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Candelabra Primroses growing conditions

BenDoverBenDover Posts: 488
in Plants
I have a packet of candelabra primroses seeds. They are called Woodside Mixed on the packet.  I am informed that they are unlikely to grow in my garden as my soil is medium to light sandy loam so tends to be more dry than wet or damp, and this is even when I've added organic material to help with the water retention.  Once the seeds have grown, I was hoping to plant them around the pond in between the ferns I currently have (which grow fine).  The packet of seeds doesn't say anything about the soil conditions or the need to be in constant damp soil.  Other than adding loads of well-rotted manure, anything I can do to make these a success?

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Reliably damp soil is what they need.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Any chance you could modify you pond edge to create a  proper boggy bit?
    They will not grow or thrive without damp feet. I have natural springs and boggy places and water retentive soil and they happily self seed in all the wet spots.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Must have damp soil.
    I love all the candelabra Primula
    This is Primula Harlow Carr...planted 5 plants originally.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • BenDoverBenDover Posts: 488
    OK, thanks for comments all.  So basically, I need to somehow ensure my soil stays damp most of the time.  Thinking cap on!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    This type of primrose grows best from seeds that are still green,  if you know anyone with plants that can give you seeds now, just take them out of the casings, lay on top of damp compost,  press in,  don’t cover, and away they go. 
    Around the pond is fine, mine grow in the margins, on the first shelf. 

    Once you’ve got them you can take the little new growths off and replant or just leave the plants to get bigger. 

    Ive got some seeds if anyone wants them.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We also grow them with their toes in the water at the pond edge. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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