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How to grow Primroses in the UK

Soft yellow flowers - one of the first signs of spring.

• DifficultyEasy peasy
• WhereBeds or Pots
• Sunpart shade or shade
• Grows to15cm
• Spacing20cm
• Time to first pickabout 10 weeks
• Typeperennial

When to sow, plant and harvest primroses

Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.

Planting it

1. Water your new plants in their pots first
2. Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
3. Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
4. Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
5. Space the plants about 20cm apart each way

Top tips for growing primroses

• Split big clumps after flowering to make more plants for free.

Soil and feeding

Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.

Harvesting and eating primroses

Enjoy them in spring - early bees need them.

Saving your own primroses seed

Autumn or early spring.

1. Dig up a big clump
2. Pull or cut it into two or three pieces, each with roots and shoots
3. Replant them - more plants for free, and the old one grows better too

Where to buy primroses plants

Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon

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Primroses questions

When do I plant out primroses?

Plant primroses out from early September to mid November or mid February to mid April.

When can I enjoy primroses?

Primroses is ready from mid February to mid May. Enjoy them in spring - early bees need them.

How long do primroses take to grow?

Roughly 10 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.

Are primroses easy to grow?

Primroses are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.