Primulas 2014

Wow! Primula heaven. I don't know how you do it! Here's a wee question for you if you don't mind Brian...I bought Primula forestii last weekend, didn't realise it prefers lime. Any advice on planting mix for container?

Yes Wow Wow Wow so so beautiful Brian thank you for sharing the beauty.

Agree they are Wow! Love the colours :o)

Wow, wow wow

What else can one say, they are absolutely lovely Brian.....
If I can keep my little collection going Brian and get to see beauties like yours I'll be in seventh heaven.....

Another wow from me :-)

Your greenhouse must be a little paradise - do you ever go indoors?

Lincslass
Which are you growing Primulas or Auriculas most on Goy seem favour the latter.

Steragram
Yes when I am hungry or cold, or both.
B

Lol :)

Come on Brian.Surely a blanket and a flask can be brought out to you.

Scottish
That is quite a special one, transplanted some of my own seedling only a few days ago.
If you can get it right it is long lived at least 10 years in a pot problem is my conditions are far removed from yours and I can only tell you how I grow it .It has a long tap root which extends as the plant matures, I use a clay pot with one or more pieces of limestone set down in it (Tufa would do the same thing possibly better) the plant is planted down through the middle and topped up with compost this creates very sharp drainage ,I then find a plastic pot at least 2in larger and a bit deeper put in a layer of sand on the bottom place the clay pot in the middle and fill up with sand this needs to be moistened or will run out the bottom, or you can use a piece of kitchen towel in the bottom before you put the sand in.
depending on the temperature and time of year I mainly water the sand not the plant .
This will start you off tell me if you need more.

Just for the record when Forrest discovered it he took pictures of it growing at the mouth of a cave and the position was well documented others who set out to trace it nearly 100 years later found the same clump still thriving.
B

So very pretty. It would be a joy to be in that alpine house. The colours are just lovely.

I was just thinking about the colours Brian. At the Gc today I saw some really deep orange polyanthus???which actually weren't very nice to my eye....but it just occurred to me...with the lemon Primulas and the deep pink ones. Are there any peachy or orange hybrids? I can't recall seeing any. Sorry, probably just showing my ignorance!

I went to a gc too at the weeken and there were tables full of huge flowered brightly coloured ones.....there was a striped blue denim coloured one......it looked weird. !

yours are so pretty and delicate, are they early?
my primula in the lawn are all in flower

Karen yes there are all shade of primrose, there are few peachy ones of the type I grow as well but mine are not really suited to the open garden .

Pamg its mass colour that sells them in garden Centres you have to find enthusiast growers to find the real gems.

Primroses .primulas. Auriculas Get addicted
If you want seed that are special these are in the top five they will have some for sale now but new crop comes in summer, they do plants as well.

www.barnhaven.com

I like both Brian but the primulas are I think the prettiest, I just cannot seem to keep what I consider the specialist ones going in the garden, common and garden type are ok and go on for years, I have two greenhouses and as you can imagine that means a lot of space wasted through the winter months so I decided to try my hand and make use of it, nothing ventured, nothing gained..........

You are right these are not easy in the garden unless you are prepared to provide cover even then a raised trough or pot are best for them dry cold is ok, wet is the problem, in the wild the cushion type that I show here will probably be growing vertical so the cushion of leaves drains otherwise they rot.
Some are also covered in snow throught out the winter so warm and dry.
Phil (Goy PCW ) grows some at right angles in Tufa that's another option.
Will send you a PM tonight

Thankyou Brian, much appreciated...Sue.

Thanks Brian - I'll get organised, that'll teach me for not asking the right questions.

My goodness Brian what a spectacular show ,you should be very proud of them they all look so well cared for and healthy :o))

Lovely blog bjs and such wonderful colour's I like the last one best i think :0)

heavens! was going to advertise the devil's resting place, but thought better of it. they are terrific brian. if i had one i nwould take my hat off to you.

seriously well done mate,

WOW! I think all the adjectives have been used up. By the way did you add music to the blog on an update on Rhys, As I put it off I got a belt of 'Everything is coming up my way' by the Andrews sisters possibly. I thought that was a good omen. I opened the blog again and it disappeared but when I shut it down again it popped up. I mute the sound on my computer but am using OH's one as mine has died. The sound is on all the time. His screen is enormous and at an odd angle for me so I don't like it at all but I enjoyed the music. Equally apt for this blog. These are brilliant. Is one going to be named for Rhys?

I see Jamie watching over you hss great benefits what a fantastc collection.

My favourites has got to be the last one and the white one

Wonderful collection, good job we do not have room for an alpine house, we would be broke lol

I'm another who has to say WOW plus a WOWEeeee thanks for such a beautiful blog now added to me favs :0) - i too love the last one soooo delicate in its colour combination -would this one live out of the Alpine house, i do have a walk-in cold frame could it cope in there maybe? Alongside my cyclamen,dwarf narcissus and primulas - What i call my little
"Spring Corner" :)

Bee
Yes it would cope they are hardy,being the Anemone family the like a cool position for summer but not dry out.
I do not find them difficult to grow there are some single ones growing in the garden flowers get chewed by slugs only problem .Oh and the flowers are smaller than pictures show dia of most less than a five pence piece
B.

Thanks fo your reply BJS - This is the reason i have taken soooo long to start my primula collection as my garden is rather exposed and also before some creative landscaping (another word for LUGGing around) it is still very difficult to find areas that aren't in full sun with the backlash of a biting wind. I am currently creating pockets and borders more Primula friendly, so that i can source some more varieties.I do have at the mo that i'm pleased to say wintered over very well (more due to the mild winter i'm sure than my gardening prowess) three Stella's Regal Red,Champagne and Neon Violet,Wanda, Vialli and a Gold lace. I also have another sickly (hopefully recovering Stella) which was ambushed by the dreaded vine weevil :( I also have quite a few native primroses and crosses (dont tell the purists please ;)have seeded some cowslips to add to the others i have grown and one beautiful unnamed orangey variety from a friend in Brittany -And needless to say Im sooo looking foward to adding more :)

Bee had to look up your Stella Regal red had not heard of it .nice plant almost self If the picture I found is accurate. that grouping are called Cowichans when all one colour.as you seem to like it Google =Barnhaven Primroses they sell seed and plants ,not suggesting you buy just to look at what is available.
B

What a wonderful collection of Primulas you have, Brian! WOW! is just sooo understated!

I haven't grown any in many years now - the only the commonest or garden ones. Nevertheless the last I did grow I liked a lot.

It occurred to me that I could buy some seeds & have them growing over the winter in the greenhouse on the allotment.I could then bring some home when they are flowering & enjoy them close up on our balcony!