annual asters
Large, hairy and fluffy asters with one head on a long stem, which we are used to seeing in bouquets, are annual asters, they are also callistefuses. This noble and beautiful flower appreciated by gardeners all over the world.Landing asters
Preparing the soil for the future planting of asters should be done in the fall. Large flowers will be obtained if the aster grows in soil that is well fertilized and moistened. Digging up the site, be sure to add humus to the soil. An annual aster is usually grown using seeds, seedlings or seedlings.
Seedling
For seedlings, seeds must be sown in the last decade of March.- in the first days of April, in prepared boxes or directly into the soil of the greenhouse, into the grooves, then wrap the grooves, pour with a solution of light pink color of potassium permanganate and cover with paper or film. To prevent the disease of the "black leg", the seeds on the eve of sowing must be powdered with a fungicide and shed the soil with its solution. When shoots appear (3–5 days), paper is removed from the boxes and they are placed in a bright place.
As soon as the first true leaf appears, the seedlings need to dive at a distance of no more than 5–7 cm from each other into small pots or a larger box, or even into the soil of the greenhouse, asters seedlings are not afraid of transplanting.
Asters seedlings can be planted in open ground already in the middle of May, since the plant is cold-resistant - it is not afraid of frosts down to -3-4 ° С. It is necessary to plant seedlings in a permanent place on a bright, level place in order to prevent stagnation of water during irrigation or rain.
Seedlings ready for planting in the garden should have well-developed roots and the height of the aerial part should be at least 10 cm. It is best to plant plants in open ground in the evening, in grooves filled with water, at a distance of at least twenty to thirty centimeters from each other, taking into account the splendor and height of the variety. Leave the distance between the grooves up to half a meter.
A week or two after planting asters, you can start feeding with complex fertilizer, repeating feeding in a month. If the weather is dry, moderate watering is required. Lungs sandy soils require constant watering. At the same time, asters seedlings must be treated against possible diseases.
Sowing in the ground
Seeds are sown in the ground in early spring, into small grooves, shallowly falling asleep with soil, watered abundantly and covered with a film until germination. Aster seeds can also be sown for the winter (in frozen soil, in pre-dug grooves).
After the appearance of the third true leaflet, the strengthened seedlings are thinned out at a distance of ten to fifteen centimeters between them. Try not to tear extra bushes, but carefully dig them out and transfer them for planting to another bed.
Asters Care
Compared to other flowers in the flower beds, caring for asters is not difficult. If the soil was well fertilized, then during the growing season it will only be necessary to water and weed the beds in a timely manner.
If you can feed the asters at least once or twice, it will be more than enough, and the asters will give you large flowers on powerful stems.
perennial asters
Cultivation and carePerennial asters are grown in places that are open sunbeams(can be grown in partial shade), well hydrated (but not wet). In damp areas, the plant is prone to disease. In one place it can grow up to 6 years. The rhizomes grow quite quickly. Perennial care is easy. Requires loosening the soil layer, trying not to affect root system, and treatment with drugs for diseases of gray rot and powdery mildew.
reproduction
Transplantation and reproduction of perennial asters should be done in the spring. The plant is propagated by green cuttings. In spring or summer, young shoots appear on the stems of the plant, which can be used for propagation. They easily take root, quickly take root and grow, the bushes are quite strong. In addition to green cuttings, it is possible to propagate perennial asters (octobrins) by dividing the rhizome. Of course, there is a method of propagation by seeds, but it is difficult and unproductive.
Perennial asters are good to use in gravel gardens, in rose gardens. They go well with stonecrop, violets, bergenia, geraniums and other flower crops.
Types of asters
All types annual asters are divided into three large classes, depending on the shape of the petals: reed, tubular and transitional.In turn, in all these classes there are varieties cut- which are cut for bouquets, with long stems and lush flowers, casing- long-flowering, with many inflorescences, universal, which can be cut into a bouquet, and planted and planted to decorate the garden potted, compact.
tubular asters
This type of asters has petals in the form of thin tubes. Cut varieties are pinnate and tubular, and casing midget can be grown both in a pot and in the garden. 
transitional asters
This class has inflorescences with tubular and reed flowers. Here are the types of asters: simple, semi-double and coronal.
At simple asters the middle of the flat basket consists of small yellow tubes and is framed by several rows of straight reed petals. Varieties: Sonnenschein and Margarita - cut, Edelweiss, Sonnenkugel, Waldersee, Apollo - casing.
Semi-double flowers more voluminous, bristling with reed petals to the sides and up, but the core is still clearly visible. 6 varieties: Anemone and Madeleine - cut, Mignon, Anmut, Rosette and Victoria Baum - casing.
Crown asters lush and similar to pom-poms, the core is barely visible. Grades: for cutting - Princess, Fantasia, Laplata, Aurora, for planting - Pompom, Ambria, universal Princess bouquet.
reed asters
In reed asters, the cores with small yellow tubes are not visible at all. The flower is lush, hairy, spherical.
curly asters- elegant ribbon, wide reed flowers, slightly curled at the ends. Market Queen, Hohenzollern, California Giant and Ostrich Feather - for cutting, Early Miracle, Chrysanthemum and Comet - universal.
petals ray asters narrow, in the form of a tongue, twisted along the length, but do not grow together. Radio, Artistic, Unicum and Corallen are cut varieties.
tongues at needle asters look like needles, thin and twisted in length. Riviera, Krallen, Valkyrie are universal varieties.
Reed asters also include imbricate, hemispherical and spherical varieties. 
Among the species perennial asters Alpine, Italian, shrubby, New England, or American, and New Belgian, or Virginian aster are distinguished.
Astra New Belgian, or Virginia- a bush with shoots from a meter to one and a half high. The bush is not durable, many varieties "fall apart", lose their appearance in flower beds. New Belgian aster begins to bloom at the end of August. Many of the varieties bloom before the snow falls.
Astra New England or American reaches a height of 160 cm. It grows in slender, even, almost columnar bushes that do not require any support. Large semi-double inflorescences, various colors: from white, pink, lilac to purple, and the middle is yellow or reddish-brown. These asters begin flowering in the first decade of September. Blooms until frost.
Related Articles
seedling method
Asters are sown even before winter. Marigolds can be later - they still won’t sprout until the earth warms up.seedless way
In open ground, asters can be sown in April. Some gardeners sow asters before winter, but such flowers do not bloom luxuriantly.KakProsto.ru
Asters: landing and care
I plan to sow at home in a box in the first half of March, then dive several times .... They turn out good ... Asters are perennial and annual plants of the Asteraceae family. Adult plants in height can reach from 20 to 200 cm (depending on the variety). The leaves are simple, toothed. The stems are long, non-branching (for annuals) and branching (for perennials). Inflorescences are reed, tubular and transitional. There are a great many shades of aster, but the central petals are predominantly yellow. Plants are cold-resistant. Just do not forget that these stimulants are not top dressing, and it is still needed to form soil favorable for growth. After that, the selected piece of land is dug up, and then digging is done in the spring. In this case, it is necessary to add potassium salt and superphosphate. Asters begin to bloom, depending on the variety and method of cultivation, from late June to mid-August. Flowering continues until frost. When
Details: reckless These beautiful flowers are very popular due to their unpretentiousness and long abundant flowering. Annual asters are grown in two ways: seedling and, accordingly, seedless. Each of them has its pros and cons.
You can sow, they will sprout when the time comes. You can sow a petunia, the rain will pass, it will rise.
I plant open ground in May
Now it’s not necessary in the snow, there will still be return frosts, and they need warmth for germination. In 2011, I had such peony-shaped Seeds of annual asters are sown at the end of March in the soil of a greenhouse. The sprouted seedlings are planted in open ground in early May, the distance between seedlings should be at least 20-30 cm. The place for seedlings must be carefully prepared: it must be sufficiently moist and located in an open sunny place.
Of course, watering is an integral part of care. It must be regular so that the plant develops well, grows quickly and soon begins to please the eye with its flowers. You can sow seeds at a convenient time for the gardener: either in spring or autumn. The only thing to consider is the climatic conditions. In the Moscow region, you can do it in both seasons, but in the Urals it is better to do it in the spring so that very coldy did not kill the plant. By the way, I always sow asters in the spring months too. Many varieties of asters set seeds well in the conditions of central Russia. To save the variety you like, you need to wait until the petals on the inflorescence fade, and its center darkens and a white fluff begins to appear on it. Such inflorescences are torn off, put in paper bags and dried in a warm, dry place. On the package, you must write the name of the variety, or at least the color and shape of the inflorescence and the year the seeds were collected.
reckless
Master class on growing seedlings of asters
way. Sowing seeds for seedlings should begin from mid-March to early April. Prepare planting material, for this you need to soak it in advance in a growth stimulator. Dilute the drug according to the instructions. Spread the seeds on a marlechka, cover them with a cloth and pour the solution. Keep them for a day. Then dry. Prepare the substrate for planting seedlings. The simplest thing is to use ready-made universal soil, but you can make up the soil mixture yourself. To do this, take 2 parts of leaf humus, add 1 part of peat and a little sand or vermiculite to loosen the substrate. Pour soil into a plastic container. Level the surface, put the prepared asters seeds on it and sprinkle with a 0.5 cm layer of soil. Cover the container with foil and place in a warm sunny place. Expect the first shoots in 3-5 days. Wipe the film from this impromptu greenhouse daily, as condensation accumulates on it. Plant in open ground in a permanent place in mid-May. And after a couple of months, an aster planted in this way will delight you with lush flowering. When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, they will need to dive into separate cups. If somewhere in Krasnodar Territory, in the Kuban or in the Crimea, then probably. We are in the Moscow region only through seedlings. In open ground in mid-May, calendula or nasturtium and what May will be like.
Only when the threat of frost has passed.
I sowed asters yesterday. In the Urals, we need to sow early so that they bloom in August. I sow in the usual way, not on the snow. Today is a new moon, you do not need to sow, tomorrow you can if you adhere to the lunar calendar. I last year in moon calendar I didn’t look, everything still grew beautifully. Perennial asters are propagated by cuttings or division of the rhizome. To do this, you will need to cut off the green stems that have appeared in the spring and plant them in moist soil. If necessary, place the cutting in a container of water until the roots appear, and then plant it in the ground. Distance apart, as for annual plants when landing in the ground should be 20 cm. If everything necessary has been done for the soil in the fall, it is not necessary to add nutrients. But they never get in the way. Asters are recommended to be fed with mullein.
The sooner is better, because moist soil will guarantee excellent seedlings. After the seeds for seedlings are sown, it is advisable to cover the area with a film so that in case of frost the flowers do not die. It will need to be removed when shoots appear.
The only negative is that during storage, the seeds lose their germination rather quickly: after 1-2 years, from 90-95%, it decreases to 40-50.
In this way, seeds are sown in the ground in early spring, as soon as the soil is ready. Seeds are sown in shallow grooves, covered with a layer of soil 0.5-0.8 cm, watered well and in dry weather lightly mulched or covered with covering material until germination.
supersadovnik.ru
When to sow asters outdoors and how to prepare the soil
The place of these plants must be chosen bright, even, so that the water during irrigation and in rainy weather did not stagnate. It is desirable that asters and other crops suffering from Fusarium are not grown here for 3-4 years before this (
Ideal soil and planting time
It is less labor intensive than growing seedling way, therefore, many flower growers recommend growing asters in this way - planting plants immediately in open ground in a permanent place. This can be done both in spring and autumn. For autumn sowing, prepare a place for asters in advance. Dig up the flower bed, remove the rhizomes of weeds and apply complex mineral fertilizer and humus. Start sowing aster seeds from early October until frost. Make grooves, lay out planting material in them, and sprinkle with humus on top. In the spring, when the asters begin to grow and the first true leaf appears, thin out the seedlings. Seedling care consists of watering, weeding and loosening. Similarly, you can plant asters in the spring. Prepare the soil and sow the seeds pre-soaked in the growth stimulator. Then water the furrows, cover the plantings with non-woven covering material and wait for seedlings. Flowering of asters planted directly in open ground in spring will begin in early to mid-September. If you want gorgeous asters on your site to bloom from mid-summer to late autumn, plant them in seedlings and seedless ways.
I have knee-deep snow there. At night it was minus 14. On Sunday, I sowed asters in bowls - yesterday they were already standing like soldiers. And I'll sow the marigolds later. They will stretch until the end of May.
This is interesting in which region? It's snowing with might and main today.
So: firstly, you need to sow asters in mid-March.
How to sow asters for seedlings?
It is enough to loosen, weed, moderately moisten and fertilize the soil. Astra does not tolerate excessive moisture. It is also equally important to regulate the growth of shoots in tall varieties.
If this is not possible, you can always buy top dressing from mineral fertilizers, as well as ammonium nitrate or urea. Complex options will also be harmless, because they already have everything you need for a plant.
It is necessary to transplant when the sprouts are completely ready for this. The main thing is the level of their development. You should not move to the beds if they are still fragile, only with a couple of first leaves. Let more time pass. Asters should rise about ten centimeters above the ground.
Care for bright beauties
Greetings, my readers! Diverse, bright, fragrant, incredibly colorful and picky - these are asters. Probably even a child will be able to distinguish them from any other colors.
Well-developed seedlings in the phase of 2-3 true leaves are thinned out to a distance of 10-15 cm. It is better not to pull out the extra seedlings, but carefully dig them out and transplant them to another place.
potatoes, tomatoes
seedling
Of course, the main reasons for the popularity of the annual aster are beauty and diversity. Unpretentiousness also plays an important role.
It snowed here, I sow everything in the middle of April into the ground, but then I plant it anyway, even if not big frosts return, they still sprout well and the seedlings turn out to be hardened, CHELYAB REGION
Looking where???? The asters are early, but the marigolds probably can be, they sprout from me every year.
You need to sow on the snow like this: collect the earth in a jar and put snow on top, compacting it well. Seeds are laid on the snow, covered with a film and put in the refrigerator for 3 days. Then they transfer it to the window, do not remove the film until the seedlings appear - only occasionally airing it.
sait-pro-dachu.ru
Powdery mildew, rust, black leg - these diseases can threaten the aster when the soil is waterlogged and poor ventilation. The pests that affect these plants are mainly aphids and spider mites.
General information
Care includes loosening the soil and removing weeds. Loosening is desirable to produce every time after watering. This process eliminates the need to fight grass. If you correctly follow all these simple recommendations, then in the fall, asters in the flowerbed will surely delight us with their multicolor.
Landing asters
Prepared furrows are filled with water. It is desirable to make the distance between them at least half a meter.
They do not need special care and long-term nursing in greenhouse conditions, they just bloom and delight the eye of the hostess. And another important plus is the ability to sow these flowers immediately in the garden without growing seedlings. And when to sow asters in open ground, you can find out from this article!
Aster care
Seeds
Aster diseases
, Lefties).
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When to sow asters in open ground?
Lelya Casanova
In the method of growing, the seeds are sown in late March - early April in boxes or directly in the soil of the greenhouse - in the grooves, sprinkling the seeds with earth (0.5 cm), watered with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate and covered with paper or film. So that the seedlings do not get sick with the "black leg", the seeds are dusted with a fungicide before sowing, and the soil is shed with its solution. After 3-5 days, when shoots appear, remove the paper from the boxes and put them in a bright place so that the seedlings do not stretch.
Maria
Grow an annual aster
Smile Dog
If there are no more frosts, then marigolds are also possible. . they can not withstand even a slight sub-zero temperature. . asters, on the contrary, withstand .. they can be sown even before winter
Svetlana
Now it's snowing outside the window...
Olya
There are instructions on the back of the bags.
Nastya Nastya Nastya
In April under film. It is possible on the snow at home so that the seeds are drawn into the ground. Asters at home sowing do not like deepening into the soil.
Share the article with your friends, even if they have a beautiful multi-colored carpet of these beautiful flowers in their dachas. And by subscribing to my blog, you will read all the new useful articles in time.
Olga
Valentina Barzakovskaya
Initially, you need to choose a place - it should be sunny, as these flowers love light and warmth. The soil is nutritious and drainable. It's great if marigolds used to grow in this place.
Elena the Wise
asters
Anna K
Humus or compost is added to the soil (but not fresh manure, it contributes to the defeat of plants by fusarium), complex or phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (40-60 g of nitrophoska or 60-80 g of superphosphate and 30-40 g of potash fertilizers) and wood ash ( 100-150 g) per square meter area. But if the soils are well cultivated, rich in nutrients, then fertilizers can be dispensed with. Before planting, seedlings are watered abundantly, especially if they were grown without pots.
Asters and marigolds can already be sown in open ground?
Elvira Radina
When the first true leaf appears, the seedlings dive at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other into pots, a box or into the soil of a greenhouse, since aster seedlings tolerate transplanting well even with an open root system. If the hypocotyl knee of the seedlings is very extended, then when picking, they can be deepened almost to the cotyledon leaves.
Nadezhda Kuznetsova
seedling
Olechk @ Shock)))
If the ground is warm, plant.
Pontelemon Bovin
Lucky... Our snow has not started to melt. Frost -10 .
Vera Tregubova
Yes, to the snow, especially if you live in the northern regions. Sorry, funny question. Live a century, learn a century
Natalya Zakharova
In general, asters are very fond of transplantation. The more you transplant, the more luxurious.
Lelya Casanova
Asters (lat. Callistephus) are one of the favorite flowers of many summer residents. Asters are annual and perennial. Here we will talk about annual asters. Annual asters are very diverse. Grow flowers of different colors and shapes; terry and non-terry. There are thousands of varieties of asters that differ in color, flower shape and bush size. These plants are used to decorate flower beds and flower beds. Undersized varieties used for landscaping borders. Cut asters are very good, they can stand in a vase for a long time. Flowering time starts from the end of July and continues until frost. Grow asters from seeds or seedlings. For seedlings, seeds are sown in March and kept indoors until May, in May they are planted in open ground. Plants can withstand even slight frosts around -3ºС. Faded inflorescences are recommended to be removed. Tall bushes are tied up.
kitty
Around this time, you can already give them a growth stimulant. Such a drug will help flowers develop faster. For example, it may be sodium humate.
LENA
Soil preparation should be done in the fall. First you need to add manure and compost to it. It will take about 4 kg per square meter.
Asters are probably the most popular flowers decorating flower beds, flower beds, garden beds, balconies and terraces in late autumn. The Asteraceae family includes 600 species of colorful annuals and perennials traditionally associated with autumn. They can bloom from spring until the first frost, and the scale of flowers, types of inflorescences allows you to create beautiful flower beds.
In this article you will find information about annual and perennial asters - planting, growing and caring in the open field, plant reproduction, pests and diseases, and other information that is of interest to lovers of this beautiful flower.
plant description
The name aster comes from the Greek word for "star" and refers to the star-shaped, multi-petalled shape of the flowers.
The inflorescence of asters is a real work of art. Around the disc-shaped center, inside the basket, are yellow or pink tubular flowers, which the townsfolk confuse with pistils and stamens. The flower basket itself is formed from the outer leaves, which have different colors - from white to classic purple, but never yellow.
The plant, depending on the species, reaches a height of 20-30 centimeters to 1.5 meters. Most asters are perennials, blooming year after year, except for Chinese varieties.
The following species are most common in our gardens:
- shrub asters (Aster dumosus) - thanks to the richness of dark green leaves, they perfectly fill the free space on the borders, bloom for a long time, the height is usually 20-60 cm;
- Astra Belgian, New Belgian - varieties of this species have dark green leaves, a large inflorescence with a yellow center, form underground stolons and grow strongly;
- aster new england - tall species, forms large bushes up to a meter high;
- alpine - undersized aster up to 40 cm high, flowers appear in June;
- aster heather ground cover;
- Chinese - there are undersized and tall varieties, the flower is terry.
Among the most common Chinese varieties, actually belonging to a separate type of plant, there are biennial and annual species, it is better to ask the seller directly for information on the durability of the variety.
The whole variety of species and varieties is described in detail in the article about.
Soil requirements, planting site
Shrub asters come from the prairie North America, they do not create problems when rooting even in poor soil. However, most species, especially the popular New England varieties that reach 120-150 cm in height, and New Belgian varieties that bloom from mid-August, are recommended to be planted in moderately moist soil, but never in permanently moist soil.
Necessary condition cultivation - uncompromisingly sunny position. In the shade, these beautiful flowers suffer greatly, which manifests itself:
- lack of flowering;
- the development of fungal infections.
Landing
Asters are successfully grown from seed. Sowing is carried out in February - in containers. Seedlings are kept in greenhouse conditions, some gardeners on the windowsill, ensuring proper substrate moisture.
You can plant asters with seeds in open ground, as a rule, this is done in May, when daytime temperatures become stable - 10-15 degrees, the likelihood of frost will disappear. It is desirable to add superphosphate to the soil before planting. The planting pattern depends on the variety. On average, you need to observe the distance between plants - 15-20 cm, you can sow the seeds more often, since not all will germinate, then you can thin out the crops.
The correct interval depends on the final size of the bushes:
- at first, the plants develop very slowly, but their final size does not allow increasing the planting density to more than 3-4 plants per square meter;
- for smaller shrub varieties, the planting pattern is 8-9 seedlings per 1 m².
Attention! When planting, you can not put compost directly under the roots, you need to place it at the bottom of the pit and sprinkle it with a layer of earth.
Care
Asters have some care features that you should learn about before deciding to grow this ornamental plant.
Garter and trim
Tall varieties require tying, it is important to tie on time. Shoots that have fallen to the ground are difficult to straighten, the whole plant loses its charm due to its irregular shape.
The formation of tall bushes is served by periodic pruning of the shoots - if you cut them in half in July, the stems will gain strength and look impressive.
Attention! Such pruning can delay flowering by 2-3 weeks!
When flowers appear (most varieties bloom between August and October), it is worth observing the plant, removing faded flower baskets in time - this will help the development of subsequent buds.
At the end of autumn, when the plant begins to slowly dry out, you need to immediately cut off all the shoots to the surface of the earth.
Watering
Although some varieties of asters are able to withstand moderate drought, they do much better in conditions of low but constant levels of humidity. Therefore, asters need to be watered regularly during the growing season, especially at the end of summer - lack of water at this time can significantly reduce the number of buds. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on weather conditions, gently directing the flow of water under the plant - to the root system.
Mulching the soil around plants provides additional support by limiting weed growth and keeping moisture in the ground.
Fertilizer and top dressing
Asters are rather "gluttonous" plants that need in large numbers nutrients. Their favorite medium is organic compost, which should be mixed into the soil before planting. In the spring and during the flowering period, it is necessary to mix the compost with the soil around the plant with a rake - this will pay off with the beauty of the flowers.
reproduction
Asters can reproduce in several ways:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- dividing the roots.
Root division
The easiest and most natural way is to separate the root ball. Sometimes this is the recommended procedure, because after a few years, plants growing at the same level thicken.
After digging up the plant in May-June, we carefully divide the roots into several parts, getting rid of the central old shoots. The remaining parts are seated in other places on the flower garden. Each new part must have at least 3 shoots.
cuttings
Alternative method- propagation of asters by cuttings, which are produced in the spring. The cuttings are cut, after the rooting of the shoots in the substrate, the young seedlings are moved to a permanent place.
Sowing seeds
Asters are also propagated from seeds. The question often arises when it is better to plant seed-propagated asters. Seeds are planted in containers in spring or summer (April to July). The grown seedlings should be planted in the soil in September.
The planting pattern depends on the species, variety. For example, in order for alpine asters to grow well and compact, they are planted at a distance of 30 × 30 cm.
Diseases and pests
Asters - perennials, which usually overwinter in the soil without problems. After cutting the shoots for the fall, you need to cover the root zone with an additional layer of compost soil or bark. Older plants are more likely to get sick and bloom less, so they need to be rejuvenated every 3 years by dividing the bush as described above.
powdery mildew
A much more serious problem is powdery mildew. This is a fungal infection that attacks asters quite often. The disease is manifested by the appearance of a white coating on the leaves, resembling flour, slightly soaked in water.
Particularly sensitive to powdery mildew varieties of the New Belgian species. Powdery mildew must be controlled using aerosol fungicides, such as Topaz.
fungal diseases
Fungal diseases affecting asters can be prevented by avoiding excessive watering and taking care not to wet the leaves during irrigation. The aforementioned separation of the root ball every few years is also a good preventive care.
Jaundice asters
The disease is manifested at the initial stage by yellowing of the leaf along the veins. Then the whole plant becomes yellow-green. Shoots weaken, leaves become thinner. The flowers become yellow-green, distorted.
The disease is caused by phytoplasmas. Reasons for the appearance:
- phytomlasma is transmitted mainly by insects;
- possible infection during reproduction along with vegetative material.
Phytoplasma cannot develop outside the host. If the plant dies, the phytoplasmas also die. Unfortunately no effective ways fight them if the infection has already taken root. Misdiagnosis causes unnecessary and unwarranted use of fungicides or bactericides in home gardens. Sick plants should be dug up and burned.
leaf curl
Wrinkled, curled leaves are a sign of this infection. viral disease leads to inhibition of the growth of asters. No drugs will help. Plants must be dug up and burned.
Fusarium (rot)
The disease attacks from the soil, it is in the soil that the source of the infection is contained. Asters turn brown, wither. One solution is to transplant the plant to another, healthy place, because contaminated soil can infect seedlings for several years. Fungicidal spraying is carried out not only on the plant, but also on the soil.
Aphid
Sometimes the aster is affected by aphids. Used for pest control soap solution, which must be sprayed 2-3 times a day until the insects recede.
Features of planting and care of various types
shrub asters
When grown, they have moderate requirements:
- they are easy to propagate - by dividing the root ball, preferably in the spring;
- grow rapidly after transplantation;
- in our conditions are characterized by complete frost resistance;
- for planting choose sunny, not very dry places;
- on fertile and well-cultivated soils will give exceptional flowering, you need to make an annual portion of compost or manure around the root ball of plants.
New Belgian and New England
Planting and caring for New Belgian and New England asters are slightly different:
- These varieties of asters are characterized large sizes. Some varieties in favorable conditions can grow up to 2 meters. Therefore, they are planted in the background. Small flowers with intensely colored flowers pair well with air grasses on large perennials.
- If it is difficult to distinguish which group a plant belongs to, you need to look at the shape of the root. New Belgian varieties spread rapidly using underground rhizomes. New English form compact roots, do not grow on their own to other parts of the flower bed, flower garden.
- Both species have many nutritional requirements - they bloom well only on fertile and well-groomed, sufficiently moist soils.
- Both species are planted only in sunny positions. In a semi-shady place, plants bloom late, not very plentifully.
- They are propagated like shrub varieties - by dividing the bush.
Alpine
- Plants prefer warm, sunny positions. They should not be planted in very shady areas, because the bushes will be unattractive, the leaves and stems will turn yellow.
- Alpine asters reproduce best vegetatively, but can be sown from seeds.
- Planting and caring for a perennial alpine aster is similar to other species. But it is worth paying special attention to the soil.
- Plant these perennials in fertile, permeable, alkaline soil.
- Proper soil pH plays a rather large role in growing this species. Therefore, too acidic soils must be limed before planting alpine aster. Liming should be carried out periodically to maintain the correct reaction of the soil.
- Alpine asters grow in nature on fairly light, sandy soils. If the soil in the garden is too heavy and wet, it should be lightened by adding sand or fine gravel. This will improve the structure of the soil, provide good drainage - excess water can lead to root rot.
Astra in landscape design
Garden asters are well presented in large clusters, preferably surrounded by tall plants, which additionally protect the stems from the wind. Smaller bushes, up to 20-40 cm high, can be planted on the edge of the rabatka, like a multi-colored strip separating from the lawn.
In compositions, asters are in perfect harmony with perennials that bloom at slightly different time intervals - you can plant tulips or daffodil bulbs between them, they will bloom during the period when the asters will only develop leaves.
- oriental poppy;
- fighter;
- stockrose;
- muzzle.
blooming late varieties look beautiful in the company of silver and gray ornamental grasses.
Astra - the most popular and easiest option flowering plant in the autumn decoration of the garden. It is a mistake to think that you cannot enjoy the charm of a flower earlier - alpine, low-lying species bloom at the turn of May-June! Quite early - in August, New Belgian species bloom, which, in addition to the typical shades, acquire intriguing colors - red and cherry. New England varieties look very impressive, including:
- red "Ruby";
- pink "BarsPink";
- delightful white variety Autumn Snow.
By mixing varieties of asters of different heights and colors in the flower garden, we get an easy-to-maintain, fabulous corner that can be enjoyed until the end of autumn.
In the second half of summer and early autumn, when typical summer flowers lose their splendor, the realm of asters begins in the gardens. Growing asters in the country is very simple. The plant is unpretentious, rarely gets sick, undemanding in care. The variety of cultivars is impressive, and the range of colors and shades of flowers obtained through the propagation process is extremely rich. The plant will decorate any flower garden with a lush, lush color.
Good afternoon friends!
Most summer residents are happy to grow unpretentious and surprisingly beautiful annual asters in flower beds, in flower beds and in front gardens. Lush and long flowering in late summer - early autumn pleases gardeners and decorates the local area.
Like every culture, the aster has its own rules of agricultural technology, the observance of which will allow you to enjoy blooming beauty every year without any problems. We'll talk about how to spend today.
Place for asters
The plant is very photophilous and does not grow well in shaded areas of the garden. In one area, it is contraindicated to grow an annual aster from year to year due to the accumulation of pathogens in the soil, for example, Fusarium. return aster to old flower bed followed only after 4 years.
Like most cultivated plants, asters love well-drained, fertile, fertilized and structured neutral soils. Soils with a slightly alkaline reaction are also suitable. Light loams and sandstones with acidity in the range are most suitable for them. If in your area clay soil, then it should be loosened by adding river sand, tyrsa,.
Soil preparation for asters
It is advisable to prepare a plot for a flower garden in the fall. To begin with, they dig the soil to a depth of a shovel bayonet with the simultaneous introduction of organic matter - compost (ripened) or mullein (necessarily rotted, since fresh manure of farm animals embedded under asters can provoke damage to flowers by fusarium).
Acidic lands need to be alkalized. To do this, in late autumn, on the basis that the incorporation of 400 grams of carbonic lime per sq. the meter increases the pH by 1.
Spring digging is carried out if the site was not prepared in the fall. At the same time, garden compost is added (1/2 bucket per square meter), superphosphate and potassium magnesia (10 g / square meter each). Instead of potash fertilizers, it is allowed to use wood ash (200-400 g / sq. Meter).
In other cases, the soil is loosened to a depth of 18 cm. Pre-sowing soil preparation is carried out a month after planting flowers in open ground. During this time, overwintered weed seeds germinate, which makes it possible to carry out high-quality weeding, loosening to a depth of about 6 cm and leveling the soil surface with a rake a day after planting.
We plant asters in open ground
Annual flowers are grown through seedlings for more early flowering
and receiving seed material. The plants also thrive excellently when planted from seed and directly into the ground, while they are less susceptible to the dangerous fusariosis and are characterized by a longer period of late flowering. Most summer residents practice sowing asters directly into the ground.
Seeds germinate well in warm soil. As a rule, in middle lane asters are sown in early - mid-May. The time of appearance of the first shoots is 3-3.5 weeks. The depth of sowing seeds in the grooves should be from 0.5 to 0.8 cm. The distance between the rows should be at least 15-20 cm.
The earth must first be abundantly moistened. Evenly distributed seeds are covered with a layer of fertile loose soil or sand, and in dry weather they mulch with a thin layer of humus or compost (1-2 cm) to save moisture or cover the flower bed with non-woven material until germination occurs.
When forming 2-3 true leaves on seedlings, plantings are thinned out, leaving a distance between plants of about 12-14 cm, taking into account the fact that some seedlings may fall out. It is not necessary to destroy extra flowers, they can be dived to another place, for example, in a front garden, along paths, in a combined flower bed.
Caring for flower beds with asters
To grow good asters in open ground, you need to know that this culture is quite demanding on moisture, but does not tolerate its excess. The lack of water in the soil during drought affects flowering - the inflorescences become smaller and become small-double. In the heat, asters plantings are shed rarely, but plentifully, at the rate of up to 25-30 liters per square meter. area meter.
Plants need frequent loosening to increase soil aeration. They are carried out after each watering or rainfall. The soil is loosened to a depth of 6 mm with simultaneous removal of weeds.
The hilling of plants is carried out before the beginning of branching of the bushes. This event enhances the development of the root system. The height of the earth during hilling is about 6-7 cm.
Top dressing asters increase the size of the inflorescences and the duration of flowering. Best of all, flowers respond to watering with a solution of mullein (1:10). It is also possible to fertilize flower beds with mineral compounds.
The first feeding is carried out after thinning. For each meter of planting, 20 g of urea (urea), 45-50 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride are used.
The second top dressing is done during the formation of buds to enhance the nutrition of inflorescences. Nitrogen compounds are not present in it; it is enough to enrich the soil with phosphorus (50 g of superphosphate) and potassium (10 g of potassium sulfate).
The third top dressing is advisable during the period of the beginning of flowering. The composition is made the same as the second time. Asters also respond well to watering with ash infusion.
By following the above recommendations, growing asters outdoors on your own suburban area or in the front garden near high-rise building It will not be difficult even for an inexperienced grower. Beautiful and colorful flowering to you! See you!