Subtleties of growing annual aster. Growing aster from seeds - from sowing to flowering! The asters did not rise

26.11.2019

Sowing time

The timing of sowing asters largely depends on growing conditions and climatic features region. To get more early flowering It is recommended to grow them through seedlings. Plants sown immediately in the ground or before winter will bloom much later.

Aster seeds very quickly lose their viability. Therefore, when purchasing them, you must pay attention to the expiration date and choose only the freshest seed material.

Beginning gardeners very often ask: how many asters sprout? If the seeds are fresh and of high quality, and the conditions are favorable, then the emergence of seedlings takes only a few days. In cases of a significant drop in temperature when sowing in the ground or insufficient humidity, the emergence of seedlings may be delayed up to 7-10 days. There is no point in waiting for sprouts to appear after this time.

Growing seedlings

Growing aster seedlings is not particularly difficult. With the seedling method, sowing is carried out in mid-March in light and sufficiently nutritious soil. For example, you can use peat soil to grow seedlings of flower and vegetable crops. Optimal temperature for germination of aster seeds +20°C.

After emergence of seedlings, it is reduced to 15-18°. This prevents the seedlings from being pulled out. Aster seedlings are not particularly demanding. It is enough to loosen and water young plants in time.

When sowing densely in the phase of 2-3 true leaves, you can pick them.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Inexperienced flower growers very often ask: when to plant asters in open ground and are they afraid of return frosts? Planting begins when warm, stable weather arrives. In most regions this time falls at the beginning of May. In colder and rainier weather, these dates may shift by a week or even two. In general, aster seedlings can safely tolerate frosts down to -3°, so after planting they do not require additional shelter.

To improve the survival rate of plants in open ground, they must be hardened off for a week before planting.

Now we have learned how and when to plant asters, now we just have to deal with subsequent care.

Outdoor care

Growing aster in open ground is not particularly difficult. Open, well-lit areas with well-drained soil are best suited for planting. Also, this crop grows and develops best when protected from cold northern winds.

Among the main care measures annual aster It is worth noting timely weeding, loosening the soil, etc. It is also worth knowing that when growing this crop, you should not overly thicken the plantings. This will lead to the occurrence of various fungal diseases.

Planting and caring for aster in open ground is impossible without fertilizing. Especially if the plants are grown for later cutting into bouquets. The plants are fed for the first time two weeks after planting the seedlings. For this purpose complex ones are used. The second feeding is carried out during the budding phase. For it, it is best to choose fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium. The asters are fed the third time after flowering begins.

Under no circumstances should fresh manure or other organic matter be used to feed asters. Their use may contribute to the appearance of fungal diseases.

Abundant and long flowering Asters are also promoted by regular removal of fading inflorescences. With systematic pruning, plants retain their decorative qualities until late autumn.

Landing annual aster and subsequent care for it in the open ground does not require any special skills and is available to anyone. The main thing is to give the plants due attention and provide appropriate care. And then they will definitely thank you with an abundance of large and bright inflorescences and a long flowering period.

Aster is a multi-species (over 400 species) herbaceous plant, belonging to the extensive Asteraceae family. Widely distributed, both in the wild (mainly in America) and cultural form. Cultivated varieties of aster were grown in China over a thousand years ago. And they began to cultivate it in Europe only in the seventeenth century, when the seeds were brought here by a monk from France named Nicolas Incarville.

In moderate climatic zone Only nine species of asters grow in open ground. It is worth noting that almost every species has dozens of different varieties. The aesthetic appeal and variety of plants have made the aster literally a favorite landscape designers and summer residents. Growing it in most cases is not difficult. However, there are cases of poor germination of this plant. This problem and ways to solve it will be discussed below.

Reasons for poor germination of asters

You may not be able to wait for asters to germinate due to a number of factors:

Poor seed quality. Aster seeds are not tolerated long-term storage, as they quickly lose their germination capacity. The year after collecting the seeds is optimal for planting them. If you skip this year, germination may decrease by about 70%.
Improper preparation of aster seeds. High content essential oils, inhibiting plant growth, and the dense seed shell require special seed preparation. To do this, you need to place the seeds in a canvas bag and lower it into a glass or other container with vodka for five minutes. Next, the seeds are removed from the bag and washed under running water from residual alcohol-containing liquids and released essential oils. The seeds are then germinated in water room temperature with a growth stimulant added to the water (can be purchased at almost any gardening store). Immediately before planting the seeds in the soil, they need to be washed again with running water to remove any remaining essential oils.
Excessive planting depth. It can be difficult for aster to break through the dense soil structure. In this regard, it is not recommended to plant it as seedlings at home or in a greenhouse to a depth greater than the length of the aster seed itself. If asters are immediately sown in open ground, the depth should be twice as large to reliably strengthen the root system in the soil. When planting in the ground, which can be done from the first ten days of May, it is important to remember the need to maintain optimal temperature regime. To do this, before the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to cover the place where the asters are sown. plastic film or analog material that allows you to achieve an increase and maintain temperature.
A small amount of seeds used for planting. Even fresh seeds may not germinate due to drying out, rotting or other local circumstances. Therefore, it is recommended to plant large quantity seeds with the prospect of subsequent thinning.

Astra – unique, unpretentious autumn plant, which amazes absolutely everyone without exception with its beauty. The flower got its name from the Greek word for “star”. Today there are about eight hundred varieties of these beauties. Terry varieties, having many petals, resembling a hemisphere, varieties with wavy, curved or straight petals, as well as a wide range of colors... This variety will help you choose ideal variety, which will decorate the flowerbed and will suit your taste.

When do the seeds germinate?

Many gardeners are interested in how many days it takes for asters to sprout. It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally, since much depends on the planting process itself. Average this process occurs in four to ten days. However, this is provided that fresh seeds were used, no older than two years old. Old seeds germinate in eight to fifteen days. Moreover, on the fifteenth day they sprout individually. If during this period they have not sprouted, it is recommended to replant the flower, since your efforts were in vain. Planting depth is also of great importance. Experts recommend deepening them into the ground no more than half a centimeter.

One should also take into account the fact that the larger the seeds, the better they germinate. The same seeds that were grown on your site have excellent immunity to fusarium diseases. To accelerate growth and enhance protection, it is recommended to soak them in a light solution of potassium permanganate before planting. As an alternative, formaldehyde can be used.

Why didn't the seeds sprout?

Seeds may not germinate due to many reasons. The most common mistakes that block their growth are:

Expired seed expiration date. When buying seeds, make sure that their expiration date has not yet passed. Remember that if stored incorrectly, it may shrink.
"Bad" seeds. When purchasing a bag of seeds from an unknown manufacturer, you should not hope that they will grow as beautiful as in the picture. In most cases, such a product does not sprout.
Special processing. There are a number of aster seeds that require special processing. Thus, simply burying it in the ground and watering it will not be enough. Treatment may involve breaking the shell (the procedure is performed using a blade or sandpaper), stratification, etc. Therefore, before planting, be sure to read the instructions.
Incorrect landing. If you forget to water the seeds or bury them too deeply, they may not sprout. In this case, you need to sow them again, otherwise you will not get the desired result.

As you can see, planting seeds must be approached responsibly, following the recommendations of experts. Only this will help you avoid the death of the plant and enjoy it in the future. unusual appearance and the subtle aroma of flowers.

Flowers for a first grader or asters for September, that’s what we can say about these beautiful flowers. Their flowering occurs at the end of August. There are a lot of aster varieties, and thanks to the variety of colors and ease of care, it has firmly taken its place in the hearts of summer residents. How to grow an aster seedling method, and by sowing directly into open ground. And everything would be fine, but there are cases when asters do not sprout. Why is this happening?

If the aster seeds are fresh, they germinate in 5-10 days. If seedlings begin to appear sporadically after 2 weeks, then this is the first sign of old age and poor seed quality. There is no point in waiting longer; the easiest way is to sow new seeds again.

Asters may not sprout for a number of reasons:

1. The shelf life of seeds without loss of quality lasts only 1 year, and after 2 years most of them may lose their germination, and no more than 30% of the entire mass will sprout. When purchasing seeds, pay attention to the collection date and shelf life. In such matters you should trust only trusted companies.

2. Aster seeds require pre-sowing preparation. First, the seeds are discarded by soaking them in water; empty specimens will float. Next, you need to reduce the content of essential oils and soften the dense shell. To do this, the seeds are placed in a fabric bag and dipped in vodka for 5 minutes. Remove from the bag, wash under running water to remove alcohol and released oils, soak in a growth stimulator or in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. And only then are they placed for germination. Some packages indicate that, i.e. disorders of the seed coat mechanically. Sandpaper is usually used for this.

3. Aster seeds may not germinate if planted too deeply. The dense structure of the soil often becomes an obstacle to the appearance of seedlings on the surface. For home use, the seeding depth is no more than the length of the seed, and when sowing in open ground, no more than 2 lengths.

4. You can’t wait for the aster to germinate even if early sowing into open ground, when night frosts can still damage unprotected seeds. Therefore, to save required temperature Plantings are always covered until it becomes warm and the seeds germinate.

5. In aster, seed pods form late and may not fully ripen. They are collected, dried and stored immediately, without removing debris or discarding empty ones. When planting, plant as is, and this can also cause poor seed germination.

6. Choose large seeds, they have a better chance of germination.

There is always a chance that aster seeds will not germinate. This is influenced by various factors, including drought, waterlogging, temperature changes, etc. Therefore, to be on the safe side, they always plant a lot of seeds, better later Thinning is carried out rather than waiting for shoots. This does not mean that the aster problem flower, no, you just need to approach any planting of seeds in an organized and responsible manner.

Growing aster from seeds - from sowing to flowering. ====== This flower occupies a special place in my front garden. My grandmother loved it very much and her asters always bloomed by September. She simply sowed them in the ground, and then planted them in the flowerbed. They bloomed late, but still made us happy. The flowers were the simplest - pink and purple. Now there are many varieties of this flower. They are varied in petal shape, color, and plant height. Now I no longer sow aster directly into the ground; I want it to bloom earlier. To do this, you need to grow asters at home with seedlings. Aster seeds in the catalog http://vse-rastet.ru/catalog/69/---- When to sow asters - timing of sowing seeds Asters differ in terms of flowering: - Early ones bloom 90 days after germination, - Medium ones - after 110 days, - Varieties late date flowering - after 130 days. They usually bloom until frost. These beauties are not afraid of the cold, so seedlings can be planted in the Urals in May. It is desirable that by the time of planting in open ground the seedlings should be one month old, small, about 6 cm, with good roots. Taking into account all this knowledge, determine the sowing time. I always sow aster in early April at home. You can also sow seeds in the greenhouse at this time. If you have space on the windows or a heated greenhouse, you can sow aster in March. But there is no need to do this even earlier. The seedlings will be drawn to the light, which is still not enough, they will become thinner, fall down and then wither. I had such an experience. --- Sowing Aster seeds are quite large, they can be spread out sparser. I sow first in small containers, then plant them in separate cups or small boxes. Astra is not afraid of transplantation; it grows its root system in a spacious pot. You can buy the soil or prepare it yourself. I usually take it garden soil, I add humus, purchased soil, ash, or sand. To make it work light soil, well permeable to air and water. Aster seeds quickly lose their viability; it is better to take them completely fresh. In the second year, half of the seeds may not sprout. I sow the seeds to a depth of about 1 cm. I water it and put the container in a bag, and after a few days shoots appear. I put it immediately closer to the window so that it is light and cool. As soon as real leaves appear, you can plant them. Aster seedlings are strong, but fragile at the junction of the stem and the root. Therefore, first we wet the soil well, and after half an hour you can carefully remove the small asters with a match or a toothpick and plant them in prepared large cups. -- Caring for seedlings at home Asters are watered infrequently, but abundantly. Containers for seedlings must have drainage so that excess water could have drained. You can’t fill the aster with water, otherwise you might get sick. black leg and die. Seedlings usually grow well. If you have prepared good soil before sowing, there is no point in using fertilizers. But if the soil is poor, you can water your seedlings with biofertilizer a week after transplanting. You can pour infusion of ash. There is no need to get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers. Otherwise, there will be huge green bushes, and flowering will come later and will not please you at all with quality. Planting seedlings and care In a normal Ural spring, aster seedlings can be transplanted outside in mid-to-late May. But in order for young plants to withstand replanting and possible cold snaps well, they must be hardened off. In early April, begin to take the seedlings outside. If growing in a greenhouse, open the doors on warm days. Usually in April, almost all of my seedlings move to the veranda. I only bring it home if frost is expected. --- She loves a sunny place, non-acidic, fertile soil. Asters are not planted with fresh manure! I plant tall cutting asters at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. They branch well and form many shoots with flowers. I plant low, border ones closer, about 15-20 cm from each other. Then, growing, they bloom in a continuous carpet. Groups of flowers of the same color look interesting. And low ones can be planted with different colors, there will be a variegated border or an island. For the beautiful lush flowering remove old flowers in a timely manner. A week after planting the seedlings, I water it with ash infusion or biofertilizer. Spring and early summer are dry, and we don’t get much rain. In order not to constantly run around with a watering can, immediately after watering the flowers, mulch them with hay, grass, sawdust, and wood chips. This will reduce the work of both weeding and loosening. And for good flowering Asters need to be loosened frequently. Although in general it is a very unpretentious flower. --- Possible difficulties with growing seedlings: - Asters have not sprouted at all or are growing poorly and die. Sow again, don't waste time. Check the expiration date of store-bought seeds to make sure they are fresh. Try soaking your seeds for a day in ash (a spoon in a glass of water) or aloe juice (diluted in half with water). And be sure to change the soil, disinfect it with pink potassium permanganate or a biofungicide (for example: Fitosporin-M). - Asters suffer from fusarium. To do this, do not fertilize them with manure! And do not plant after nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, physalis). You cannot plant asters after gladioli, carnations, tulips, gillyflowers and yourself! - The aster develops incomplete inflorescences – it may be suffering from spider mite or aphids. Or the plant does not have enough nutrition. If care is not taken care of, defective flowers may also appear. Aster seeds in the catalog