Primula-February to April 2008

[Lvandelft]

I'm a bit worried though, the foliage is a very light green and much lighter than I remember it last year

David, I'm more thinking of the 'N' word.
There might be some lack of nutrients (iron or even sulphate).
Otherwise the yellowing of leaves could be caused by an excess of lime.
Having less light this winter would mean watering less and your soil mix
will be the same as always I presume. Normally by watering you will wash
out the excess of lime.
Winters like this year are very difficult for alpines under glass.
It is difficult to explain, but it's mostly the combination of shortage of one thing and
an excess of something else.
Regarding using of nutrients for most alpines comparing with N.P.K., I would
mostly go for low N. middle P. and higher K.
I hope this is a bit helpfull to you. You do have a very nice collection!
Good luck.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Sounds like a very good theory Luit quite enlightening - not only to David !
Thank you !

[David Nicholson]

Luit, you may well have hit the proverbial nail on the head. Last year when I re-potted my Auriculas I had just manged to obtain a supply of Dolomite Lime, after searching for it for a couple of years, and some of it went into each bucket of my compost mix. Perhaps I overdid it. Tomorrow I shall inspect all my Auriculas and see if others have very light green leaves. Thanks for your help.

[Maggi Young]

Luit, you may well have hit the proverbial nail on the head

David, Luit has not been nicknamed the "Dutch Master" for nothing, you know! .....often a clue

[David Nicholson]

are you sure that you have a true P. carniolica?

Just checked John Richards (Primula) and my plant does not quite fit the description, the flower should be pink with a ring of meal and pale green  hooded leaves and a 25cm flower stem.
Should have checked it before I posted. It is the Alzheimers again I suppose.

Michael, I had a quick look at my, pretty poor-only one flower, Primula carniolica earlier this evening and I can't remember seeing a ring of meal. I will try to get a picture tomorrow to compare with your plant. I bought mine a couple of years ago from a specialist Primula nursery and I would expect it to be the real thing. I'm not sure what John Richards means by 'hooded leaves'?

[David Nicholson]

Luit, you may well have hit the proverbial nail on the head

David, Luit has not been nicknamed the "Dutch Master" for nothing, you know! .....often a clue

Had I Luit's experience and knowledge I would be a very happy man. When I have my lottery money Luit (see Eureka thread under Growing from Seed) I shall invite you over, full expenses paid, to act as my Advisor in Chief.

[Michael J Campbell]

David,John Richards does not have a pic but if you google it you will see some pics. I am confused ,but then that is not difficult to do.

[Maggi Young]

A  photo of a primula which is very widely known and grown and sometimes treated with a snobbish disdain for that reason, but I regard Primula denticulata as one of the very best garden primulas and when it is looking so neat and fresh, flowers opening even as the scape is emerging from the rosette of leaves like this, it is a real delight.

[Lesley Cox]

I absolutely agree Maggi. There are few better or more reliable plants for early to mid spring colour in a coolish place. The white form is especially nice and I even like the magenta shades if they're planted with something blue like hepaticas or Anemone nemorosa. Your deep blue is a stunner and I love the soft blues too.

[Lvandelft]

Luit, you may well have hit the proverbial nail on the head

David, Luit has not been nicknamed the "Dutch Master" for nothing, you know! .....often a clue

Had I Luit's experience and knowledge I would be a very happy man. When I have my lottery money Luit (see Eureka thread under Growing from Seed) I shall invite you over, full expenses paid, to act as my Advisor in Chief.

David I cannot wait! I really do hope your seeds will soon change into lots of money! 

David, Luit has not been nicknamed the "Dutch Master" for nothing, you know!  .....often a clue

Maggi, and ofcourse Luc and David, thanks for the flowers.

Dutch Master   

[David Nicholson]

A few from the greenhouse today:-

The first two are a Primula marginata I bought as a rooted offset three years ago and have grown it on and split it and now have two plants. When I bought it I was assured that it was taken from a species plant but it has never showed any meal on the leaves. Bit disappointing really because I would have liked to have put it in a Show with a view to giving it a name (provided it got a card!) but I am by no means certain whether it would go in the species class or the hybrid class. Any views?

The next three are a Blue Cowichan and a couple of a Yellow Cowichan grown from Barnhaven seed. Yes, I do grow them in the garden Lesley but I always like to pot a couple of plants for the greenhouse as well.

The next two are of a little allionii I bought last year as a rooted offset and is flowering for the first time Primula allionii Sapphire (maybe that's a hybrid as well?)

[David Nicholson]

The earliest of the Auriculas to flower are always the Alpines, here are some from the greenhouse today:-

The first two are of an Alpine Gold Centre seedling from home collected seed under my code 2.1 maybe I think it's better than it really is-I should put it to the test!

The next two are of an Alpine Light Centre Ian Greville. This is usually a prize winner (not in my hands I might add!) and has a lovely form.

The next two are of another of my seedlings, a Gold Centred Alpine under my code 09/04/10, again I think it has possibilities.

The last two are of another Alpine Gold Centre, Ancient Society, raised in 1991 by Ken Bowser as a Sirius X Snooty Fox 2 cross, and named in honour of The Ancient Society of York Florists, said to be the world's oldest gardening club dating back to 1768.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great plants and pix David ! 
I particularly like the blue Cowichan - almost gentian blue 

[johanneshoeller]

The first alpine Primulas (grown from seed, true and hybrids)

[johanneshoeller]

P. marginata, hirsuta hybrid and clusiana