Snapdragon flowers add vibrant color and delightful fragrance to gardens and flower arrangements. Their quirky blooms that resemble dragons make snapdragons a fun addition to any landscape. While you can easily purchase snapdragon seeds each year, saving seeds from your own plants is simple and ensures you have plenty to replant next season. With just a few easy steps, you can collect and store snapdragon seeds to propagate these cheery annuals for free.
When and How to Harvest Snapdragon Seed Pods
Snapdragon seeds form inside seed pods after the flowers are pollinated. Watch for the blooms to fade, leaving behind green, rounded seed pods. Wait for the pods to turn completely brown before harvesting. This indicates the seeds are mature.
Pick a dry, sunny day to collect the pods. Gently twist them off the flower stalks. Bring the pods indoors to remove the seeds if it’s windy outdoors. The tiny seeds can easily blow away.
Carefully crack open the pods using your fingers. Shake out the seeds onto a piece of white paper so you can easily see the small, black seeds. Funnel everything into a container for storage.
Tips for Selecting the Best Snapdragon Plants for Seed Saving
Focus on saving seeds from your healthiest snapdragon plants with the best flowers. Since most garden snapdragons are self-pollinating, new plants grown from the collected seeds will closely resemble the parent.
Consider saving seeds from:
- Plants with vibrant blooms in your favorite colors.
- Tall varieties that produce abundant flowers on long spikes.
- Plants that were resistant to disease and pests.
- Blooms that lasted the longest in summer heat.
Avoid saving seeds from leggy plants or those prone to problems like mildew.
How to Store Snapdragon Seeds
Spread out the fresh seeds to dry for a day or two before storage. Place them on a paper towel or piece of paper in a cool, dry spot out of direct sunlight.
Once completely dry, store the seeds in paper envelopes or bags, not plastic. Fold over the top of envelopes to prevent spills. Label everything with the variety name and year collected.
Keep the packaged seeds in a cool dark place like a closet shelf or drawer. The refrigerator works too if seeds are in a sealed, moisture-proof container. Stored properly snapdragon seeds remain viable for up to 3 years.
Tips for the Best Germination Rates
Snapdragon seeds require exposure to cold temperatures in order to germinate well. This process is called stratification. Fortunately they need only 7-10 days of chilling before planting.
When you’re ready to start seeds, place them between damp paper towels and seal in a plastic bag. Keep them in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Then remove and sow according to the package directions.
You can also simply sow seeds directly outdoors in late winter or very early spring. The natural cold temperatures will provide the stratification snapdragons need.
Start more seeds than you need since germination rates decline as seeds age. Sow fresh seeds thickly in cells or pots and thin seedlings later.
How to Get the Most Seeds from Your Snapdragon Plants
To produce the most seeds for saving:
- Deadhead spent blooms often to encourage more flowers.
- Stake tall varieties to prevent damage from wind and rain.
- Water and fertilize regularly for vigorous growth.
- Pull competing weeds that rob moisture and nutrients.
- Cover blooms with mesh bags to exclude visiting pollinators.
Collect seeds throughout the season as pods mature, rather than waiting until the end. Check plants daily once blooms start fading.
With a little time and effort, you can easily save enough snapdragon seeds to fill your garden year after year with beautiful flowers for free. Collecting and storing your own seeds ensures you always have plenty to propagate your favorite snapdragon varieties.
Best Snapdragon Varieties for Harvesting
You can save and use seeds from any type of snapdragon you grow. Here are some notable varieties to try for growing snapdragon seeds:
- Costa Silver – This is a medium-height variety with beautiful white flowers that develop a pink blush. They’re great for wedding or baby shower arrangements.
- Chantilly – Grow Chantilly in winter or winter into spring in warmer climates. This is a series of varieties in different colors, including yellow, pink, white, salmon, and peach, with pretty, open-face flowers.
- Madame Butterfly – Another series, these varieties have frilly, azalea-like flowers. Look for unique colors, like bronze, ivory, and bright pink.
- White Giant – Unfortunately, these do not have giant snapdragon seeds that are easier to work with, but this type will give you one of the tallest and most spectacular flower stalks, up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall with white blooms.
How Long Do Snapdragon Seeds Last? Storage Tips
Your snapdragon seeds will store well and be mostly viable for next spring. After a year, they will deteriorate and fewer will germinate. Store your seeds in a paper bag, envelope, or sealed plastic container in a cool, dry location.
How to Save Snapdragon Seeds
FAQ
When can you collect snapdragon seeds?
Wait until they are entirely brown to harvest. The time of day doesn’t matter for harvesting seed pods but do wait for a dry day and for any dew to dry from the plants. Pluck off the brown seed pods and gently crack them open using your fingernails.
Will snapdragons reseed themselves?
Most snapdragons are annuals; however, if you live in zones 7 through 11, they may return for a few years. If you live in a wintery-weather zone, they can self-seed and may return to your garden from seed left behind.
Can you scatter snapdragon seeds?
Grow Snapdragons By Direct Seeding in the Garden
Sprinkle snapdragon seeds lightly on the surface of the soil, then press them lightly into the soil. Don’t cover the seeds, as snapdragon seeds won’t germinate without light. Water them as needed to keep the soil evenly moist but be careful not to overwater.
How to dry snapdragon seed pods?
Spread the seeds out flat in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill to let them dry out naturally for 24 hours. Shallow boxes or seed trays work well for this.
How do you grow a Snapdragon plant?
Snapdragons produce an abundance of seeds from a single flower, so only a few pods must be harvested to replenish your seed stock. Cut off the flower stalk with a pair of garden shears once the flowers have withered and seed pods have formed. Collect before the seed pods begin forming holes and spilling seeds.
How do you collect Snapdragon seeds?
Snapdragon seed collecting is fun and easy. Be sure the pods are dry, then pinch them from the plant and shake the dry, brittle seeds into your hand or a small bowl. If you can’t hear the seeds rattling in the pods, let the pods dry for a few more days before harvesting.
Where can I buy Snapdragon seeds?
Snapdragon seeds are readily available for purchase from any nursery or retailer that sells seeds. But if you – or a friend – are growing these flowers in your garden, you can also collect seeds from your own plants and save them for planting the next season if you wish. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
Can you save Snapdragon seeds?
You can save and use seeds from any type of snapdragon you grow. Here are some notable varieties to try for growing snapdragon seeds: Costa Silver – This is a medium-height variety with beautiful white flowers that develop a pink blush. They’re great for wedding or baby shower arrangements.
Can you harvest Snapdragon seeds from Snapdragon skulls?
Breaking open a Snapdragon Skull Seed Pod For Harvesting Snapdragon Seeds. Collecting the snapdragon skulls, you can gather entirely more seeds than you’ll ever use in a single harvest! Snapdragon seeds are great for seed trading and seed swaps. I am so excited to grow them again this year!
How do you ripen a Snapdragon plant?
Inspect your snapdragon plant for ripe seed pods. Again, these resemble little brown skulls. Gently twist each brown nubby until you can free it from the flower stem. (You may also cut the stalks with many seeds if your plant is bushy. Just avoid snipping away blossoms you still want to go to seed.)