Kitchen Garden Forum

I have wild primroses naturalising in a small wooded area, they are forming quite substantial clumps, can I split these to get more plants, & when is the best time of year ?

Primroses split very easily. It's best done when they finish flowering, so any time soon would be good. Unless you can plant the split plants into very suitable soil (that is, friable loam with leafmould), I would pot them up in commercial multi-purpose potting compost, keep an eye on them over the summer, water them and keep them slightly shaded, and then plant them out in autumn.

Gloworm

You can certainly split them and replant any time after flowering.

Hi Gloworm,
Primroses can be propagated by division in March and July. This advice goes for most of the Primula family.
JB.

Thankyou.

Hi Gloworm,
What I forgot to mention previously was that Primroses and Cowslips can be divided when they are in flower although you probably do not want to spoil them then.
Commercially they are split around now to give them a good growing season for sale next season. This is simply that they have not sold for this season so it is a case of splitting them as they would not sell next season because they would be too large for people to plant out. When you decide to split the plants remove all the soil with a water jet and trim the roots down to about a hands width and you can then see quite clearly where the divisions are to be made. Do not tear apart but use a very sharp knife. A craft knife is ideal with a slim blade. If you try to tear them apart they very seldom break away where you want them to and this leads to wasted plants.
JB.