Growing aster from seeds - from sowing to flowering. Breeding asters Why do aster seeds germinate poorly?

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 advisable that by the time of disembarkation open ground The seedlings were a 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 create a light soil that allows air and water to pass through well. 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

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.

You 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:

1. 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.
2. "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.
3. 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. Processing 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.
4. 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.

The huge flowerbed amazes with its diversity. Along the edges there is a border of low plants with small variegated inflorescences, in the middle there are tall bushes crowned with large lush caps. An unusually rich palette of colors from snow-white to almost black. Some flowers have several shades: the edges are light, and bright colors shine through from the inside, as if a decorative lantern is hidden in the middle. Some inflorescences look like large daisies: a large center is surrounded by colorful petals. Others resemble roses or peonies, with carved green leaves underneath. There are plants with balls of needles hanging on them, like multi-colored hedgehogs. There are large and narrow, double and feather-like petals. Do you want to create such beauty on your site? To do this, you do not need to purchase many different ornamental plants, you can only plant asters.

What is the best way to grow asters?

There are perennial and annual varieties of asters; you need to pay attention to this when planting them. Perennials from seeds come out small and weak; these varieties are more suitable vegetative propagation. Such plants do not require much effort, growing and caring for them is simple, but the same design every summer can get boring.

Annuals reproduce by seeds; about 4 months pass from the time of sowing to flowering. You can sow in open ground only on warm days, in mid-May, and you will have to wait until September for flowers. You can plant seeds in the fall before winter. In this case, the soil needs to be dry and frozen. The grains will overwinter under the snow, natural stratification and hardening will occur, after which the asters will grow strong and resistant to frost.

Many gardeners prefer growing annual asters through seedlings. At home easier care seedlings, it is easy to control the conditions of maintenance and development. Many diseases of these flowers need to be caught at the very beginning, before an epidemic breaks out. At home, it is possible to inspect the leaves and stems of seedlings every day and determine why they are turning yellow or thinning. When traveling to the dacha only on weekends, you can waste time and arrive when the fungus has spread throughout the flower garden.

What will we sow?

The germination of aster seeds ends very quickly; when purchasing, look at the date and purchase only materials from the latest harvest. The weight is often written on the bag, but the number of seeds is not indicated, and a novice gardener does not know how many bushes he can plant. When purchasing, remember that 1 g contains from 300 to 500 grains, and do not buy excess seed. If you sow in the second year, only half of the seeds will germinate, and sowing the following summer will yield only 30%.

You can prepare the seed yourself. Choose the most beautiful and strong bush, leave a few central inflorescences on it and wait for them to dry. The petals should darken and begin to fall, and small fluffs will peek out from the center. On a dry, clear day, cut the flowers intended for sowing and place the whole, uncut centers in a dry, warm place. When the heads are completely dry, shake out the seeds, wrap them in paper or a cloth bag, sign the name of the variety and store them. In autumn it often rains, the weather is constantly humid, and it is impossible to wait for the seed plants to dry on the bush. In this case, after cutting, divide the head into parts and dry it disassembled. The seeds fully ripen 40 days after the flowers bloom.

Asters in a flower bed are easily pollinated. If you want to sow your own seeds, select small plots of land distant from each other for each variety, where you will plant seed plants. If you want to experiment, take seed from the very center of the flower bed, where asters of various varieties and colors grow. You may end up with a completely unusual flower.

Sowing seeds

In early April you can start sowing. When purchasing soil in a store, try to find special soil for aster seedlings. If you can't purchase required product, take the land for flower crops and add sand to it in a ratio of 10:1.

You can also prepare your own composition:

1. peat – 4 parts;
2. garden soil - 2 parts;
3. sand – 1 part;
4. ash - 1 cup per 10 liters of mixture.

Stir and sift the resulting soil, then add 1 cup of perlite. This component has the ability to stretch excess moisture, and when the soil begins to dry out, it gradually moistens the soil. Place the soil in a steamer and process high temperature about an hour. This procedure will kill the fungi that often attack aster seedlings. If it is not possible to steam the soil, douse it with a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide.

Seeds can also be infected with spores that cause blackleg and other seedling diseases. Before starting sowing, treat the grains in a fungicide solution; the concentration and treatment time should be indicated in the instructions for the preparation. Dry the seed and distribute it evenly over the top layer of moist soil. Fill the top with sand about 7 mm thick; it will dry the soil surface and protect the seedlings from fungal diseases. Cover the container with film without watering: the sand itself will draw moisture from the lower layers. You can carry out stratification: keep the seeds in a damp cloth in the refrigerator at night and warm during the day, repeat this for several days until sprouts appear, then the grains can be sown in the ground.

For germination, place the boxes with seeds in a warm place with a temperature of +15⁰ to +20⁰. Every day, open the crops for a few minutes to ventilate. If the surface of the sand dries out, spray it warm water from a spray bottle. In about a week, shoots will appear.

Caring for aster seedlings

When you see cotyledon leaves peeking out of the ground, remove the film and place the plantings in a bright place. Asters require proper care: weak seedlings can very quickly get sick with blackleg, fusarium and other fungal diseases. Plantings need to be watered moderately. The roots of the seedlings have already grown deep into the soil, now you don’t have to be afraid if the sand turns out to be dry.

Watch for any fungal infection; carefully dig up and destroy diseased specimens or continue to grow them separately from healthy plants. Spray the remaining seedlings with fungicides and spill the soil with a disinfectant solution. If sowing was carried out in fertilized soil, nutrients should be enough until the pick; When sowing in poor soil, a week after the sprouts appear, you need to feed the seedlings with complex fertilizer. Do not get carried away with nitrogen, it does not develop buds, but lush and large leaves.

When the third sheet forms, you can start picking. If you don’t want to use purchased soil, prepare it - the same one you used to sow the seeds, but you don’t need to sift it anymore. Add 1 tbsp to a bucket of soil. spoon of complex fertilizer and mix thoroughly. Prepare containers for seedlings: cassettes, cups, so that each plant is grown in individual container and it was convenient for you to care for the plantings. Pay attention to the drainage holes: if they are blocked by plastic deposits, clean them with a knife or scissors.

Using ready soil pour it out of the bag and look carefully to see if there are any large lumps of fertilizer. When preparing soil at home, make sure that no sticky granules get into the soil. Such accumulations can burn the tender roots of seedlings.

Fill the containers with soil, moisten and make small holes. Examine the roots of the seedlings; they should not touch the bottom of the container. Shorten rods that are too long. When planting, make sure that all root shoots are directed vertically downwards and do not bend. Seedlings often have elongated stems– deepen them into the soil so that the cotyledon leaves are at a height of 1 cm from the soil surface. Fill the hole and lightly compact the soil. Carefully water the plantings in a spiral: from the edges of the cup to the middle, try not to let the splashes fall on the stem and leaves. Place the cassettes in a cool, bright place and maintain the temperature no higher than 20⁰. In the first days, protect the seedlings from direct sun rays. Basic care consists of timely watering and inspection of seedlings to identify diseases.

After picking, the aster will be grown in cups for about a month, then the time will come to plant it in the ground. If you have prepared the soil well for the seedlings, they will have enough nutrients and do not need to feed. In the event of prolonged frosts, when the plants will have to be kept at home for about 2 more weeks, there may not be enough fertilizer and the seedlings will weaken. The leaves will tell you about the lack of some components: learn to recognize why they turn yellow, wither or dry out. Asters should be fed so that they tolerate the transplant well and take root quickly. To keep the plants strong and short, provide the plantings with proper care and good lighting: in the twilight they become too elongated.

Planting in open ground

When the fifth leaf appears, begin to harden off the seedlings. In warm weather, take them out during the day open air. After a while, listen to the weather forecast for the night, and if frost is not expected, leave the plantings outside. Seedlings ready for planting should have 5-6 true leaves and a strong stem no longer than 7 cm.

Try not to overexpose asters at home: if you plant too mature plants, they will not bloom well.

Growing flowers in open ground should take place on sunny place. It is advisable not to plant asters where nightshades, carnations, gladioli, tulips and asters have recently grown. In low wetlands, plants will get sick; drainage and embankment can save the situation. high flower bed. In heavy and dense soil add sand, it loosens and drains the soil.

Strong, hardened seedlings are not afraid of frosts down to -2⁰, if they do not last long. It is believed that aster dies at -5⁰, but it all depends on the variety, the condition of the seedlings and many other conditions. It is difficult to answer the question why sometimes even at 0⁰ not a single living bush will remain, and sometimes even -7⁰ will not cause any harm. To play it safe, if there is a threat of frost, cover the plantings with non-woven material.

Conclusion

In order for flower beds to be covered with colorful inflorescences earlier, aster seeds need to be sown in boxes and flowers grown through seedlings. It is very important to correctly calculate the timing of sowing seeds for your area: overgrown plants will not please you with lush inflorescences. Seedlings are ready for planting in open ground at two months of age; count from the expected transplant date 60 days ago, and you will get the date when you need to start sowing the seeds.

Caring for seedlings includes 5 basic rules.

1. Good lighting.
2. Cool.
3. Ventilation.
4. Moderate watering.
5. Daily examinations to detect infection.

If the seedlings grow poorly and look depressed, then they do not have enough nutrition and need to be fed with complex fertilizer. If you do everything correctly, you will plant strong plants with strong, low stems in the ground. Such seedlings will quickly take root and take root in a new place.

When moving to a flowerbed, do not leave long stems. If the seedlings have stretched out, you need to plant them deep in the ground so that lower leaves were no higher than 7 cm from the ground surface. Monitor the weather forecast and cover your plantings if there is a threat of frost. Treat your “pets” with love, provide them good care, and already in the middle of summer they will decorate the area with a variety of bright inflorescences.

One of the most common types of annual flowers in dachas and personal plots is, planting and caring for it in open ground is not particularly difficult.

Currently, there are over 800 varieties of this crop. Based on the type of inflorescences, they can be divided into the following groups:

• simple or not terry;
• semi-double;
• terry;
• densely double.

Asters are also classified according to the shape of the bush:

• pyramidal;
• columnar;
• oval;
• spreading.

The varietal diversity of this flower is impressive. So, how and when to sow asters?

Sowing dates

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. At seedling method sowing is carried out in mid-March in light and sufficiently nutritious soil. For example, you can use peat soil to grow flower seedlings 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 gardeners 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 can 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.

Planting an annual aster and subsequently caring 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.

Good day everyone!

Today I want to talk about how to grow asters from seeds. The familiar annual asters are a species of the Asteraceae family. This flower is called Callistephus or Chinese Aster. Its stems are branched, green or red with a powerful fibrous root. Small alternate leaves, inflorescence - basket.

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 daisies. Now there are many varieties of this flower. They are varied in petal shape, color, and plant height. They live up to the name, because Astra means “star” in Latin. 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. Or in greenhouses.

How to grow asters from seeds at home

Asters vary in flowering time:

• Early ones bloom 90 days after germination,
• Average – after 110 days,
• Late flowering varieties - 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 and can be spread out sparingly. 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 garden soil, add humus, purchased soil, ash, or maybe sand. To create a light soil that allows air and water to pass through well.

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 a couple of true 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 can drain. You cannot fill the aster with water, otherwise you may get sick with blackleg and die.

Seedlings usually grow well. If you have prepared good soil before sowing, then 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 beautiful lush flowering, remove old flowers in time.

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 often. Although in general it is a very unpretentious flower.

Possible difficulties with growing seedlings:

1. Asters They have not sprouted at all or are not growing well and are dying. 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).
2. 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!
3. Aster develops incomplete inflorescences– she may be suffering from spider mites or aphids. Or the plant does not have enough nutrition. If care is not taken care of, defective flowers may also appear.

Sowing aster in open ground

As I already said, I try to grow aster with seedlings. But if this is not possible, you can grow aster seedlings by sowing in early spring seeds into the ground. They do this early, in April. Small area loosen with humus, after sowing the seeds, water and cover with film. When the asters come up, we replace the film with a covering material so that the soil does not dry out.

You can sow aster seeds before winter. So they themselves will determine in the spring when it is better for them to ascend. When the asters grow up, plant them in flower beds. By the way, such plants do not suffer from fusarium.

Asters sprout well by self-sowing, and in a friendly, warm spring, they will bloom in August-September. They can be thinned out or transplanted. But in order to get beautiful lush plants that bloom from July, you have to grow seedlings, especially in the Urals and to the north.

Video about winter sowing of aster

Diseases of asters

1. Fusarium- This fungal disease. Mature plant suddenly weakens - turns yellow, turns brown and withers on one side. There is no cure for it yet. Therefore, it is important to prevent such an attack. Maintain crop rotation, do not constantly plant asters in the old place, it is better to take a break for up to 5 years. If you suddenly notice signs of the disease, the plants need to be dug up and burned so that the rest do not become infected.
2. Blackleg– a common disease in seedlings, also fungal. Developed on acidic soil, the seedlings turn black and rot at the soil surface. Diseased seedlings should be removed immediately, the soil should be watered with fungicide and the rest of the plants should be sprinkled with sand.
3. Rust– on the leaves, with reverse side, swelling appears, then they dry out and wither. For prevention, you need to plant asters away from conifers. It is from them that rust spores get onto plants. You can spray with a solution of Bordeaux mixture (1%), and if there is already a disease, then spray every week.

Video about aster fusarium disease.

How to collect aster seeds

I usually leave the first, large flowers for seeds; they have time to ripen well. When the flower fades, darkens, and a small fluff appears in the center, I cut it off and put it in a paper bag. This should be done in dry weather, during the day. If it is damp, you need to disassemble the inflorescence and dry it well so that the seeds do not rot. The seeds usually ripen in a bag, then I store them at home until sowing. You need to sign the bag so you know what variety you are sowing.

It is good to sow fresh seeds before winter. Late autumn into the frozen ground so that they no longer thaw and germinate in the cold. You can even sow directly on the snow in December and cover it with soil, and in the spring cover this place with film for early shoots.

Asters are very good for cutting. And my schoolboy takes away five or six bouquets by the first of September: both to school and to music school. He often brings his flowers to school on Teacher’s Day (and this is already October). True, not every year is so successful. If severe frost hits, the asters turn yellow and wither.

Let growing aster from seeds on your site bring you joy.