Starting From Seed

• Starting primroses from seed allows you to choose the variety you want to grow. Sow your seeds in a tray with a mixture of peat moss and sterile potting soil. Keep the soil mixture moist. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil, but do not bury them because the seeds need light to germinate. Cover the tray with a plastic lid or plastic wrap. Keep the seeds at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination, which can take three to six weeks. If you live in a hot climate, chill the tray and seeds in the refrigerator for two weeks before setting them in a southern window to sprout. The seeds can be transplanted when they have their third set of leaves.
  
  

Prepare the Flower Bed

• Before you plant your seedlings or the transplants from a nursery, prepare the garden bed for the primroses. Choose a location that is in partial to full shade, such as beneath a large tree or on the north side of your house. Thoroughly aerate your soil and mix in peat moss to at least a depth of 8 inches. Add a complete fertilizer with a 4-12-4 ratio. For the first few months, a cold frame or shade cloth set over the plants can help keep moisture in and will protect the tender primroses from the sun.
  
  

Planting Primroses

• Before planting your primroses, harden them off for two weeks. Set out the tray or pots for two to three hours in the morning or evening to gradually acclimate the plants to the outdoors. Begin decreasing the amount of water as well. Hardening off will help prevent the primroses from going into transplant shock when you put them in the ground.
  
  Dig holes that are about 3 inches deep and 2 inches wide and that are spaced 3 inches apart. Carefully and gently remove the plants from the tray or pots. Handle them by their root balls, never by the stem. Place the plants in the holes and fill them in with the soil. Pat the soil down around the plants. Using a gentle mist or spray setting on your hose, thoroughly water the primroses. Cover the bed around the plants with a layer of mulch. Water the plants every couple of days to keep the soil moist. Apply a liquid fertilizer every two or three weeks to stimulate growth.