Primrose is considered a real decoration of the garden. Due to its colorful appearance, it is popular in landscape design. In this article, you will learn how to grow primrose from seeds, the timing of sowing, the principles of stratification and the intricacies of care. Also get a step-by-step algorithm of actions from sowing to planting a flower in the ground.
How to grow primrose from seeds at home
Thanks to the seeds, you can save a lot, because an adult plant costs a lot. Growing it is quite simple, the main thing is to adhere to some rules. In this way, you will be able to achieve a healthy material with good flowering potential. Houses grow both indoor and garden primrose.
Indoor are heat-loving, therefore their flowering in the cold is not implied, which means that seedlings do not need hardening. Seeds for garden flowers are recommended to be grown in a greenhouse or outdoors. They ripen in heat, planting is made as close as possible to natural conditions.
The most common varieties of primrose are Terry, Malacoids and Colossa. These plants with different flowering periods, which allows you to create interesting compositions and ensure the process throughout the year.
Primrose seed storage
The seeds of this plant, like a food product, have an expiration date. And to be more precise, every year unused material loses its germination capacity, and the chances of getting a beautiful primrose come to naught. If it is not possible to sow the material immediately, then it should be stored correctly until the next use.
Important! Do not allow seedlings to sprout through a cotton pad. It will be difficult to get the roots out of the fibers without damaging the entire system.
It is recommended to dry them, so they will be suitable for a couple of years. Next, prepare a can of sand. Then shift them by tightly twisting the inlet and send them to the refrigerator (but not to the freezer). So, the level of vital activity of seeds will not fall.
Sowing dates primrose
If you got the seeds yourself, then sow them immediately on the bed while they are fresh. If you are engaged in growing primroses on the windowsill of your room, then the timing of planting does not matter. It is important to organize normalized conditions for good flower growth. It is recommended to sow in the daytime in the warm season, so that the flowers get stronger by the onset of cold weather. The best period for this would be May or June.
If you plan to plant primrose in the garden, then the cultivation of seedlings should begin in January. In the case of some varieties - in December. Some hybrid varieties have a short period from growth to the appearance of flowers. For example, the Pagent variety needs to be sown in March, it will begin to bloom in 4 months. On average, from this moment until the appearance of the flower, about 5 months will pass.
Tanks for sowing
Features of growing room and garden primrose are the same. For seedlings it is convenient to use shallow plastic containers. They can be purchased or replaced with something similar. They also use low wooden boxes, the bottom of which is covered with a perforated film to avoid stagnation of water.
You can use almost everything, the main thing is to adjust the capacity for landing. At the bottom of the food container made of hard plastic, it is worth making holes for the drain, they also use disposable cups. They are popular for growing expensive plant varieties.
Soil selection
The fate of the plant may depend on the choice of soil, because it takes all the most useful elements for vital functions from there. This means that you need to approach the choice of soil responsibly and choose the most suitable.
For primrose, it is advised to take soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5, where there is no humus. It is recommended to use not just soil, but a mixture in which mineral additives are present, such as perlite and vermiculite. It is important to adhere to a proportion of 1: 1: 1. Thanks to the additives in the soil, the earth will be looser, which helps to pass air well to the roots of seedlings and prevents stagnation of moisture.
Did you know? Primrose in England is considered a cult flower, and even created a special League, which consists of millions of people. This flower gained popularity thanks to the politician Benjamin Disrael, in whom he was associated with a woman and became a symbol of love, which has survived to this day.
Sowing seeds
It is recommended to water the soil plentifully before sowing. The procedure is not carried out deep into the ground or into the grooves. If the seeds are planted in the summer, mulching should be carried out and ensure stable watering. For winter, it is recommended to close the plants with a layer of mulch, you can use dry leaves. Seeds should be planted in boxes at the bottom, laying drainage material to protect the plant from excess moisture.
Video: Growing primrose from seeds
What care for primrose is needed
You don’t even have to worry about the difficulty of growing primrose, as the algorithm of actions is quite simple. Follow the basic rules, monitor the temperature in the room, humidity, lighting. Water the plant should be in moderation, so as not to flood, and not to dry the soil. In the spring, fertilizing can be added to watering in the form of fertilizers. If you notice the dried edges of the leaves, then simply pour the primrose with warm water.
Temperature mode
This primrose is a thermophilic plant, which means it must germinate in a certain environment. A suitable temperature is + 15 ° C, so the seedlings will appear after 10-16 days. Lowering the temperature by a couple of degrees is not considered a catastrophic phenomenon, it will not affect the germination time. But high temperatures can delay the growth process for a couple of weeks.
Important! Planting seeds on pure snow is practiced. Sowing material can be spread on it, and the seeds themselves will go to the desired depth.
With the advent of the first sprouts, the temperature in the room should not exceed + 20 ° C, for some species - + 13 ° C. Already ripened plants prefer coolness, the temperature regime is within + 15 °. Do not exceed it, this will lead to a reduction in the flowering time of primrose.
Lighting
The flower does not like direct sunlight, should grow only in partial shade or in medium light. Every year the creations of breeders surpass these statements, because the variety of primrose is very extensive. But best of all, germinating seeds feel in a bright place, but without direct rays. Separate gardeners put seed containers in the shade, but many have noticed that lighting does not affect the speed of seed germination.
Since in the fall and winter a significant number of crops develop much more slowly, it would be useful to provide the plant with additional illumination. Also take care of the plant in the spring, because the scorching sun can burn it.
Humidity
Humidity in the room should be 75–85%, since the leaves of primrose do not have a protective cuticle, which prevents drying out of the tissues. When growing seedlings in containers with a lid, watch for condensation on the walls and lid, it should not be. Open the cover for air exchange.
Ventilation
Every plant needs a stream of fresh air. It is possible that pests can start in it. For prevention, primrose is aired. This process is not time consuming, but you must follow basic care rules, such as temperature conditions.
Watering
This plant is planted in moist soil. It is soon covered with glass or film so that the earth does not dry out. Be careful, the soil should not dry out, this can lead to late germination. Do not water the soil as soon as the first sprouts appear. If there is no drainage holes in your container with planting material, it is better to water by spraying.
Adult plants are watered carefully, trying to prevent water from entering a leaf outlet or flowers. When the first flower appears on the plant, the water is slightly fed with weakly concentrated fertilizers. It is important not to forget one tip: when planting a seedling in open ground, the leaves are tightly closed to preserve moisture in the soil, you can also mulch.
Seed stratification
Seed stratification is the cooling that they need. Some varieties do not need it, it depends on the individual requirements that are indicated on the package. Stratification can be done even at home. Below is described in detail how to conduct it and how long it takes.
Did you know? In ancient Greece, primrose was considered the flower of 12 gods. According to legend, they decided to help a paralyzed young man and turned it into a beautiful flower, and this plant was considered medicinal.
In fridge
Having set the temperature in the refrigerator + 3 ... + 5 ° С, put the seed there. Stratification can take place within 11-14 days before the appearance of the first shoots. Only send the sown seeds in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, then take them out and leave them warm, then repeat these steps 4-5 times.
Using snow
Before sowing the flower, prepare a tray with compacted soil with a layer of 3-5 cm. Snow 1-2 cm high is laid on its surface. After this, the seed is planted, adhering to a distance of 0.5 cm. This process can take from 11 to 14 days before the first seedlings.
Soaking in water
The easiest way to germinate the seeds is to pre-soak them in water or in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. There are no time limits, just monitor the condition of the seeds. Sprouted seeds in the refrigerator.
Using a sponge
Sponge is a great way to stratify the seeds of this plant. Some find it more convenient than other techniques. Moisten a sponge, but do not overdo it, use a spray bottle. Spread the material on the surface of the sponge and place it in cellophane, creating an air chamber for air to enter.
Sponges are planted at low temperatures, so put cellophane in the refrigerator. Do not let the seeds take root, it will be more difficult to free them from the sponge, and you can damage the root system.
Diseases and Pests
Primrose is susceptible to certain diseases and can be infected by pests:
- Root rot. The symptom of this disease is the withering of the aerial parts of the plant. This disease develops due to waterlogging of the plant, and then progresses during irrigation. The diseased plant must be removed from the site.
- Leaf spotting. The disease manifests itself in the form of gray-brown spots with yellow edges, and a white coating is present on the lower part. It is necessary to spray with a fungicide, but do it carefully so as not to damage the stem.
- Leaf rot, stems and flowers. With the defeat of this disease, watery brown spots appear. With the development of the disease, a gray coating develops. It is important to avoid high humidity, as the disease progresses in such an environment. You can treat plants with fungicides.
Among pests most often affect various aphids and caterpillars.
- Aphid It infects the lower parts of the leaves, sucks the juice from the plant and leaves honey drops behind it. Later, a plaque appears in these places. In the fight against aphids, insecticides are quite effective.
- Caterpillars affect leaves, flowers and stems. They damage the surface of the plant. An effective tool in pest control are insecticides from the group of synthetic pyrethroids.
Now you know that growing primrose from seeds is not difficult enough, following the rules of planting and care. These flowers are considered a symbol of spring, so you should start planting seedlings in advance. It is important to take into account the variety of the plant, as well as further growth conditions, since they can bloom at different times. On the Internet you can find photos of the compositions of this flower to see what your site might look like if you plant this perennial plant on it.
