Primula Species, Japanese Cowslip, Japanese Primrose, Queen of Primroses

I have grown a dark pink Primula for about 6 years. Placement is on the shaded north side of the house, getting a bit of early morning s...Read Moreun, and near a gutter runoff which keeps the area moist. I collected seeds in late summer, stored them dark-dry-cool and planted them in Winter Sowing Jugs the following February. I was abundantly rewarded with over 100 seedlings inside a plastic milk jug. I separated them out in groups of 2 and 3 in 3" pots, losing a few in the process of course, but upsizing was necessary. I transplanted the potted specimens in fall.They are currently under about 3 feet of snow, placed in an empty vegetable bed until spring when I will offer them to other gardeners at my spring plant sale. Very rewarding to be able to propagate the Primula with Winter Sowing.

Following are germination details for this plant:

1) Sow @ 18-22*C [~64-71*F] for 2-4 wks; then move to -4 to 4*C [24...Read More-39*F] for 4-6 wks; then move to 5-12*C [41-53*F] for germination.

2) Sow at 4*C [~40*F] for 3 months, then place at 20*C [~70*F] for 3 months.

3) from the 2nd edition of Norman C. Deno's book, Seed Germination Theory and Practice -

-- Deno found that fresh seed germinated best at 70*F within 2 - 4 days (compare to Clothier in #1)

-- However, he found that seed dry-stored at 70*F germinated better when sowed first at 40*F for 3 months & then moved to 70*F for 3 months (compare to #2). Seed dry-stored for less than 6 months did worse than that stored at 6 month. Seed dry-stored at 70*F for 2 years was dead.

I put in 4 purchased primula japonica (pink and burgundy) in 1998. I have clay, highly alkaline soil, and at the time had few trees so t...Read Morehe only shade available was on the north side of the house. If you compost them every spring and fall the results are spectacular. I allow some of them to go to seed and then sprinkle the seeds around. Without any further assistance they form little rosettes which are easily tranplanted, and in fact can be hacked in two and transplanted in spring. I now have at least 25, and they grow in excess of 1 1/2 feet tall. I water them perhaps once a week even during 90 degree temperatures in Zone 5A. Highly recommended. And try athyriam felix femina (lady fern) as a companion plant.

I have been collecting primulas and have found the japanese to be easy to grow. I grow them in moist shade.They only get two hours of su...Read Moren in the morning and they bloom beautifully.