Primrose belongs to the family of primroses. It is a perennial rhizome plant and has long been loved in many countries. In ancient Greece, it was used as a medicinal plant, calling it a flower against all diseases. Many beautiful legends are associated with it. In Switzerland, Auricula, a primrose whose cultivation in European countries was in great fashion in the 19th century, grows high in the mountains in its natural form. It is for the Swiss - a symbol of love for the motherland.
Primrose flowers were so popular that whole states were made in the cultivation of new varieties and their cultivation in Europe. Primrose is now one of the favorite spring flowers.
In the world there are about 600 species of these plants. In our country - no more than 67 of them. Often the question arises, how to grow primrose in the cold climate of Russia? In severe frosts, its rhizomes can freeze, which leads to the death of flowers. Given this, it is necessary to breed the most cold-resistant species of this plant. These include primrose Auricula, Tall, Stemless, Scalloped, Cortus, Spring, Japanese. They are frost resistant. However, for the winter in the regions of Siberia and the Urals, they must be covered with dry leaves.
The primrose, or primrose, the cultivation of which once so occupied gardeners, can propagate by dividing the bush, seeds or cuttings.
Divide the primrose bush every two or three years, if the plant does not grow too much. If the primrose has grown greatly, it can be divided in a year. It is even necessary to do this, because otherwise the plants may freeze due to the fact that the bulk of their roots, having grown, will be too close to the surface of the soil. It is best to divide the primrose bush in spring or at the very beginning of autumn. Spring division is made 2 weeks after the flower has bloomed. You need to divide the plant so that each split has one or two rosettes and developed roots.
The soil for planting primrose should be light, with the addition of peat. It is necessary to take into account the properties that primrose has. Growing will be more successful if you take into account the characteristics of the species. For example, auricular primrose does not like excess moisture and acidic soil. Therefore, when planting, the place for them must be selected dry and in the ground, if it is acidic, lime must be added. They are well suited for rocky slides. Some primroses, for example, florinds, on the contrary, love water. For these species, placement in damp places is preferable.
How to grow primrose from seeds? This is pretty hard. Seeds in primroses are characterized by slow germination and, in addition, they lose their germination very quickly. Therefore, it is better to sow them immediately after harvest (they ripen by August-September), in the fall. During spring sowing, for better seed germination, they must be stratified, that is, after wetting, they should be kept at low temperature for some time. It is necessary to sow primrose in containers, in a mixture of sand with deciduous earth in a ratio of 1: 2. Moisturize the soil, sow the seeds and sprinkle them lightly (with deep sowing, the seeds germinate poorly). Boxes are covered with foil.
When the shoots appear, the film is removed. It is better to keep seedlings in a cool place, to water only from a pallet. When a couple of leaves appear, primrose dive. The grown flowers are planted on the beds. Before the onset of cold weather, young primrose must be covered. They will bloom only in the second or third year.
In addition to these methods, there is another one by which primrose propagates. Growing from cuttings works well with Auricular primrose. Cuttings should be cut in May or June and planted in a shaded garden or in a greenhouse. Cuttings take root after 2-3 weeks. The following spring they are planted in a permanent place.
When caring for primrose, one must remember that in spring they like watering, but the water should not stagnate in the area. Therefore, they must be grown on well-drained soil. Melt water from them must also be diverted. In the spring, around primrose plantings, it is necessary to scatter complex mineral fertilizer at the rate of 20 g / m. Then top dressing is carried out at the end of July - at this time the plants are laid buds for flowering. Mullein or potassium sulfate can be used. In late August, fertilizing with potassium and superphosphate is carried out so that the plants acquire sufficient winter hardiness.
Good luck in growing primroses!