It's hard to imagine the end of summer and the beginning of autumn without the aster-strewn bushes. They can also be cut into bouquets and decorate your home. To get these flowers, you need to know how and when to put them right, and what care they need. In this article, we will reveal to you the secrets of growing annual asters, which can be used for various species ( pomponoid , pion-shaped, needle-shaped, tubular).
Agrotechnics of growing asters from seeds
Despite the fact that a real aster is a perennial plant, its annual variety, Kallistefus Chinese , is most often grown, which is sown every year anew. It can be done by seedling or by a seedless method.
Growing asters through sprouts
For planting, you can use your seeds, only they will have to be treated with a fungicide. Purchased seed does not need it. For the sowing, boxes or a place in the greenhouse are prepared, where it will be necessary to make shallow trenches.
You can not plant asters on seedlings before the end of March, but you should not delay it either. Sown seeds should be sprinkled with a small layer of soil (5 mm) or sifted humus, pour a weak solution of potassium permanganate and cover with paper or film. When shoots will rise, so that they are not stretched much, a box with them must be placed in a bright place. Now they can be watered.
After the appearance of two real leaves, it is necessary to conduct a picking, if necessary, by deepening seedlings to cotyledons. In the future, they should be regularly watered and fed once a week with a complex mineral fertilizer.
Seedlings of asters on a permanent place are planted in mid-May. For it, you must prepare a level, well-illuminated and protected from the wind area. In autumn it should be dug up and organic fertilizers filled with sand. Before planting, the ground and seedlings must be watered, then make the holes at a distance of 20 cm and place the plants in them.
Cultivation of aster in a pure way
Sowing in the open ground can be carried out either in late autumn or in spring. The place for them should be chosen on the same principle as for planting seedlings.
Landing for the winter should be carried out already in the frozen ground, that is, in November. This will help to avoid the development of various diseases (for example: fusariosis). Then, after the appearance of shoots in the spring, they will need to be weeded out.
Spring planting is carried out after the soil warms up, and the temperature is set at + 15 ° C. It is easy enough to sow seeds on flowerbeds and lightly sprinkle with earth. After that, they should be covered (most often using polyethylene film for this) or wrap up. Until the shoots appear, it must lie constantly. Then it can be used only with frost. If the seeds were sown sparingly, then seedlings will not need to be thinned out. For a good growth aster is recommended that between planting was a distance of 10-12 cm.
Care for asters
To take care of asters is as simple as planting. It consists in the following:
- Watering. They need moderate watering to prevent waterlogging. Only in a period of severe drought, flowers require more moisture.
- Feeding. You should spend at least two additional fertilizing: two weeks after planting in the soil (complex fertilizer) and before flowering (without nitrogen).
- Prevention and control of diseases. Asters are often affected by fungal diseases. To save flowers, regular preventive spraying should be done and the bushes constantly inspected for signs of their presence.
As you can see, growing flowers such as asters is a fairly simple process, and your flower garden will noticeably change.