Although most forms of stratification or pre-chilling seeds requires moisture as well, such as sow 1st and then chill for a set period or use the paper towel/baggy method, snapdragons are a bit different. It is advised to freeze the seeds (dry, in the package) for at least 48 hours and then sow.

For wintersowing, nothing special is needed to germinate snaps. Just sprinkle on top of potting mix , tape the jug, and stick out in the snow. They sprout like weeds, and at low temps. They're always among my first sprouts and don't mind freezing.

They volunteer like weeds, too. I had a few snaps in this area in 2008. These are volunteers there in 2009.

Karen

I have ws snaps as well and probably will do some this year too. I am planning on starting some indoors early as well, so I have a few large plants come May.

These are some snaps I started about three weeks ago. I read somewhere that they germinated well if kept at 40 degrees for a week and then brought into 75 degrees. I put them on my front porch for a week and then on a heating pad in the basement. The idea of starting them so early is to have a good early show while the weather is still cool and then replace them with other annuals. I have transplanted once and then put them outside on days when the temp is above 35. As you can see I lost some along the edges of the flat from wind damage.

Nice, they look awesome. Mine just germinated a few days ago and I plan to move them out the GH tomorrow. Big day of starting up the GH for the season. I insulated it with bubble wrap today.

John--what a great recommendation. I have some new varieties of snapdragons to try this year. I will try the outside stratification followed by the indoor warmth. Thank you for sharing this method.

Oh, forgot to say, I had the seeds in the fridge for a few weeks before I sowed them and the germinated within a few days under lights

I wintersowed Black Prince snaps several years ago. I love them; I think they look like burgundy velvet. My snaps tend to overwinter for me and last 2 or 3 years. The foliage at the base of the plant stays green all winter, while the tops die off. This has been an awful winter though, and the frigid air arrived before the insulating snow, so I'm not too hopeful that many will survive this winter.

Here are some of my Black Prince in 2008.

Karen

You have such a beautiful garden Karen. I was out in the garden to see yesterday. Peonies are beginning to peak out as are a number of other things. I did see a Madame Butterfly snap with the top showing brown and the bottom green. I think that Louisville is a little warmer than Cincy.

Thank you John, for the compliment.

Let me get this straight: Are you telling me that you have no snow cover now? Just 100 miles south of me? If so I I want to move.

I just went out to fling some coffee grounds around the front yard. A little grass is showing, but not much. There are still 2 foot tall mounds of snow. And, of course, fresh deer tracks through both the front and back yards.

I need to check my plants to see what has survived. I want to know if I need to wintersow replacements for things like snapdragons and rudbeckias. But to find anything now I'd need a snow shovel.

Karen

Well Karen there is a house down the street for sale. After I posted my dw and I took Daisy for a long run in the country. When we came home I weeded for an hour or so and then walked around again...I wouldn't want to make you jealous or anything (heh,heh) but I have buds on at least one of my primroses.

ugh! Keep your eye on that house for me. It's amazing that a mere 100 miles could make such a difference.

Karen