Contents
Growing primrose from seeds is a long and laborious process. For a successful result, careful preparation of planting material and soil, competent care of seedlings is required. Tips for growing primrose from seeds will help eliminate common mistakes among novice flower growers. Compliance with the recommendations will allow you to get a beautiful and healthy ornamental plant.
Features of growing primrose from seeds
Such a plant is popularly called primrose, which is associated with early flowering. It can come in late March or early April. Some varieties bloom in spring and summer.
Usually planting primrose seeds for seedlings is recommended in cases where it is impossible to obtain other planting material. Most often, the flower is propagated by dividing into rosettes, each of which is planted separately. But this method is relevant only if there is a mother plant. For the cultivation and propagation of a new variety, pre-harvested seeds will be required.
Primrose also grows well outdoors.
When growing seedlings, you should not expect early flowering. It will come no earlier than 5 months after germination. Crops need specific care. It includes a wide range of activities.
How to plant primrose seeds at home
The method of cultivation depends on several factors. The main one is the source of planting material. For the cultivation of primroses, seeds are used, collected independently, or purchased in gardening stores.
When to sow primrose for seedlings
If the seeds were purchased in a store, they must be planted within the time specified in the attached instructions. For most varieties of primrose, seedlings are grown in February.
Germination of seeds in different types of primroses is different
Experienced gardeners sow seeds as early as January. According to the lunar calendar, favorable days are 5-9, 12, 21, 22. In February, planting primrose seeds for seedlings is best done on the 11-18th.
Tank preparation
For growing primrose do not use any convenient container. This requires a container with a height of 5-7 cm. A prerequisite is the presence of drainage holes.
Suitable for sowing and cultivation:
- flower pots;
- small plastic glasses;
- separate containers;
- seedling cassettes;
- peat tablets.
You can plant seeds in a common box or a small flower pot
Cropped plastic bottles, dairy containers or plastic bags are not suitable for growing primrose seeds. The use of containers made of such materials reduces germination due to the negative impact on soil quality.
Soil Preparation
The quality of the soil mixture is the most important factor affecting the germination of planting material. To grow primrose from seeds, you need fertile garden soil. The earth should be loose and moderately moist.
When planting, you can use a ready-made substrate for indoor plants. It is also made independently from several components.
Required:
- leaf humus;
- sod land;
- river sand.
For planting seeds, you can buy ready-made soil in a specialized store
It is recommended to sterilize a self-made soil mixture for growing. This eliminates the risk of fungi and bacteria that can harm the plant. The easiest way to sterilize the soil is in the oven. The substrate is poured onto a baking sheet with a layer of no more than 1,5 cm and left at a temperature of 120 degrees for 45 minutes.
Preparing primrose seeds for sowing
Planting material needs to be disinfected. Before sowing primrose seeds, they are dipped in a one percent solution of potassium permanganate. 20 minutes is enough for disinfection. After that, the seeds should be laid out on a clean cloth or sheet of paper. So they are left for 30-40 minutes to dry.
How to Stratify Primrose Seeds
For most varieties, this procedure is required. Without prior stratification, the seeds may not sprout. The procedure provides for the creation of climatic conditions corresponding to the period of the beginning of the growing season, that is, early spring. Thus, the seeds are subjected to low temperatures so as not to disturb the biological rhythm of the plant.
There are many ways to carry out the stratification of primrose seeds at home. The classical technology provides for short-term storage of planting material in a room and a further decrease in temperature.
Instructions:
- Decontaminated seeds are kept in an open container on the windowsill for 2-3 days.
- Planting material is placed in a container with moist soil and placed in a refrigerator.
- Keep the container in a cool place for 2-3 weeks.
- Move the container to the balcony or outside if the temperature is not lower than 0 degrees.
The container can be stored in the snow. This will ensure optimal temperature and humidity.
Stratification should be carried out before planting, placing ripe seeds in the cold.
When the stratification is completed, the seeds should be placed in a place that is well lit during the daytime. It is best to leave the container on the windowsill. During this period, you need to constantly keep the soil moist, but do not water it, but use a sprayer.
Sowing primrose seeds for seedlings
The landing method is very simple if you follow the step by step instructions. Also for this purpose, a video about sowing primrose for seedlings can help:
The main stages of landing:
- Fill container with substrate.
- Make shallow holes.
- Place the seeds in the hole.
- Spray the soil with a spray bottle.
- Cover the container with a lid or foil.
It is not necessary to cover the sown seeds with soil, otherwise they will not germinate. The described landing method is relevant regardless of whether stratification is carried out or not.
How to grow primrose seedlings from seeds
In order for the planting material to ascend after sowing, proper care is needed. Auxiliary procedures are also required in order for seedlings of primrose from seeds at home to be resistant to adverse factors and insensitive to diseases.
Microclimate
The optimum temperature for germination is 16-18 degrees. Hybrid varieties of primrose need good lighting. Containers with crops are placed in a bright place. This requires light-scattering screens that will protect seedlings from direct sunlight. In the shade, seedlings from the seeds of finely toothed primrose should be kept.
Some varieties of primrose need diffused light and a temperature of +18 degrees
Another important trick of sowing primrose seeds for seedlings is that the container must be regularly ventilated. Before the first shoots appear, the container is opened for 30 minutes. When the first shoots appear, the ventilation period is gradually increased. You can completely remove the cover or film after 12-14 days.
Picks
When growing primrose from seeds at home, this procedure is carried out when 2-3 leaves appear on shoots. During this period, the root system is actively developing and needs space. Therefore, the sprouts are carefully removed from the substrate and moved to another container with nutrient soil.
Picking scheme:
- Seedlings are watered 1 hour before the procedure.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom of the new container, filled with soil.
- Push a shallow hole in the soil.
- Pour some warm water into it.
- Remove the sprout with a wooden spatula or plastic spoon.
- Place the seedling in the hole.
- Spray with a spray bottle.
After the procedure, the container is placed in partial shade for 1 week. Picking is carried out 2-3 times before landing in the ground.
Watering and top dressing
Before germination, the soil is sprayed with a spray bottle. In the future, periodic moderate watering is required. The soil should not be too wet or dry.
Can be sprayed with a fine mist sprayer
For top dressing, mineral fertilizers for indoor plants are used. Apply diluted low concentrated liquid solutions. Top dressing is carried out 1 time per week before transplanting into open soil.
Hardening
Primula is a plant that is well adapted to low temperatures. Therefore, it is not necessary to harden the crops. They can be taken outside if the temperature is above 10 degrees. Then the seedlings quickly adapt to external conditions and better tolerate planting.
Transplant into the ground
Planting seedlings in open soil is carried out in spring or autumn. The first option is considered optimal, as it allows you to adapt the plant to climatic conditions. Autumn planting is recommended if the seedlings are grown from seeds obtained from their own plants in the summer.
Transplantation should be carried out when there is no longer a threat of night frosts.
Primroses are planted in places with fertile soil, protected from direct sunlight. The distance between the bushes is 20-30 cm. After planting, abundant watering is needed, which is reduced when the plants resume active growth.
When the primrose grown from seeds will bloom
The flowering period depends on the characteristics of the variety and the method of planting. As a rule, primroses bloom 5-6 months after sowing. This period is increased if transplantation into open ground was carried out in the fall. After wintering, the plants bloom in March-April, subject to the onset of persistent warming.
How to collect primrose seeds
You can personally collect planting material at the end of July or at the beginning of August. During this period, boxes ripen on plants, which contain a large number of seeds. They need to be collected in a small container or paper envelope and placed in a cool place.
For long-term storage, planting material should be regularly ventilated. It must be protected from direct sunlight and moisture.
Conclusion
Tips for growing primrose from seeds will be useful for both beginners and experienced flower growers. This is important, since sowing seedlings and caring for them can cause a lot of difficulties. Therefore, the cultivation of primrose seeds should be carried out in accordance with the instructions and recommendations of specialists.