Late summer and autumn, before frosts appear on flower beds and gardens, asters bloom. These are beautiful, simple flowers loved by flower growers for their huge variety and unpretentiousness. Currently, there are several tens of thousands of varieties of these plants. Asters differ in the shape of the petals and inflorescences. The simplest have a chamomile basket with a yellow center and one row of long reed flowers. In varieties obtained as a result of selection, inflorescences have a more complex structure. There are about forty groups of varieties of asters, the most popular of which are needle, semi-double and terry in the form of balls, such as ostrich feathers, unique and princess.
Many beginner growers do not know how to grow asters. It is not at all difficult, and everyone can cope with the cultivation of these wonderful flowers. We will tell you how to grow asters from seeds.
Before growing asters, it is advisable to choose a site from the fall. Dig the soil well, remove all weeds and plant debris, and fertilize. In order to warm the bed well in the spring, you need to make it 10-15 cm high.
Seeds of asters can be purchased at flower shops, it is only important that they do not lose their germination ability, which can be verified by looking at the date of suitability on the package with seeds. You can sow asters from mid-April to almost the end of May. The land on the bed before sowing needs to be well loosened and leveled, you can sprinkle with wood ash.
To increase germination, seeds must be placed in the refrigerator for one to two weeks before sowing, but not in the freezer compartment. After such hardening, the seeds are recommended to be etched in a sufficiently strong solution of potassium permanganate, better known as potassium permanganate, and then in a solution of growth stimulant. After this treatment, the seeds need to be dried a little on a napkin and the next day can be sown in the ground. It is impossible to store the pickled seeds for a long time.
Before sowing, the garden bed needs to be watered well. The seeds of asters are sown quite densely in grooves one centimeter deep, located at a distance of 10-12 cm from each other. After sowing, the grooves should be covered with earth and covered with plastic wrap. Before emergence of shoots the film needs to be lifted periodically for airing. Friendly shoots of asters usually appear one to one and a half weeks after sowing. Shoots tolerate short-term frosts well, if it is possible to lower the temperature below -3C, shoots need to be covered again with a film with some thin insulation.
Shoots of asters need to be thinned out well, removing all weak and excess plants. When a second pair of true leaves appears on the sprouts, it is recommended that the asters be fertilized with a humate solution. Weeding, loosening the soil and watering plants should be carried out regularly. When young plants grow and get stronger, they are planted in permanent places.
Transplanting asters to permanent places is best done in the evening or in cloudy weather. Asters are planted in small holes located at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. You do not need to use manure during planting, it is better to feed the flowers with mineral fertilizers in a few days.
The first buds appear in mid-August. At this time, asters need to be fertilized with potash fertilizers. To obtain a more magnificent flowering plants pinch once.
In the literature you can find many tips on how to grow asters from seedlings. But this method has its drawbacks, since before growing asters, it is necessary to grow seedlings at home and only then plant it in the ground.
Now, knowing how to grow asters correctly, you can always grow these beautiful flowers that will delight you with their flowering.