Antirrhinum 'DoubleShot Peach' Seeds

Antirrhinum majus 'DoubleShot Peach' is an F1 Hybrid Half-Hardy Annual (H3), meaning it can tolerate light frost but not hard freezes, and it completes its life cycle in one growing season.

What Makes F1 Hybrids Special? F1 (first filial) hybrids are created by carefully crossing two different parent plants. The resulting seeds produce plants with "hybrid vigour"—they grow more vigorously, more uniformly, and with better disease resistance than open-pollinated varieties. The trade-off is that you can't save seed from them; the next generation won't come true. But the superior performance makes them worth it for serious gardeners!

The 'DoubleShot' Breakthrough: This series is particularly famous for being exceptionally wind-resistant. While tall varieties (60-90cm) often need staking and can snap in storms, 'DoubleShot' grows to a stocky, self-supporting 50cm with thick stems that hold up beautifully in exposed positions. This makes them ideal for coastal gardens, allotments, and anywhere else that gets battered by wind.

The "Open Face" Advantage: Unlike traditional snapdragons where the flowers are fused shut (requiring bumblebees to force them open), these double blooms sit open, making them much easier for all types of bees to access. This makes them a better choice for pollinators while still giving you that gorgeous double-flowered appearance.

Start these early for the longest possible flowering season—they're worth the extra effort!

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from January to March (yes, you can start as early as January with sufficient light and warmth!). Surface sow onto moist seed compost—do not cover the seeds as they need light to germinate. This is critical; buried Antirrhinum seeds simply won't germinate. Keep warm at 20-22°C using a heated propagator or warm windowsill. Germination typically takes 10-14 days. Once seedlings develop 2-3 pairs of true leaves, prick them out into individual modules or 7cm pots.

The Essential Pinch:
This is absolutely non-negotiable for bushy, productive plants! When your young plants have 3-4 pairs of leaves, pinch out the main growing tip (the very top of the plant). This forces the plant to branch out from lower down, creating multiple flower spikes instead of just one tall central spike. Unpinched plants look leggy and disappointing; pinched plants look full and floriferous. Trust us on this!

Planting Out:
Plant out after the last frost—usually late April or May depending on your region. Space plants 25cm apart. They love full sun but will tolerate light shade (though flowering will be reduced). They're not fussy about soil but perform best in reasonably fertile, well-drained ground.

Perfect for Containers:
'DoubleShot Peach' is exceptional in large containers on sunny patios. Use a good-quality multi-purpose compost mixed with some slow-release fertilizer. Water regularly during dry spells—container-grown plants need consistent moisture.

Ongoing Care:
Deadheading: Snap or cut off spent flower spikes regularly. This stops the plant setting seed and encourages continuous flowering right through to October.
Feeding: A fortnightly liquid feed (tomato fertilizer works brilliantly) will keep them flowering prolifically all summer.

The warm apricot-peach tones of 'DoubleShot Peach' glow beautifully against complementary colours:

• 💜 Salvia viridis 'Oxford Blue': The Sunset Contrast. The deep, velvety indigo-purple bracts of this Salvia make the soft peach of the Snapdragon absolutely glow with warmth. Blue and Orange sit opposite each other on the colour wheel, creating that classic "sunset sky" effect. Both are sturdy, reliable performers that flower all summer, and this combination dries beautifully too if you harvest stems for winter arrangements.
• 🌼 Rudbeckia 'Marmalade': The Vintage Mix. Both plants share those muted, antique tones of copper, peach, amber, and brown that create a sophisticated, autumnal feel even in midsummer. The upright spikes of the Snapdragon contrast beautifully with the flat, daisy-faced Rudbeckia blooms. This pairing has that coveted "vintage wedding" aesthetic and works brilliantly in both borders and cutting gardens.

Sow indoors in late winter/spring. Plant out after last frost. Flowers all summer until frost.

Key: Green = Sowing period | Yellow = Planting out | Pink = Flowering period