Grow perfect primroses and polyanthus

The perfect colour for your gardens or pots at this time of year may just be double primroses and polyanthus.

 

Primroses

Primroses are low-growing flowers that bloom in the spring. Naturally growing wild in ditches and shaded stone walls, these flowers like very well drained soil. If you look at a primrose growing wild, you will see it's tilted to the side, almost growing at an angle. This allows rain to run off it in very wet conditions. It has survived in the wild this way for years, so obviously we need to copy these conditions to get the most from these plants.

Firstly, buy a good quality plant grown locally and you have no excuse! We grow the best quality primroses right here in our nursery in Dripsey. When planting, mix plenty of grit in with the soil, especially in the vicinity of the roots. Angle your plant so the excess rain runs off.

Feed with slow release food and if you want your flowers to continue through to late spring, feed with Maxicrop seaweed food. This is the most amazing food I have ever used and I've been using this for 30 years. It gets a healthy root system going and it maintains this health throughout its lifetime. Maxicrop may be a little more expensive than other foods but the differences in quality and results are poles apart.

Most people bury their plants too deep in the ground and also too deep in pots and containers. Keep your primroses raised over the ground. This prevents leaves getting diseased and rotting. If you have yellow or rotting leaves, remove them straight away. Again, just look at how primroses are growing in ditches.

Polyanthus

Polyanthus were a result of crossing primroses and cowslips. They have multiple large flowers on a long stem in a far wider range of colours than primroses, including reds, oranges, purples and pinks.

Polyanthus Stella is a fantastic hardy multiflora polyanthus will stand out in your garden. This Stella range has a darker foliage than other polyanthus and will flower throughout spring, growing 30cms in height these are also great to brighten up your containers.

These fully hardy, free flowering, scented plants are suitable for most gardens and will grow in full sun or partial shade. The flowers come in a range of subtle and vibrant shades, which will add lashings of colour from late winter to spring.

If you’re creating a new a garden border this year or wish to give your patio an uplift, why not email us images for advice on info@griffinsgardencentre.ie or bring photos to our design team at Griffins Garden Centre in Dripsey. Phone 021-7334286.