Dwarf, colon-shaped asters - varieties, care.
Asters are traditionally loved in our country. They are grown in almost every garden, and on September 1 many schoolchildren walk to school with bouquets of these beautiful flowers, Natalia Petrenko writes.Asters with a diverse coloring of non-marble "baskets" were first brought to England. And the first terry uniforms were created in France, including the magnificent Truffaut asters, named after their creator, the Versailles gardener.
Asters are unpretentious, cold-resistant, light-loving and quite hygrophilous. Soils prefer fertile, but without fresh organic fertilizers, with a weakly acid reaction (pH - 5,6-6,5). After that, in Europe, a stormy work began on the breeding of new varieties. The honor of creating most of the world's range of annual asters belongs to the breeders of Germany. Later, already in the beginning and the middle of the 20th century, new varieties appeared in Denmark, the USA, Sweden, Poland and Czechoslovakia, in Russia and Japan.
Initially, the breeders tried to get asters with a variety of coloring flowers and a new form of inflorescence. Then began to display more miniature varieties, up to dwarfish - only up to 20 cm high ('Dwarf Royal Asters', 'Triumph', 'Milady'). In the next stage, compact asters with small inflorescences were obtained - Rosett, Montezuma: they were called bouquet and grown on a cut.
Modern selection is carried out mainly on the way to improve previously created varieties, as well as obtaining plants of a columnar shape, stronger stems and inflorescences of increased terry ('Gala', 'Matador', 'Valkyrie').
The range of annual asters is very large and has over 600 varieties. Depending on the size of the plants (compact and sprawling), the shapes, sizes and numbers of inflorescences they are combined into more than 40 garden groups. Inside each variety differ mainly in color, and their palette is very rich - there is not yet only orange.
Asters can also be two-colored: with differently colored reed and tubular flowers or with strips ('Contrast', 'Gray-haired woman'). The name of the variety usually consists of a garden group and color, for example 'Milady Pink'. Less common are the proper names - 'Burgundy', 'Isolde', 'Yanina', etc.
Depending on the variety, the aster grows in different periods: some already in July, 70-80 days after emergence, and others only after 100-120 - in August. They bloom for a long time, until late frosts, and do not lose their decorative qualities for up to 50 days, while in the cut they retain freshness and beauty for more than two weeks. The botanical name of the one-year-old aster is Callistefus, which translates from Greek as "a beautiful wreath."
The genus belongs to the family of the Astrope and consists of only one species - Callistephus Chinese. And all over the world this luxurious and beloved plant is called simply austere Chinese or even more often - it is an astral one-year old. Asters are easy to grow at home. The seeds are not very small: in 1 g, depending on the variety, they can range from 300 to 500 pieces. Early varieties can be sown in open ground to a permanent place in early May. However, now the seeds are quite expensive, and in packaging they are usually small, so it is better to grow these annuals through seedlings.
If you want the asters to bloom early, they should be sown at the end of March, and to get flowering plants in August and September - early April. The substrate must be light, moist and breathable. One day before sowing it can be abundantly watered with a solution of fungicide. The soil is slightly compacted, the seeds are spread over it (at a distance of about 1 cm from each other), sprayed with a biostimulator solution and sprinkled with a layer of 1 cm thick substrate. Vermiculite can also be used to seal the seeds.
Specially for growing in pots, dwarf varieties with numerous, up to 100 pieces, small inflorescences with a diameter of only 2-5 cm ('Pinocchio') were created. The temperature for germination is needed in the range of +18 ... + 22 ° C. Fresh well-ripened seeds germinate on the 3-5th day after sowing, stored for more than a year - through 6-8.
But they are already hanging on the 2nd-2nd day. Therefore, it is very important to control the moisture content of the crops from the very first days: if there is a lack of moisture, the seedlings may dry up, and if there is an excess of moisture, they can rot. The sprouts (and then the sprouted seedlings) require a lot of light, a good airing and a temperature of +18 ... + 22 ° C during the day and + 15-16 ° C at night.
You can dive seedlings in the fully unfolded cotyledon phase, or, if sprouts are sparse, in the phase of the first real leaf. For picking, pots with a diameter of 5-7 cm or cassettes are used. If the rootlet is long, it can be pinched by one third, but not bent: then it will quickly branch. Dissected seedlings are watered moderately, only when the upper layer of the substrate dries up, without pouring, but not drying.
One year old asters have only one drawback - they are often affected by fusariosis. Therefore, before sowing, the seeds and substrate should be treated with a solution of some fungicide, do not introduce fresh organic matter into the soil and do not grow asters in one place without replacing the soil. You can plant the plants there no sooner than in 5-7 years.
If the seedlings are dried, the stem begins to "lignify", while the development of plants slows down, and their growth and flowering will be weak. Feeding seedlings begin 7-10 days after picking, making sure that the plants are rooted and began to grow. Top dressing is repeated every 12-15 days. The first two times should be given a half dose of nitrogen fertilizers. With the advent of 3-4 real leaves, they begin to feed full complex or humic.
Seasoned seedlings can be planted in the ground at the end of May: it does not fear frosts to -3 ° C. The distance between plants for small and tall columns is 20-25 cm, for spreading - 30-35 cm. In the flower garden the asters continue to be fed at intervals of 12-15 days before the beginning of the bud staining. They blossom in late July - early August, and sown to a permanent place - a little later, in the middle and even in late August.
Tall asters are grown mainly for bouquets. Low-grown varieties are planted in flower gardens, as well as in boxes on the balcony, garden vases and a variety of containers. Asters perfectly transplanted and with a careful planting quickly take root in a new place, even during flowering. Therefore, you can grow them on a spare bed, and at the end of summer, transplanted into a flower bed or a container instead of faded and harvested bulbous or biennials.
Astra has long acquired the love of gardeners, since it surprises with its variety of shades, the shape and height of the bushes. If a dwarf variety is used for planting, then such bushes will decorate curbs and garden paths, and tall varieties complement the background of flower beds, flower beds and local areas. If the cultivation of asters from seeds was correct, then flowering begins in three months.
The flower seeds are large, so the distance between the bushes should be 20-25 cm. Often, growing aster from seeds at home is done by seedling method. To do this, they are put in separate pots or boxes. The soil is used fertile, loose, where ash, humus, sand is added. Such soil will be good for water and air.
In order to give good results, only fresh planting material is used. After all, in the second year more than 50% of seeds do not germinate. Sow them to a depth of no more than 10 mm, providing good lighting. After appearing on the bushes on several leaves, they can be planted in the open ground. Astral seedlings are rather strong, but fragile, so during planting they should be carefully removed from pots or a box.
Popular types of flowers
Asters are divided into groups according to the flowering period, for example, early varieties bloom 90 days after emergence, medium after 110 days, and late after 130. Virtually all varieties of plants bloom before the first frost. Planted seedlings in May, when there is no threat of spring frosts. The age of young bushes should be at least a month, so the seeds begin to sow in March.
If there is a greenhouse in the summer residence, the planting of seeds can be postponed to the beginning of April. Before March, it is undesirable, since the seedlings will stretch, its trunks will become thin, sluggish, most of these seedlings will not tolerate the transplant and perish.
Astra Alpine
Many gardeners, lovers choose to grow a perennial alpine aster on their site, as it pleases for many years with its colorful flowering and not whimsical in care. In one place this perennial can grow up to five years. Very often wild alpine astra occurs in the Caucasus, the Southern Urals, North America, Transcarpathia. The height of the flower is not more than 50 cm, its buds are small, in the form of small daisies with a yellow center and long, bright petals.
This species of aster is lilac, white, violet, blue, pink, orange or yellow. Its leaves are small, slightly elongated, dark green in color. Flowering plants occur in the second year after planting, and lasts no more than a month. The first buds are formed at the end of May. A perennial alpine aster tolerates bad weather and small frosts, which do not affect its flowering. It does not need special care, looks great on rocky slides, which are used in landscape design.
Astra pion shaped
Since the flowers of this variety have similarities to pions, they received a similar name. The beautiful, bright aster pion-shaped differs from other species in globular flowers, which are very large and reach a diameter of up to 10 cm. A unique, beautiful shape of the buds is formed with the help of long, outer petals and short inner ones. All of them are directed in the middle, therefore the flower has got the graceful, spherical form.
In height, the bush reaches a maximum of 70 cm, so it refers to medium-sized varieties. Since the stems of the plant are weakly branched, they do not retain their shape well. The blossoming of this astra begins in July and lasts until October, pleasing the surrounding with its ornamental inflorescences. Always growing perennial asters from seeds is performed only with fresh planting material, as they very quickly lose their germination.
Astra pomponata
Before planting any sort of flower, you need to prepare fertile soil, which can be loamy or sandy loamy. If earlier in the flowerbed grew or tulips, the aster pomponna at this place does not land. Lead planting of seedlings in the ground in May or in the very first days of June. This species is not afraid of a small drop in temperature, as it can withstand -4 degrees. During the care of seedlings, it is necessary to thin the shoots, regularly water them, loosen the soil around the seedlings and add fertilizing to the soil. Each variety of this type of asters has a different period of flowering buds, but on average it lasts about 70 days.
Some flower lovers do not know when to plant a pompous astra and admit mistakes in this matter. Therefore, you need to know that the seed is sown in March. For planting, you can use a box with fertile soil, which will be good for water and air. After sowing the planting material, the container is covered with a film and placed in a warm place, where the air temperature is at least +18 degrees.
When the first shoots appear, the shelter can be removed and the box set in a cool place. To ensure that the seedlings are strong and with a powerful root system, it needs to provide regular watering. Pompon asters are ideal for decorating flower beds, garden paths and for cutting flowers. Planting several shades of this variety of flowers at once, you can get a bright, original flower bed.
Chinese aster
Chinese one-year-old aster is grown, like other species, by seedling method. To do this, it is necessary to prepare the soil mixture, water it and cover it with a film. The air temperature should be at least +24 degrees. Literally in 4-5 days, the first shoots will start to germinate. Then the boxes are transferred to a cool place, where there is enough light and a temperature of at least +18 degrees.
Watering should be abundant, but without stagnation of water. When the first few leaves appear on the seedlings, young plants dive. They transplant them into separate pots, where the root system will quickly develop. Those gardeners who perform the cultivation of Chinese asters know that there are more than 300 varieties of it. Each of them has its differences in height of bushes, flowering time, color of buds and purpose. Therefore, before planting, you need to determine the specific type of flower.
Astra dwarfish
Low-grown, dwarf varieties of asters in height reach no more than 25 cm, so they are used to decorate garden paths, flowerbeds. In addition, this kind of flower is planted on a balcony or loggia, where it pleases beautiful, terry buds that are pink, blue, red and other colors. Their diameter is about 5 cm, the leaves are small, narrow, dark green in color. Also, a needle astra is grown from seeds, which can be found in flower beds and work-shops. A beautiful dwarf aster will decorate every house and plot. There is still a medicinal Astra - Tatar.
The best varieties of asters
The cultivation of asters has lasted for centuries, during this time breeders brought out a lot of a variety of varieties, which differ from each other in the height of the bush, the shape of the inflorescence, shades, flowering.
For example, there are varieties with complex, flat terry buds. The flowering period is also different, for example, some brighten their bright flower caps in June, while others blossom only in August and share their beauty until the frosts.
Concerning when to plant stunted asters or tall ones, then usually the sowing period of all varieties falls on the month of April. In total, there are more than 4000 different varieties of asters, the shades of which vary widely, from snow-white to dark purple. Flower buds are also diverse, for example, small ones make up 3 cm, and large ones - 20 cm. The height of bushes - from 20 cm and up to one meter.
Astra Milady
This aster, a short one-year-old has a pion-like shape of buds, which are large, terry. The height of the aster Milady is not more than 35 cm, the stems are strong, short, strongly branched, flowers are large, terry. The shades of colors are different, where there are bright, rich hues. The petals are slightly twisted inside the bud. The bush has numerous lateral shoots, on which there are many inflorescences, making the flowering a real carpet.
Among other varieties, the cultivation of the aster of Milady from the seeds became the most popular, as the variety is unpretentious in care, it has bright colors and compact dimensions. The plant is used for planting on curbs, flower beds, pots or pots that can be placed on a balcony or loggia. Reproduction of this species occurs by seeds that are sown in open ground in early spring or late autumn.
Seedling is sown in January or February. Water the soil only with warm water. The flowering of this variety begins in September and lasts until the frosts.
For its landing choose a sunny place where there is no wind and drafts, and also there is a limed fertile soil, drained, with fertilizers.
Astra Pinocchio
A popular one-year-old aster, which belongs to the group of short stems, since its height is only 20-25 cm. Flowers are about 4 cm in diameter and bloom in mid-July and before the first frosts. Seeds are sown in March or April, for which a greenhouse or a greenhouse is ideal. In May, seedlings can be planted in the open ground. Providing care for asters of this species, it is necessary to know that for germination it is necessary to create a temperature of +18 degrees. The beautiful, compact aster of Pinocchio grows in a well-lit place, where nutritious soil and no stagnation of water. In most cases, the flower is planted in curbs, flower beds, flower beds and along garden paths.
Astra needle Unicum Mix
A beautiful aster is a perennial, which is about 60 cm high. Its inflorescences are needle-shaped, large-sized, large. Blossoms aster needle Acid Mix from August to September. For planting it is better to choose open, sunny places. The flower is light-loving and cold-resistant, prefers fertile, light soil. Seeds for seedlings are sown in February or March. The depth for their embedding should be minimal, otherwise they will not germinate. If you ensure a temperature of +20 degrees, then the first shoots will be in a week. When a few leaves appear on the seedlings, they are dived. Seedlings are planted in the open ground in May, the distance between the bushes should be at least 20 cm.
Astra Wartburg Star
The light-loving aster of the perennial Wartburg star is a beautiful frost-resistant perennial, which belongs to the group of medium-sized ones, since it is not more than 65 cm tall. Its stems are pubescent, strong, inflorescences large, lilac-blue. Very beautiful aster Alpine Pink in summer, when covered with bright flowers. The distance between the bushes should be at least 23 cm. Since the astra Wartburg star is perennial, it blooms only in the second year. This species multiplies by terrestrial shoots, bush division and seeds.
Astra Chinese Serenade
This aster is a multi-year mix is a new variety from the group of famous breeder Matsumoto. It is distinguished by tall, powerful shrubs that reach up to 60 cm. They are completely covered with bright flowers, and on one branch there can be about 100 flowers. Concerning the peculiarity of growing aster, the conditions are the same as for other species - regular watering, fertilizer, lighted, windless place.
Plant flower seeds in March or April, and the Chinese aster Serenade blossoms in August or September. During planting, the seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the soil. However, the ground must be warmed up in advance in order to avoid the defeat of diseases of young seedlings. Water the soil with warm water, the substrate itself must be fine-grained and airy.
More horticulturists liked such varieties: White carpet, Duchess, Red carpet, Bal Princess, Ballerina, Crystal Tower.
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Astra Chinese - Callistepus chinensis Nees. Family of Compositae. The birthplace of the asters is East Asia. In Europe, asters fell in the XVIII century on a camel caravan. They drove through Siberia and the European part of Russia, got to Mosca, and only then they got to the royal garden of France. These outlandish flowers at that time immediately gained popularity in all European countries.
Soon new varieties of the most diverse form and color appeared. Currently there are more than 600 varieties. Asters differ in the size of the bush. There are varieties up to 1 meter high, and there are dwarfish - 15-25 cm in height. Low-ripe varieties of asters are used for curbs, growing in pots and for gardening of balconies.
The shape of the bush can be either upright or sprawling. The diameter of the flower is from 3 to 15 cm, there are double rosy and pion-shaped forms, narrow-leaved and radiant. Coloring flowers is very diverse: from pure white, pink and red to lilac, purple, blue and yellow. Early varieties of early varieties bloom in July-early August, late in August-September. Aster - shoots, seedlings and adult plants - well tolerates frosts up to -4 degrees. It prefers a sunny, sheltered place from the wind, with a fertile, limy, well drained, but without fresh manure. It responds well to watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil.
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Astra Milady
One of the best in the world varieties of large-flowered dwarf asters. The bush is spreading in height of 25 cm, all covered with large, thick-flowered flowers, up to 10 cm in diameter. The color range of colors of this variety is very diverse - white, pink, bright red, blue and violet. The variety is resistant to disease, unpretentious, blooming for 2 weeks before other varieties of asters and with good care it blooms to the coldest. The distance between the plants in the box is 20 cm. Bloom: July-September. |
 Astra Milady Scarlet Very beautiful large pion-shaped aster. In terms of size and growing conditions, it is similar to Astra Milady, but the shape of the flowers is slightly different. |
 Astra Crestella Miniature aster height of 15-25 cm. The bush is wide, strong, strongly branched, up to 30 cm across. Flowers of various colors, dense, 8-9 cm in diameter. The inner petals are bent to the center, and the outer ones to the outside. Peduncles strong, densely leafy, up to 15 cm long. The bush carries 10-12 blooming inflorescences. They are used in casing and as pot culture. Bloom: |
 Astra Dwarf Crimson Classical dwarfish aster . A small spreading bush is 25-30 cm high and 30 cm wide, flowers are densely-terry, bright red-carmine 5-7 cm in diameter with short, bent outward and overlapping petals. Pedicels dense in length of 15 sm. The cultivar is intended for cultivation in boxes and flowerpots, it is also used for decoration of flower beds, flower beds and curbs. Bloom: from the end of July until frost. |
 Astra Erfurt Dwarf Magnificent plant, strewn with bright sparkling flowers, 25-30 cm high. The bush is wide, strong, strongly branched, up to 30 cm across. Flowers are flat-rounded, densely rounded, not drooping, 8-9 cm in diameter. Used for landscaping of balconies and windows, adapted for growing in pots, looks great as a curb on the flower beds. Bloom: from mid-July to frost. |
 Astra Alpine This type of asters, unlike other varieties, is grown as perennial culture . The bush is 25-30 cm tall, the stems are strong, slightly pubescent. Basal leaves are large oblong, cauline leaves are smaller. Flowers are like chamomile - white, lilac, purple; blue, with a bright yellow center, 4-6 cm in diameter. Used most often for curbs, groups in the foreground, in mixborders, on alpine slides, for landscaping balconies. It goes well with carnations, Iberis, Arabis, primula, bells. Blossoms in the end of May - the middle of June for the second year. Therefore, it is possible to plant seeds in the balcony boxes not only in the spring, but also in the summer in July-August. Hibernating aster Alpine without shelter. In open ground it grows well. In one place without transplantation and division grows up to 5-6 years. You can also breed the alpine by dividing the bush. |
It is not recommended to fertilize asters with fresh manure. It is necessary to change the place of planting an aster every year or the soil in boxes (except for the Alpine astra). You can not plant asters after gladiolus, tomatoes, because they have similar diseases. Faded inflorescences, dried leaves and diseased plants should be removed. At the end of the season, in September-October, part of the faded inflorescences can be left to the seeds. After the appearance on the inflorescence of the cannon, the seeds are harvested and used for planting next year.