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When to Plant Snapdragon in Scott County, VA

Scott County, Virginia Zone 7a June

June to-do list for Scott County, Virginia

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Scott County, Virginia this June and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 17
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 73°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Get snapdragon seeds going inside

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Basket week: snapdragon

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

To set up a strong July, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: snapdragon

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Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are classic cool-season annuals whose upright spikes of dragon-lipped flowers are among spring's most dramatic displays. Tolerating light frosts, they bloom from early spring until summer heat shuts them down — then often revive in fall. In zones 9-11 they are grown as fall-planted winter annuals and may re-seed to naturalize.

Scott County, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 1,389 feet, Scott County receives approximately 44.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Snapdragon during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting Fragrant
Scott County, VA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Scott County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Snapdragon Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Apr 10 🌸 Bloom: Jun 19 – Sep 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Apr 17 🌸 Bloom: Jun 26 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (29 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: May 4 🌸 Bloom: Jul 13 – Oct 5

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Scott County

How your county's soil matches Snapdragon's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.7) is more acidic than Snapdragon prefers (6.2–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Scott County is excellent for Snapdragon — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.4%). Annual compost additions will help Snapdragon.

How to Plant Snapdragon

9"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Snapdragon

3
successive plantings in your 188-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 14 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 27.

Snapdragon Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 30 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Snapdragon

Snapdragon needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Snapdragon Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Scott County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Snapdragon Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Snapdragon needs ~1,551 GDD — county provides 3,431 GDD Excellent fit

Snapdragon Planting Timeline — Scott County, VA

Snapdragon Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 6 Feb 6 – Feb 20
Transplant Outdoors April 17 Apr 17 – May 1
Direct Sow March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 10
Bloom June 26 Jun 26 – Sep 18
Fall Sowing August 27 Aug 27 – Sep 10

· 9" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Fall Sowing Bloom
September Fall Sowing Bloom
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

70–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.2–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

188 days in Scott County

Growing Tips for Snapdragon in Scott County

Direct sow Snapdragon outdoors after April 17 in Scott County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost; seeds need light to germinate — press into moist medium and do not cover. Transplant after hardening off, even if light frosts remain. Pinch seedlings once to encourage branching. Deadhead to prolong blooming. In zones 8-11, sow in fall for a winter-to-spring show. Tall varieties (24-36") make excellent cut flowers.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Snapdragon in Scott County, VA?

Scott County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Snapdragon planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Scott County, VA?

Scott County, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Scott County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Scott County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Scott County, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.