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  • From: Doug Green <dgreen@kingston.net>
  • To: gardenwriters-on-gardening <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Primulas
  • Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 18:36:50 -0500

At 04:46 PM 1/20/05, you wrote:
Does anyone have knowledge on primulas? This time of year, colorful primrose start appearing in local grocery stores, and I always buy several to brighten up the dull, gray winter days. I manage to keep them blooming and growing until spring, but I've had little luck getting them to grow in the garden. They seem to die within a couple of weeks after I set them out in a flower bed. What am I doing wrong? And, how can I get them to bloom again. I live in Zone 5a-4b, depending on the year (this year it's 4b). Will primulas survive my winters?
Doreen Howard

Doreen: Primula will survive, that is, a really good primula. What you're likely buying are the bedding out primula, used by annual growers to provide quick early colour and really only intended for spring colour. You don't even have to force these or split light them - start them in January and they'll bloom in April/May. The only truly hardy one of these is the yellow (must be still a lot of P veris in the genetics). The other colours, reds and blues etc are marginally hardy in a zone 4. The more yellow in the blossom, the hardier the plant. I used to run trials on these when I had my nursery.

Now, instead of the these bedding varieties, go with real Primula veris and varieties thereof. Those are rock hardy in open soils (clay is not a really great idea) in a zone 4-5. I love the doubles as well as the 'Perth' series. Can't get enough of them in the spring. Then of course there's the Japanese ones to drool over in mid summer and the small ones.....

Doug


Douglas Green
Award winning writer telling your story
www.simplegiftsfarm.com/clips/clipmaster.html








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