Seed Catalog - Fred C. Gloeckner & Company Inc.

Reference Materials | Snapdragon
Greenhouse Snapdragon Culture
Seed Germination:
As a beneficial precautionary measure, particularly
for Pythium control a “Root Shield” drench
is highly recommended. Before sowing, drench
filled seed flats using the “root shield” prescribed
dosage. Allow flat to soak up liquid throughout,
then immediately sow seed. Sow into an open
soil-less mix with a pH of 5.5-5.8. Keep medium
moist, but not saturated. Start the seeds at 70°-
75°F; no warmer as snap seeds do not germinate
well at higher temperatures. Keep the soluble
salts low because snap seed and seedlings are
very sensitive to high starter charges. Do not cover
seeds, but light is not necessary for the first 4
days. Then 500-800 FC is required. After 10 days
lower the soil temperature to 65°-70°F. and allow
the soil to dry out slightly. A feed of 75 PPM
N from a Calcium/Potassium Nitrate feed should
be applied. Wash the fertilizer off the leaves if it
is a bright day.
Drop the temperature to 60°-65°F after the 3rd
week. The feed can be raised to 150 PPM N
from a 20-10-20 source. Avoid any Ammonium
Nitrate fertilizer on snaps, especially if the soil
temperature is cool. Apply a fungicide drench at
this stage. Seedlings are ready for transplanting
in about 5 weeks from sowing. Do not plant too
deep or pinch the tender stems with your fingernails
while handling the small seedlings.
Soil Preparation:
Soil should have good aeration; add organic
amendment as needed. As a soil amendment,
“Waterworks”, can be added at a rate of 8 lbs. per
100 sq. ft. in addition to regular organic amendment;
it retains water yet helps drainage. Run a
soil test and adjust pH and fertilize according to
soil test results. Soil-borne disease can build up
over time, steaming or fumigation can be used
to pasteurize the soil medium prior to planting.
Spacing:
Single stem crop: West Coast, 8 plants per sq. ft;
East Coast, 15-18 sq. in. per plant. Pinched crop:
West Coast, 6 plants per sq. ft; East coast, 48 sq.
in. per plant.
Single-stem crops always grade higher, time
faster, and cut cleaner than a pinched crop. Retail
growers who like to cut over a long period
and like different grades of flowers, may find a
pinched crop is best. Pinched crops are too short
and do not grade well for summer culture.
Temperature:
Snaps are a cool temperature growing crop, but
respond to outside temperatures and cloudy and
sunny weather. During cloudy weather, 50°F.
nights and 58°F days. During sunny weather,
raise these temperatures 5°F. The addition of
CO2 at 1000 PPM requires the temperature to be
raised another 5°F to take advantage of the CO2.
Flowering Groups 1,2,3,4:
Snap varieties have been bred to perform best
during specific flowering periods.
Group 1 is for mid-winter, low light, short day
length, and low temperature flowering. It also
requires the longest growing schedule.
Group 4 is for mid-summer, high light, long day
length, and higher temperatures. It also has the
shortest growing schedule. The other 2 groups
fall in between. Temperature, HID lights, and CO2
will also influence which group to use. Without
HID lights it is not advisable to flower Snaps out
of their recommended flowering periods.
Carbon Dioxide:
Winter grown Snaps respond to the addition of
CO2 in tight greenhouses. It should be added for
top quality and crop time reduction. This will often
allow the use of a faster group.
HID:
The use of HID lights will speed up a crop of
Snaps. Group 3 can be used all year round except
in mid-summer. If you do not have fan and pad
cooling, then a group 4 Snap should be used. HID
lights will reduce crop time from 3 to 6 weeks.
Fertilizer:
Snaps are very sensitive to excessive salinity and
high ammonium levels. The soil fertility should
be monitored throughout the crop cycle. A program
of adding 200 PPM nitrogen and potassium
every third watering can be used. Stop fertilizing
at bud elongation stage. The amount of fertilizer
added can be adjusted up or down depending on
growth rate.
Post Harvest Handling:
Cut when 7 to 10 flowers are open. Place cut
stems immediately in water containing a preservative.
Store at 40°F and be certain to keep the
stems upright. Snap stems will bend up almost
immediately if stored for even the briefest time
in a non-verticle position. Once the tips bend it
is permanent.
Direct Benching-Transplanting:
Snaps respond best when seedling or plugs are
planted directly into the final growing medium.
Transplanting to pots will almost always result
in some checking. Many growers purchase snap
seedlings from plug specialists. They are most
commonly offered in 392 cell trays. Use of a plug
extractor is highly recommended to speed planting
and prevent damage to the plugs.
Watering:
Water thoroughly with a half strength feed. After
the first watering check and lift any seedlings
that have settled in too deeply. Also pick up any
that are bent over or have leaves buried.
Schedules:
See your Gloeckner representative for assistance
in establishing a workable Snap program for your
particular growing conditions.
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