Divide and rule
■ Divide named primroses by teasing them apart with your fingers. You can replant and water the pieces in, or pot them up. Always check for vine weevil, which can be a problem.
■ Plants can be divided in early autumn, or straight after flowering. Trim back any over-large leaves before replanting.
■ Most single primroses set seeds abundantly, but the seedlings will almost certainly vary. You may wish to deadhead a choice form to prevent inferior offspring appearing.
■ Many primroses are grown in peat-based composts that dry out into a hard ball – which the plants hate. When planting, pull away as much of this peaty compost as you can.