Planting and caring for perennial garden primrose, growing from seeds

Primroses are one of the symbols of spring. This is the name given to the primrose that appears on the mountain slopes with the first rays of the spring sun. Delicate, beautiful perennial garden primroses are grown in garden plots; planting flowers and caring for them is not so difficult. Flowerbeds decorated with primroses leave no one indifferent.

Features of primrose

Primroses have been known for many centuries. Flowers were called “first”, considered a talisman that brought good luck, and were used to prepare medicines. The beauty and tenderness of the small flower made it popular and in demand. The different color shades of the petals add a special charm and make the plant even more attractive for planting in areas where it is necessary to add bright colors.

The flower is classified as a perennial plant; it has specific features:

• roots: strong, short with many branches;
• leaves: dark green, narrow, with teeth along the edges, depending on the type, can grow from 5 to 25 centimeters;
• flowers: collected in complex inflorescences, the funnel-shaped part of the color can grow up to 5 centimeters.

After flowering, the seeds are collected in a box. In Russia, primroses bloom from April to July. Primrose is ubiquitous and grows in moist, nutritious soils. Some species are listed in the Red Book.

Main types

Among the variety of species, botany identifies about 200 specimens, which are grown in garden plots in temperate climates.

The classification is based on the difference in inflorescences:

1. Candelabra or tiered. Inflorescences are formed from several layers, which are located one above the other. Representatives of this type grow in mountainous areas, reproduce by seed, and can also be planted by dividing the mother bush into 2 parts. The most popular representatives: Japanese primrose, Bulley flower, Byssus.
2. Umbrella-shaped. Flowers with umbrella-shaped inflorescences grow in Europe. The peculiarity of the variety lies in the formation of small flowers. Primrose tall, polyanthus, auricular and spring.
3. Cushion-shaped.This type includes small primrose bushes with single flowers. They are especially popular with collectors because they are unlike other types. Primula vulgaris, small, Julia.
4. Campanulate. Another type that is found in mountain and foothill areas. The peculiarity lies in the presence of a tall stem, which is crowned with an inflorescence - a bell. Primrose Florinda and Sikkimese.
5. Globular. Decorative varieties with an elongated stem and a dense head covered with small flowers. Species of these primroses can grow in the mountains and can also be used in the landscape of gardening areas.

Specifics of growing crops

Open sunny areas of the garden, as well as shaded areas, are suitable for growing primroses. The rules for care are determined by the structural feature, which depends on the variety. The most common varieties among flower growers are grown according to a certain pattern.

Sowing seeds

Primroses can reproduce by seeds. After flowering, small black grains densely fill the seed box. The peculiarity of planting material is that it quickly loses its ability to germinate; it needs to be sown as soon as possible.

The seed is buried in the ground immediately after collection. If quick sowing is not possible, then the planting material is stored at +14-16 degrees.

For sowing, varietal seeds require additional preparation:

• freezing at temperatures from -2 to +4 degrees;
• calibration;
• disinfection to protect against fungal diseases.

Information! When purchasing hybrid seeds, no treatment is carried out.

Seedling

After sowing, you need to be patient: primrose seeds germinate very slowly. In order to ensure optimal conditions for seedling germination and growth, it is necessary to prepare:

• equipment for creating a greenhouse effect;
• a room with a temperature not lower than +20 degrees;
• lighting for 10-12 hours;
• nutrient soil with a drainage system.

What is the best time to plant

Taking into account the characteristics of the seed material, primroses are sown after harvesting. The final stage of seed collection is August. When sowing store-bought material for seedlings, the best option is February.

Preparing a permanent location

Primroses are transplanted to a permanent place of growth in the fall or spring. This depends on the age of the seedlings; preference is given to seedlings that are 2 years old.

First prepare the soil:

1. They are digging up the area.
2. Add crushed moss.
3. Add humus and sand.
4. They dig again.

Before planting primrose, choose areas covered by trees or shrubs from direct sunlight. Only mountain alpine varieties can be planted in the open sun.

Transplanting primrose into open ground

The basic rule when planting in open ground areas is to maintain the distance between bushes.

Warning! Primrose planted by seed blooms in the 2nd or 3rd year of existence.

Tips for caring for primrose

After planting, a period begins when the plant adapts to new conditions. The task of the florist is to facilitate the adaptation period and build a care plan.

Watering the crop

Weekly watering is accompanied by slight loosening of the soil. When hot, dry weather sets in, the amount of watering is increased. About 3 liters of warm water are required per 1 square meter.

Plant nutrition

During the growing season, primroses are fed weekly.The first feeding is carried out with the appearance of 2-3 leaves, ending at the last stages of flowering.

For feeding, use in turn:

• potash fertilizers;
• phosphorus mixtures.

Pruning rules

Pruning is carried out in the spring, after the snow melts. Remove dried and dead stems. In autumn, dried inflorescences are cut off on the bush.

How to prepare a plant for winter

Varietal flowers, which are of particular value to owners, are usually dug up and left for the winter at home.

Regular varieties must be covered for the winter. The first stage of winterization involves adding organic fertilizer to the roots, which may be exposed after flowering.

When frost approaches, in October-November the soil around the bush is mulched. To do this, choose sawdust, peat, pine needles or sawdust. Then the top of the plant is covered with spruce branches. The snow cover becomes the second top layer of shelter.

Protection from diseases and pests

Garden primrose is susceptible to fungal diseases. They can develop due to climatic conditions. Excessive moisture leads to damage to the root system. Primroses can become infected with powdery mildew, gray mold or anthracnose.

The most common insect pests are aphids, slugs, mites and fleas. To protect the plant, they are treated with chemicals: Nitrophen, Bordeaux mixture, tobacco or soap solutions.

Problems that gardeners encounter when growing primrose

When caring for primroses, some nuances are taken into account.

1. Drying and wilting of leaves indicates insufficient watering. The reason may also be the incorrect selection of a landing site.Direct sunlight often causes burns on leaf blades.
2. Withering, death of plant parts, shedding of ovaries indicates the beginning of the process of rotting of the root system. The reason is constant waterlogging of the soil, moisture retention.
3. Shrinking flowers and weak flowering indicate a lack of nutrients in the soil. During flowering, garden primroses need additional nutrition with potassium-phosphorus complexes.
4. The appearance of spots on the leaves and drying of the tips indicate the development of infection or the appearance of insect parasites.

If problems arise, they conduct a thorough inspection of the bushes and make a decision depending on the cause of the problem. The following steps usually help:

• increasing or decreasing the number of waterings;
• shading the area where the primrose is planted;
• transplantation by dividing the bush (this method is used for adult overgrown specimens);
• processing with special means;
• feeding in small portions according to the established scheme.

Reproduction methods

Many gardeners believe that the seed propagation method for primroses is far from the easiest and most effective. If you have an adult bush with a developed root system, flower propagation can be achieved in one of the following ways:

• cuttings;
• dividing the bush.

Primroses can be propagated by cuttings at any time of the year. On an adult bush of the selected variety, cut the leaf at an acute angle. Then it is rooted in water with the addition of a biostimulator and transplanted onto prepared soil. Seedlings are grown throughout the winter period in compliance with the necessary conditions. The shoots are transplanted in the spring to suitable flower beds.

Dividing a bush is one of the ways that allows you to completely preserve varietal characteristics. An adult bush is dug up, the roots are cleared of soil and divided into parts with a sharp knife.

The cut areas must be treated with a disinfectant. For this purpose, crushed activated carbon is used.

Each part must have its own growth point. Then the plants are planted in accordance with the recommended planting pattern. The hole is mulched and cared for like adult bushes.