Content
Lovers of autumn flowers grow different varieties in their gardens. flowers, including asters. These are amazing plants that delight the eye with unusual colors and flower shapes. The peony aster is especially popular. The article will provide a description of the flower, features of cultivation and care.
Interesting Facts
The word aster is of Greek origin and is translated as “star”. And this is true, because in the fall these flowers in the flower beds resemble bright stars that have fallen from the sky. Since the flower has been grown since ancient times, there are many legends and beliefs associated with it.
According to one legend, a long time ago star dust fell to the ground, from which beautiful star flowers later grew. According to legend, at night, earthly asters talk with their heavenly relatives.
In Ancient Greece, star flowers were considered a talisman capable of bringing good luck. To receive the blessings of the gods, the Greeks began to plant flowers not only next to sacred buildings, but also in their courtyards.
Currently, there are a huge number of species and varieties of asters, attracting gardeners with a variety of color palettes and flower shapes.
Description
The peony-shaped aster, which is clearly visible in the photo, is distinguished by its decorative appearance and long flowering. When all the flowers have already been killed by the first frosts, flower beds with asters continue to delight with their many colors.
The color palette of peony asters is varied:
- white and pink;
- burgundy and purple;
- yellow and soft lilac.
Bush
The flower has a well-developed root system. Stems are sessile and erect. The bushes are of medium height, 40-70 cm depending on the variety. They branch weakly, so they retain the shape of a column. The flowering is long, the bright caps of the peony aster delight flower growers with their beauty from mid-summer until the end of September. In the southern regions, blooming asters can also be seen in October.
Flowers
Aster flowers have the shape of a peony. The inflorescence is a terry basket with reed petals directed towards the center, so the flower looks like a multi-colored ball. The external elements of peony-shaped asters are long and straight, all subsequent ones decrease not only in length, but also in width with each row. The middle of the flower is an attractive yellow color. The basket can have different diameters depending on the variety; the largest specimens reach 15 cm.
Aster varieties
There are many varieties of peony aster, for which we must thank the breeders. Experienced gardeners note that it is better for beginners to start with the most popular varieties that are less demanding in care:
- Tower;
- Lady;
- Duchess.
Features of reproduction
The peony aster blooms until frost, because it is not afraid of the cold. In the middle regions of Russia and the risky farming zone, it is best to plant grown seedlings in the ground. At this time, plants should be no higher than 6 cm with a well-developed root system.
Flower growers, especially those who are growing peony aster for the first time, are interested in when to sow asters, and what methods of reproduction to use. The choice of time for sowing seeds for seedlings will depend on the expected start of flowering. Seeds can be sown for seedlings in March, April, and in open ground in thawed soil at the end of April, beginning of May.
To grow lush asters, you need to know the flowering times:
- for early asters, 3 months from the moment of germination is enough;
- for flowers of average flowering time it will take 110 days;
- Late flowering varieties need to be sown 130 days in advance.
And now more about the different methods of propagating asters.
Rassadny
Fertile soil is used to sow aster seeds. You can prepare the composition yourself or purchase it in a store. When making your own soil, be sure to add wood ash and sand.
A week before planting, the soil is spilled with boiling water and potassium permanganate, because asters are very susceptible to blackleg disease. This period is necessary so that beneficial bacteria have time to start working in the soil.
Landing
Before planting, seeds of peony-shaped asters are treated in a pink solution of potassium permanganate and immediately sown in the prepared soil to a depth of one centimeter. Then they moisten the soil with a spray bottle so as not to wash out the seed, and cover it with glass or film. Seedling containers are placed on a well-lit window at a temperature no higher than 18 degrees.
If the aster seeds are fresh, seedlings begin to appear after 8-10 days.Caring for seedlings consists of moderate watering and, if necessary, additional lighting so that the seedlings do not stretch.
Picking
It is necessary to put drainage at the bottom of the cups, and on top the composition of the soil that was used for sowing the seeds. Asters are picked when two leaves appear on the seedlings. Transplantation must be done carefully, since the junction of the stem and the root is very fragile. Before diving, the soil is spilled and the seedlings are removed for replanting. In the first two days, asters need to be shaded and then provided with good lighting.
Caring for seedlings at home
Seedlings in separate containers are watered infrequently, but abundantly. Excess water will drain through the drain. Asters of any type do not tolerate very moist soil, as there is a risk of developing blackleg. But it is also undesirable to overdry the soil, as the seedlings will begin to lag in growth. After all, she will have to spend energy on restoring turgor.
If fertile soil was used when replanting peony asters, then the plants do not need fertilizing. But with depleted compositions, you can use biofertilizers or wood ash extract.
Stratification
The seeds of asters, including peony-shaped ones, germinate with difficulty even in the first year of collection. Germination can be accelerated using stratification.
The seeds are scattered on the prepared soil, and on top there is a thin one-centimeter layer of snow (photo below). Thanks to the temperature contrast, the seed hatches faster. First, the vessel is placed in the cold for 5-6 hours, then transferred to heat.The emerging seedlings are immediately transplanted into peat tablets or pots.
Planting asters for seedlings:
Direct sowing into the ground
Peony aster can be grown without seedlings. The plants turn out strong because the seeds are hardened before germination, and they easily tolerate light frosts. Seeds are sown in April, and already in May they can be planted in a permanent place.
This method of growing peony asters is possible in the southern regions of Russia. Plants are more resistant to disease, but they will bloom later than those planted as seedlings.
Growing in open ground
Plants grown from seedlings must be hardened off before planting so that they have time to adapt to new conditions. Asters are transplanted to a permanent location depending on the climate in May or early June.
Flowerbeds are filled with fertile, breathable soil. Drainage made of pebbles or special filler is laid down. This is a mandatory requirement, since asters die from stagnation of water. Immediately after planting, the plants are watered. The next time they moisten the soil is after 3 days, if there is no precipitation. Further care for flower beds with “stars” is simple:
- deletion weed;
- loosening and hilling;
- feeding;
- disease prevention.
As for feeding, you can use organic or mineral fertilizers, for example, Nitroammofoska or Agricol. Asters are fed twice: when transplanting, and then after another half month. This will be enough if the soil is nutritious.
Diseases and pests
“Stars”, which resemble peonies in shape, like many flowers, suffer from diseases. That is why, to preserve the decorative quality of asters, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatments of plants. To do this, you can use Bordeaux mixture and chlorine-containing preparations.
What do asters get sick with?
- If crop rotation is incorrect, asters can suffer from Fusarium wilt. The disease can be noticed by the limp appearance of plants and the falling of petals. If a disease is noticed, the flowers must be removed and burned.
- Powdery mildew occurs from improper watering, insufficiently fertile soil, or when plantings are thickened. The manifestation of the disease is noticeable by a gray-white coating that appears on the stem and leaves. For the fight, the drugs Topaz and Sulfamide are used.
- Asters suffer from fungal diseases. Features of manifestation are dark ring-shaped spots on the leaves. Damaged parts of the plant are removed and burned. After this, the plantings are sprayed with Fundazol or Polynom.
- With jaundice, yellow spots form on flowers. Unfortunately, the disease cannot be treated; affected plants must be destroyed. Otherwise, you may lose all the colors.
- To prevent flowers from being affected by gray rot, at the beginning of budding it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment with copper-containing preparations. The cause of the appearance of a gray-white coating on plants can be excess moisture and nitrogen. The disease can be treated; the main thing is to promptly remove the damaged parts of the asters and treat them.
Pests
When growing peony asters, one should not forget that it has its own enemies, with whom it is necessary to wage a constant struggle:
- Leaf and root-knot nematodes. These are tiny pests that suck the juices out of the plant.You can spot enemies by brown spots on the leaf blades between the veins. If the damage is minor, then only the leaves are removed. In case of massive damage, the entire plant is removed.
- Garden slugs. You can get rid of these pests by mulching the soil or placing baits.
- Slobbery pennies. The appearance of an enemy of the peony aster can be seen by formations similar to thickly whipped foam on different parts of the plant. To get rid of it, just rinse the flowers under the pressure of a hose and spray with garlic infusion.
- Spider mite. This small insect appears in hot weather. To destroy, you can spray with infusion of onion peels or dandelion.
Conclusion
As you can see, asters, similar to peonies, are not difficult to grow if you follow the basics of agricultural technology. Then the flower beds in the garden will bloom luxuriantly all summer, attracting bees and colorful butterflies. Plantings with their multicolored colors will delight not only the owners, but will also surprise the guests.
