The evening primrose (Oenothera) is a versatile flowering perennial for colorful perennial beds and borders. The cheerful blossoms also adorn perennial meadows that are planted in a natural way, as well as sunny gravel and rock gardens. The propagation of the popular summer flower by sowing purchased or self-collected seeds.

The evening primrose can be sown directly into the bed in early summer

The right time

When the right time for sowing has come depends on the species. Direct sowing in the garden bed usually takes place between June and August, although the young plants can also be grown on the home windowsill from March. If you already have evening primroses in your garden and don't want to sow new ones in a different location, you can simply let the plants sow them yourself and save a bit of work.

Flowers only in the second year

Regardless of whether you prefer the young plants or sow them directly in the garden, the evening primrose will only bloom in its second year. In the first year, only a low rosette of leaves develops, the actual growth in height and thus the flowering does not take place until the following year.

Preculture and direct sowing

For a pre-culture, place the seeds in pots with potting soil from March and keep them slightly moist at all times. The young plants that have grown from this can be transplanted outdoors or into pots from around the middle to the end of May. Direct sowing is carried out as described:

  • in a sunny spot with rather lean, well-drained soil.
  • Dig the bed thoroughly and thin it out with some sand if necessary.
  • Rake the soil so that any coarser chunks of soil are finely crumbled.
  • Sow the seed in furrows about two centimeters deep.
  • Cover the seeds loosely with fine soil.
  • Always keep the seed surface slightly moist.

The later young plants should be separated at a distance of about 25 centimeters.

Overwintering evening primroses

Since evening primroses are generally considered to be very hardy, the young plants can be safely left outside. Make sure, however, that you do not plant the perennials in locations that are damp in winter - winter moisture is very difficult for evening primroses to tolerate. A vigorous cut in autumn or towards the end of winter encourages early flowering.

tips

There is a whole range of modern hybrid varieties (including "African Sun", "Camel" or "Firework") that cannot be propagated by sowing alone. However, in this case, propagation by semi-ripe cuttings in early summer is possible.

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