Content
Aster, a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae or Compositae family, began to be grown in gardens as early as 1825. And then she was assigned to the genus Callistephus. If you also see the names - Chinese, garden aster or callistephus, you should understand that we are talking about the same plant.
Gardeners who have decided to take up cultivation for the first time are interested in the question of how and when to plant asters for seedlings. In this article we will try to cover in detail the main nuances of growing these garden flowers with seedlings, and also point out possible mistakes.
Short description
Varieties of garden aster were bred on the basis of a wild relative that still grows today in China, Korea, Mongolia and some territories of Russia. These are annuals that bush well due to the growth of a large number of shoots.
The stems of wild asters are erect, green or reddish in color. The height of wild plants is about a meter. The flowers are small, in shape and color they are in many ways inferior to cultivated varieties.
Selected asters are distinguished by their multicolor, different colors and shape of the basket. There are only green and orange asters! Among the popular varieties there are simple, terry, and densely double baskets with a diameter of 3 to 17 cm.
The duration of flowering of asters depends on the type (annuals or perennials), as well as on the timing of cultivation until the first buds bloom. Varieties of early, medium and late flowering periods were bred. All this is directly related to the choice of timing for sowing asters for seedlings.
Choosing deadlines
At home, you can grow asters from seeds in all regions of Russia, taking into account climatic conditions. If in the south you can get lushly flowering representatives of the Asteraceae family by direct sowing of seeds in the ground, then in a more severe climate only through seedlings. That is why flower growers are interested in when it is necessary to start planting.
So, when are aster seeds sown for seedlings? No specialist will give a definite answer, since the timing will depend on many factors:
- Climate. In the southern regions, asters are sown in May, because it is warm there even in October. The plants have time to grow and have enough time to flower. In regions with a sharply continental climate, seed sowing should be started in the last ten days of March or early April.
- Flowering time. The second point that should not be missed when deciding on the timing of sowing the seeds of this crop is when flowering plants are needed. If asters are grown for cutting in summer or autumn or simply to decorate the garden, then the choice of timing will be different.
- Features of the variety at the beginning of flowering. When choosing seeds for garden asters, you need to pay attention to how long after sowing they produce the first buds. There are early varieties in which flowering begins after 80-90 days. In mid-early asters, buds appear after 110 days. And varieties of late flowering periods begin to delight with multicolor only after 120-130 days.
- How to create ever-blooming flower beds of asters. Taking into account the characteristics of flowering, you can get flowerbeds of stars blooming all summer and autumn. To do this, aster seeds, even of the same flowering period, can be sown for seedlings at different times.
The dates for the beginning of flowering and the approximate time for sowing seeds for seedlings are indicated on the packages. To get healthy plants that can decorate your garden, you need to sow aster seeds in a timely manner so that the plants have enough time to survive the warm season.
Many gardeners, when choosing the timing of sowing flower seeds, are guided by moon calendar. In 2018, seeds of annual flowers, including asters, are recommended to be planted on such days (see table):
| Days | March | April |
| Favorable | 13-15, 21-26 | 7-10, 19-25 |
| Unfavorable | 1, 2, 3, 16, 17, 18, 30 and 31 | 15, 16, 17, 29 and 30 |
Growing seedlings
After the gardener has decided on the varieties of aster and the timing of sowing the seeds, he needs to think about where the seedlings will be grown. As a rule, containers are placed on the windowsill in the apartment. If you have a heated greenhouse, seedlings can be placed in it. Now let's talk about how to properly sow aster for seedlings.
Tara
Aster seeds are sown in boxes or containers made of wood or plastic. The height of the sides should be at least 5-6 cm so that the root system does not experience discomfort. Containers must be doused with boiling water before use if they have been in use for more than a year.New vessels can be washed with hot water and laundry soap. Soap is an excellent option for disinfection.
Priming
To grow annual asters, you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture for growing seedlings. This soil includes all the necessary microelements for the successful development of plants.
You can use your own prepared soil. You will need ordinary garden soil, peat, compost or humus and sand; they are mixed in proportions of 3-1-0.5. Be sure to add wood ash, which is necessary as a prophylactic against blackleg. In addition, this is an excellent top dressing, since wood ash contains many microelements.
The mixed soil must be disinfected. There are three methods of disinfection, and the store-bought mixture is also treated against fungal diseases:
- Pour the soil into a metal container and heat it in the oven at 100 degrees for 1, 1.5 hours.
- Prepare boiling water, add potassium permanganate to it (the color should be dark cherry) and pour the solution onto the soil.
- Dissolve Fitosporin according to the instructions and treat the soil.
Before sowing, the soil is poured into containers in an even layer and lightly compacted. This is necessary so that the seeds do not penetrate deep into the containers and the germination time does not increase.
Seed preparation
To get high-quality aster seedlings, you need to take care of the seeds. It is best to take seed with a shelf life of no more than one year. Usually sowing is done with dry seeds.
You can activate the germination of old seeds by soaking.Wrap the seed material in gauze and moisten it with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. To prevent them from drying out, they are sprayed with a spray bottle.
Every other day, along with gauze, aster seeds are placed in a plastic bag and kept indoors at a temperature of +22 degrees. As soon as tender white roots appear, the seeds are carefully placed in seedling containers.
Since aster often suffers from blackleg, the seeds must be disinfected in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, then dried until they flow.
Sowing stages:
- Make grooves in the soil to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm and place the seeds in them.
- Sprinkle soil on top, then moisten the surface with a spray bottle so as not to wash out the seed.
- Boxes or containers are covered with film to create a greenhouse effect.
- The containers are placed in a well-lit window, and the room temperature is maintained at no higher than 18 degrees. The boxes are covered tightly with film.
Until the seeds hatch, the film needs to be lifted from time to time for ventilation and monitor the condition of the soil. As a rule, shoots appear on the 9th day. If the seeds were soaked and germinated, then two days earlier.
Further care of the seedlings consists of timely watering and providing the plants with good lighting. If there is not enough light, you will have to connect lamps. Sometimes the seedlings stretch out. This mistake can be corrected: calcinate river sand and sprinkle it into boxes in a layer of 2-3 cm. Asters have the ability to grow roots on the stem below.
Picking
You can grow aster seedlings at home with or without picking if the seeds are planted in peat pots or tablets. If you use common containers, you will have to transplant the seedlings into separate cups or containers with higher sides at a distance of at least five centimeters.
Seedlings ready for picking must have at least two leaves. Before transplanting, water the soil so that the roots are not damaged when removing the seedlings. In addition, the plants have very fragile stems at the base, so you need to work with extreme caution.
Pre-prepared fertile soil, the same as that used for sowing seeds, is poured into the cups and moistened well. Make a depression in the center of the container and carefully insert the root into it, then squeeze the soil. The seedlings are buried down to the cotyledon leaves. Then the seedlings are watered.
The first time after transplanting, the seedlings are watered two days later to give them the opportunity to take root. In the future, you need to monitor the top layer of soil so that it does not dry out. You can fertilize the plants only after two weeks, when it becomes noticeable that the plants have begun to grow.
Asters from seeds for seedlings:
Growing asters in the ground
To plant asters, you need to choose an open sunny space or a place with openwork shade. The fact is that in dense shade these garden flowers feel discomfort, which negatively affects their appearance. Plants grow one-sided, and their color fades. That is why asters of any type and variety are not recommended to be planted under trees.
Soil Features
Flowerbeds and rockeries are prepared in the fall.Fertilizers (mineral or organic) are added to the soil so that spores of possible diseases and pest larvae freeze out over the winter. Asteraceae are lovers of light, breathable soil with normal acidity.
When choosing a place for planting seedlings of asters grown at home, you should remember that some garden crops cannot be predecessors, these are:
- gladioli and gillyflowers;
- cloves and tomatoes;
- potatoes and peppers.
A few days before planting the grown aster seedlings, the flower beds are dug up and watered again.
Transfer
If the seedlings grew in an apartment, then they must be hardened off. This will allow the seedlings to avoid severe stress from new conditions. In rural conditions, they simply take aster seedlings outside, gradually increasing the residence time. In the city they use balconies or loggias.
Plants are planted depending on the variety:
- low asters at a distance of 15 cm;
- tall varieties need more space for full development - at least 30 cm;
- When growing in layers, tall varieties of asters end up in the background, while low-growing varieties appear in the foreground.
Work is carried out when the threat of return frosts disappears. If transplanted earlier, shelter will be required at night. It is better to plant in the evening so that the flowers have time to adapt overnight. Water the seedlings carefully so as not to soak the leaves.
Further care
The next watering of seedlings is carried out only after the top layer of soil has dried. If it rains, the asters are not watered at all; they have enough moisture.In dry summers, irrigation is necessary, but moderate, because these plants tolerate drought better than heavy soil moisture. Stagnant water causes problems with the root system and fungal diseases.
Weeds growing in flower beds must be destroyed because they harbor pests and disease spores. Equally important for growing healthy asters is feeding in the soil. A universal fertilizer for flowers or organic fertilizer is quite suitable. Asters are fed once every 30 days.
During flowering, the bush continues to form. Be sure to cut off faded buds so that they do not spoil the appearance and do not delay the development of the remaining baskets.
If you decide to collect your own seeds, then choose plants that fully comply with the description and characteristics, and leave 1-2 baskets on them until they are fully ripe.
The next type of work is disease prevention and pest control. For treatment, special fungicides or folk remedies are used.
Summary
Growing aster is a fascinating business. In fact, there is nothing complicated if you listen to advice and follow agrotechnical standards. A beautiful plot with lushly blooming garden plants is a real reward for the gardener’s diligence and patience.
Summer is coming again, so we wish you successful plantings and interesting design finds!
