Snapdragon Secrets: How We Grow Stunning Blooms for Cut Flowers
Snapdragons are on of my favorite flowers to grow our flower farm here in Southwest Michigan (Zone 6), providing early summer color and strong, elegant stems for floral arrangements. They even have an amazing scent, something most people don't know! Over the years, we’ve experimented with different growing methods, refining our techniques to ensure a reliable and beautiful harvest.
Planting Snapdragons: Fall vs. Spring
We have successfully grown snapdragons using two different methods:
Fall Planting & Overwintering Outdoors: In the fall, we plant snapdragons and overwinter them in the field. This method requires protection in harsher winters, but when successful, it yields strong, early blooms the following season.
Starting Seeds Indoors & Spring Transplanting: We start seeds indoors in late winter and transplant them outdoors in early spring. This method ensures a dependable crop and allows us to stagger our harvest.
Our Favorite Snapdragon Varieties
For reliable early summer blooms, we favor Madame Butterfly varieties, followed closely by Potomac varieties later in the season. Some of our top picks include:
Madame Butterfly Series:
Bronze & White
Bronze
Rose Shades
Potomac Series:
Appleblossom
Lavender
Orange
These varieties are selected for their strong stems, vibrant colors, and long vase life—making them ideal for florists and market bouquets.
Lessons Learned & Growing Tips
Through experience, we’ve learned a few key things that have improved our snapdragon production:
Planting Multiple Seedlings Per Hole: in our expereince, snapdragons perform well even when planted in clusters. We now sow multiple seeds per cell and transplant them together without noticing any reduction in performance.
To Pinch or Not to Pinch? While pinching snapdragons encourages bushier growth and more stems, we’ve found that unpinched plants produce fewer but higher-quality blooms with long, strong stems—ideal for premium cuts.
Support is Essential: Snapdragons benefit from netting or staking to keep their stems straight and prevent lodging from wind or rain.
By refining our planting techniques and selecting the best varieties, we’ve been able to consistently produce high-quality snapdragons that thrive in our Zone 6 climate. Whether you’re a home gardener or a fellow flower farmer, these resilient and rewarding blooms are well worth adding to your cutting garden!
