a delight to watch them grow! And interesting, to boot, as I hope to learn much along the way.
There's always new things to try and new things to learn in the gardens.
🖤
