Asters

The Aster plant is a large group of annual and perennial flowers belonging to the Asteraceae family. From the Greek language "Aster" is translated as "star", which explains the structure of the leaves, resembling a pointed star in shape. An elegant flower symbolizes the best qualities: beauty, sophistication, grace and charm. According to astrology, he brings love and good luck to people who are born under the sign of Virgo. For them, like a guiding star, a flower denotes a kind of amulet or a gift from God.

Various botanical sources describe about 200-500 types of asters. Most of them grow in their natural environment on all continents. The most extensive area is located in the countries of Central and North America. In Europe, they learned about the plant in the 17th century, when French monks brought it, and China is considered the birthplace of asters, where they learned to grow the culture in ancient times.

Myths and legends

Chinese legend attributes divine origins to asters. It tells about the long and difficult journey of two Taoist monks who dream of conquering the highest mountain of Altai in order to take a closer look at the starry sky. Climbing to the top of the mountain, the men realized that the stars are still far and unattainable for mere mortals. Tired and emaciated companions, tore up their legs to blood, had to descend into the valley, back to the foot of the mountain. Here an unexpected surprise awaited them - a meadow dotted with bright beautiful flowers, which in their beauty were in no way inferior to the stars. On their way back home, the priests dug up some bushes to plant in the monastery garden. Since then, "star" asters have been grown as ornamental garden plants.

The myths of Ancient Greece interpret the origin of the aster in their own way and associate the flower with the ruler of the underworld, Persephone, the goddess of spring and youth. Once, Persephone, forced to live with her unloved husband Hades, the god of the kingdom of the dead, secretly descended to earth to retire and forget for a moment about her suffering. On the ground, she saw a couple in love. Hidden by the darkness of the night from prying eyes, the young man and the girl anxiously confessed their feelings for each other. Persephone, who dreamed of true love, cried desperately. The goddess's tears turned to stardust. After a while, in the place where the dust fell, wonderful flowers-stars - asters were born.

In Roman mythology, Jupiter is mentioned, who sent people a flood as punishment. The tears of the goddess Astrea, who mourned the dead, also miraculously became the source of the birth of unusual flowers.Until now, some Europeans are skeptical about asters, they associate the flower with sadness and sadness.

Description of the aster

The base of the aster flower is a powerful rhizome, which bears a straight and strong stem, covered with thick hairs and leaf plates arranged in regular order. The height of dwarf and tall varieties is different. Some of them barely reach 15 cm, and the highest varieties rise above the ground by 80 or more centimeters.

From the sinuses of the main stem, velvety to the touch, lateral stems develop. They are responsible for flowering. Shield-shaped or panicle-shaped inflorescences in the form of baskets are wrapped in juicy green leaves. The bud itself contains small reed flowers of various shades. In the center protrude tubular yellow flowers. The more rows of reed flowers there are in the inflorescence, the more decorative the basket looks. Such an aster is considered more magnificent and attractive.

On the territory of European countries, asters began to be grown three centuries ago. Thanks to the successful developments of breeders, modern floristry has been replenished with many new varieties and hybrid forms, which differ in a variety of structure and color of inflorescences.

Asters are grown using seeds. The plant is unpretentious in terms of climatic and temperature indicators. In the garden, aster flowers are placed depending on the purpose of growing. These can be both single plantings of culture for decorating the terrace and balcony area, and group ones - for framing borders, rockery or rabatok. Bouquet compositions of asters look very expressive, cut flower stalks retain their fresh look for a long time.

Brief rules for growing asters

The table shows brief rules for growing asters in the open field.

Growing asters from seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground

Aster seeds are planted either directly on the flower bed, or first grow seedlings in glasses. Early varieties are transferred to open ground in the first weeks of spring, so that the bushes will please with flowering in July. Varieties in which the budding process is activated later are sown at the end of April or May, until the temperature warms up above 10 degrees. Non-seedling asters require more maintenance and flower much later than greenhouse bushes.

Sowing seeds of asters is organized in shallow grooves (up to 0.5 cm), abundantly moistened with water. The sealed seeds are sprinkled with earth. When dry warm weather sets in, the furrows are covered from above with mulch or any material. It is removed after waiting for green shoots to appear above the ground. It is necessary to re-cover crops only if forecasters predict the return of spring frosts.Seedlings are thinned at the stage of formation of the 2nd or 3rd true leaflet. Moreover, a distance of about 10-15 cm is left between the seedlings.

From the moment of sowing to flowering, about 90 days pass for early varieties and 110 days for mid-early varieties, in which the baskets bloom in the first week of August. Late Astrovye bloom in 120-130 days. It is possible to observe their flowering only in the last days of summer or in September. The baskets are kept on the stem until the first autumn frosts begin.

Gardeners sow seeds in open ground both in spring and before winter. Winter sowing involves embedding the material into frozen ground in pre-dug grooves. This method has its advantages, namely: the plants that hatch next year have good resistance to fusarium disease.

With the arrival of spring, as soon as the seedlings appear above the surface, they begin thinning. When choosing seed, it is important to remember the fact that flower seeds remain viable for 1-2 years. Stale seeds germinate with difficulty, the yield percentage is almost halved.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Asters of late varieties are planted very first on seedlings. Seedlings can be planted from mid-March to mid-April. What features exist when planting asters for seedlings with seeds? Aster is susceptible to such a disease as fusarium, so it is best to shed crops with phytosporin. After germination, it is necessary to observe the correct temperature regime, otherwise the bush may bloom later or bloom with small flowers. Growing asters from seeds is not troublesome, and the result will certainly please.

Sowing dates for seedlings are different for each variety. The range is from the first days of April to the end of May. A week before sowing, in order to speed up the process of pecking the seedlings, the material is pre-soaked in a cloth napkin, which is immersed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After waiting for about 10 hours, squeeze excess liquid from the fabric. Wrapping it in plastic, keep it in a warm place until the seeds germinate.

A pot or wooden box is filled with a nutrient medium. Furrows are made on the surface and the seeds that have hatched by that time are evenly distributed. A layer of sand no more than 1 cm thick is poured on top. The crops are sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate. It should have a slightly pink tint. The container is placed under glass or covered with foil. Then they are removed to the heat, the temperature is monitored - the optimal mode is 20-22 degrees.

Fresh flower seeds from last year's harvest sprout faster. The first shoots can be expected on the third day. Then the seed container is transferred to a room where the air temperature is up to 16 degrees. Plants, which have formed 3-4 leaves, dive, shortening too long roots. The pick is carried out into the substrate mixed with wood ash.

Seedlings can be hardened before planting in the ground. It is undesirable to grow aster after tulips, gladioli, levkoy, tomato and potatoes. The ideal predecessors of asters in a flower bed are marigolds and calendula. You should not fertilize the culture with manure, such an environment contributes to the development of fusarium. It is advisable to change the landing site of the aster every year. For the prevention of fusarium, the bushes are sprayed with a manganese solution. Top dressing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, nitrogen fertilizers only at the beginning of the season are welcome. Watering is rare, but abundant.

Planting an aster in open ground

The best time to plant

A week after the picking, the flowers need to be fed with a mixture of complex fertilizers. After that, they are regularly fed with this fertilizer until they are planted on the site (once a week).

The hardened seedlings are hardened. The boxes are left outdoors every day, gradually increasing the hardening time.When the time comes to transplant the asters to the flower bed, the bushes will have a strong stem and 6-8 large green leaf plates. Planting seedlings of asters in open ground should begin in April-May. Seedlings grown by seedlings show resistance to frost. If the temperature drops below 3-4 degrees at night, nothing will happen to young asters. They start disembarking in the evening.

Aster loves transplanting, its roots are capable of regeneration even during the flowering period, so feel free to transplant the bushes many times and this will only improve the quality of the flowers.

Landing rules

In order for the seedlings to quickly adapt and fully develop, it is important to choose the right site. Asters are planted on the sunny side of the garden where the soil is nutritious and well-drained. In a neutral environment, seedlings will feel comfortable.

The plot is preliminarily prepared, namely: in the fall, deep digging is done and compost or humus is added to the flower bed (with the calculation of 2-4 kg of nutrient mixture per 1 sq. M.). As soon as the soil thaws in the spring, the flower bed is re-dug up. The soil is enriched with potassium salt (15-20 g), superphosphate (20-40 g) and ammonium sulfate (15-20 g). The listed components are taken per 1 sq. m plot. If the soil contains excess nutrients, it is not necessary to feed it.

Before planting the bushes from the box, the site is cleared of weeds, loosened and leveled the surface. Dry soil is slightly moistened. If the seedlings were purchased from a store or market, it is not known how long the rhizome was dry. Several deep grooves are made, watered with water and the bushes are lowered, sprinkling the root zone with earth, tamped.

An interval of at least 20 cm is adhered to between the bushes (some varieties can grow). The distance between adjacent furrows is about 50 cm. If you sprinkle them with dry soil, the flowers will have enough moisture for several days, starting from the day of transplantation. Nitrogen-containing dressings are added after a couple of weeks.

Caring for asters in the garden

Astra is a rather unpretentious perennial. If you follow all the recommendations, there will be no serious problems with growing a plant.

Watering

Watering plays a significant role in proper care. Astra negatively tolerates overdrying of the soil, however, stagnant liquid is fraught with consequences. If the weather is dry and hot for a long time, the intervals between watering are increased, but more water is added under the bushes than on ordinary days. For 1 sq. m consume about 30 liters of water. As soon as the soil dries out, the procedure is completed by loosening the surface. If the soil under the asters is very dry, the plantings will weaken and flowering will be poor.

When loosening, it is important to completely remove weeds, which suck food and water at the roots. Weeding around the bushes is organized after each watering or rain, immersing the hoe no deeper than 4-6 cm. Until the lateral stems appear, the plants are spud to a height of 6-8 cm, then the root system will grow faster.

Top dressing

You can influence the decorative effect by systematic feeding. In one season, representatives of the Astrovs are fed three times. The first time fertilization is applied in 1-2 weeks, after the plants are planted on the site. Consumption of minerals: 10 g of potassium sulfate, 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 50 g of superphosphate. The next feeding is organized at the stage of laying the baskets. For 1 sq. m flower beds take 50 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate. The last mineral feed is timed to the time of flowering. Fertilizers are used in the same amount as in the previous time.

Compliance with simple rules for caring for asters will preserve the splendor of the flowers and prevent lignification of young shoots.

Asters after flowering

Winter sowing

Faded annual asters are dug up and thrown outside the site. Pests can hide on the bushes. Seeds of this year are allowed to be sown as soon as the first frosts pass.They are scattered into previously prepared grooves, sprinkled with humus or peat on top. Subwinter sowing is allowed in winter, for example, in December or January. To do this, lightly tamp the snow and make grooves. The seeds are planted in the same way as in the fall, covering them with a thin layer of peat.

The advantage of winter sowing is that the thaw will no longer harm future seedlings. In the spring, after the snow melts, the site is protected with a film, then the seedlings will sprout faster.

Seed collection

The readiness to collect seed is determined by the condition of the inflorescences. When the bud withers and darkens, it is cut off. White fluff in the middle of the flower is a sign of seed ripening. The inflorescence is stored in a paper bag until it is completely dry. On the back, a note is made indicating the name of the variety and the date of collection.

Preparation for wintering

In the autumn period, the rhizome is dug up, the bushes are divided into parts and planted in a new place, trying not to harm the root system of the flower during transplantation.

Perennials are frost-resistant, therefore, in regions with a pronounced winter, plants winter painlessly in open ground conditions. At a young age, the bushes before wintering are recommended to be covered with withered foliage, or peat, or spruce branches. The site is covered only after cutting off all dried stems. After waiting for spring, the planting is freed from the leaves so that the vegetative process starts.

It is not recommended to grow asters in one place for more than five years in a row. This leads to a degeneration of the variety and a modification of the form, the shoots are stretched and pale.

Growing difficulties

• Seedlings do not germinate for a long time, grow slowly or seem lethargic. It is necessary to reseed asters again, to select a new improved composition of the substrate.
• Fusarium traces on the leaves. Annual varieties should not be planted in areas where representatives of Solanaceous crops previously grew, namely: tomatoes and potatoes. The last year's neighborhood of carnations, tulips, gladioli and levkoi also negatively affects the development of asters. Asters can be grown on these beds only after 5 years. The risk of infection of annuals with Fusarium here increases significantly. Avoid organic fertilizing - fresh manure for asters as fertilizer is contraindicated.
• Flower baskets are not fully formed. The problem may lie in insects - spider mites or aphids. Bushes weakened by pests lack nutrients.

Diseases of asters

Fusarium

Almost all annual asters have insufficient resistance to fusarium diseases. The causative agent of the disease is fungi of the genus Fusarium. The diseased bush begins to wither away gradually. Moreover, the disease can affect only some of the stems, but over time, Fusarium affects the entire plant. The vegetative mass turns yellow and fades. Even modern agrotechnical medicines are not able to completely heal a flower. Bushes with symptoms of fusarium are promptly destroyed, otherwise the disease will quickly spread to healthy specimens.

To reduce the risk of fusarium disease, you need to take aster seeds that are resistant to this disease, genetically more resistant. Second: grow asters in the same place no earlier than five years later. The Fusarium fungus is a permanent inhabitant of soils, especially acidic and low-humus soils. The fungus mainly affects weakened plants, therefore it is very important to observe prevention and follow the rules of crop rotation on the site, water the ground with a solution of Maxim, Fitosporin. No need to sow and plant asters on compost soil. Aster, like dahlias, do well when they are sown in a cold nursery, along with cabbage. These are cold crops that do not tolerate a dry climate in an apartment, which is why they often get sick.

Blackleg

Asters also suffer from "black leg" - a type of dangerous fungal disease. Seedlings are especially vulnerable to disease during the seedling period.The plant first darkens, then the root collar decays along with the base of the stem. The causative agent of the "black leg" lurks in soils with an acidic environment. The affected flowers are dug up and burned, and the area is disinfected with a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate. If the number of healthy plants is much lower than the number of diseased plants, then healthy specimens are simply transplanted into separate pots.

Rust

Some varieties, with improper care, develop rust, which is indicated by swelling that appears on the seamy side of the leaves. Spores are found inside the infected foci. The plates of the affected plants wither and dry out over time. A flowerbed with asters is broken as far as possible from coniferous trees and shrubs. They are considered to be the sources of rust spores entering the soil. To reduce the risk of disease, flowers are treated with Bordeaux mixture (1% solution). Already diseased bushes are sprayed once a week.

Jaundice

Asters often develop a viral disease called jaundice. The carriers of the infection are leafhoppers or aphids. At first, the leaf blades brighten, then general chlorosis of the bush sets in, which is reflected in the growth of stems and buds. Flower baskets take on a pale green color. In order to prevent infection of seedlings with jaundice, all attention is directed to the pathogens. The ground part is treated with special insecticidal preparations: Pyrimor, Aktellik or Pyrethrum.

Aster pests

Flowers attract prairie bugs, slobbering pennits, slugs, common earwigs, spider mites, and kidney aphids. An integrated approach is needed to protect plantings from pests.

As soon as harmful insects settle on the flowers, it is better not to postpone treatment. They use both chemicals and folk methods. To destroy the plowed slug, the stems are treated with Metaldehyde. You can also collect insects by hand and then destroy them. Fundazole is effective against the common earwig. A solution of Phosphamide, Karbofos or Pyrethrum will help to remove the scoop, meadow bug, slobbering penny and spider mite.

A few more nuances for growing garden asters:

• At the end of the season, the site must be dug up, and the digging must be deep, not superficial.
• Roots and stems are removed from the flower bed. These parts die off for the winter, so they get rid of them anyway.
• Varieties of annual and perennial asters are selected, taking into account the characteristics and location of the garden plot.
• Lean soil is diluted with compost and humus or lime is added.
• Seedlings are planted at a distance from each other, otherwise the stems will stretch and become thinner.
• Please note that seedlings in the garden are easy to lose among the weeds.
• The shelf life of seeds is no more than 2 years.
• Asters do not tolerate stagnant air and water and get sick very easily if it is too humid.

Types and varieties of asters with photos and names

Not all growers can distinguish a perennial aster from a garden one with a hundred percent probability. Scientists distinguish the genus of perennial and annual asters into one group, and the so-called garden aster has only some resemblance to the original and is a close relative of the flower in question. One year old aster is often confused with chrysanthemums, dahlias or peonies.

Annual asters

The annual aster or callistephus, as it is designated in specialized literature, belongs to a monotypic genus of flowering crops. The birthplace of the flower is China. By structure, the plant belongs to the Compositae family.

For cultivation, both annual and biennial varieties of asters are used. Gardeners among themselves call it "garden or Chinese aster." Scientists are still completing the classification, the variety of varieties of Chinese aster is amazing. The flower was first mentioned in 1825. The name for this single species was invented by Karl Linnaeus. Today there are about 4 thousand items.

Garden aster has simple or branched stems, colored in juicy green, and sometimes red. The underground organ is powerful, branches widely and is firmly held in the ground. Petiole leaf plates sit in the next direction, and the inflorescences-baskets, having reached maturity, are filled with achenes. There are about four thousand cultivated varieties of annual asters. It is the "Chinese aster" that gardeners grow on their plots, if they choose annuals to decorate the flower beds.

Early flowering perennial asters

There are much fewer representatives of early flowering asters than autumn flowering ones. These include only Alpine, Bessarabian and Italian asters.

Alpine aster (Aster alpinus)

It blooms in May, the height of the stems reaches 30 cm. The largest baskets grow up to 5 cm. In shape, they resemble simple daisies. Alpine aster is often planted in rockeries. Famous varieties:

• Glory - a flower of medium size, grows up to 25 cm, inflorescences are bluish-blue, the middle is bright yellow;
• Wargrave- a bush up to 30 cm high, blooming in mid-May or June, distinguished by delicate pink baskets with a yellow disc.

Italian aster (Aster amellus)

The flowering phase of the Italian aster falls in the first half of summer. The length of the bushes is about 70 cm, the inflorescences are large enough, the petals stick out tightly to each other. The plant will look great in rockeries and rocky gardens. Common varieties:

• Rosea - asters with tubular brownish and pink reed petals, bloom starts in June, the duration of the bouquet period is about 3 months;
• Rudolf Goeth - the diameter of large scutes is from 4 to 5 cm, the color of the tubular petals is in yellow tones, and the reed petals are in purple.

Aster bessarabian (Aster bessarabicus)

Bushes reach 75 cm, stems are lilac baskets with a light brown center.

Autumn flowering perennial asters

Shrub aster (Aster dumosus)

The plant comes from North America. The height of the shoots varies between 20-60 cm. The bushes have a large number of leaves, which we add decorativeness to them. On the site, they look spectacular and resemble shrubby boxwood. The best varieties: Niobe, Alba flora Plena, Blue Bird.

Aster novi-belgii (Aster novi-belgii), or santbrinki

The well-known Sentbrinks have an official botanical name - Novobelgian aster. These flowers are undemanding to care for, bloom in autumn and perfectly tolerate winter frosts. The culture is widespread in regions located in the middle latitudes. These are vigorous flowers up to 1.4 m high. In addition, there are dwarf varieties. Their length does not exceed 30-45 cm.

The generative organ is represented by panicle inflorescences. The color of the flowers is predominantly white, blue or purple, but delicate burgundy and pink shades can often be seen. Dwarf varieties: Snowsprite, Jenny, Audrey. Medium-sized varieties: Royal Velvet, Winston S. Churchill. High grades: Dusty Rose and Desert Blue.

Many flower growers advise to water santbrinks sometimes with phytosporin or diluted residues of dairy products during the summer to prevent powdery mildew.

New England aster (Aster novae-angliae)

The plant is popular in mid-latitude countries. Compared to other Asterians, representatives of this genus are very tall, they can reach more than 1.6 m. In appearance, the flowers are similar to the New Belgian aster. The culture has a lush flowering, medium-sized baskets. Prefers well-lit areas with drained soil, but partial shade is also suitable.

The culture needs an abundance of nutrients, especially during flowering. Under favorable growing conditions, it does not require complex care. The place is chosen moderately humid so as not to expose the plant to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. It grows into large and powerful shrubs, but it looks compact and keeps its shape well. The leaves are lanceolate in shape.

Numerous miniature lilac-purple flowers bloom in mid-autumn. In diameter, they reach up to 5 cm. Most varieties are frost-resistant. The plant blooms in September-October, flowers fall only with the first frost.

Classification of asters

All varieties of asters are divided by flowering time: early, middle, late.

By the height of the stems, there are dwarf, undersized, medium-sized, vigorous and giant bushes. The lowest of them barely grow up to 25 cm, and the tallest reach more than 80 cm.

There are also 3 groups of Asteraceae, which differ in the purpose of growing:

• casing - compact bushes designed for growing in pots or small flower beds;
• cutoff - tall bushes, decorated with dense baskets on long legs from hemispherical to spherical shape with a diameter of 12-15 cm;
• universal - of medium size, they are used for cutting and planting in flower beds or mixborders, a powerful peduncle sticks out of the ground.

If you want to grow asters for cutting, then buy higher varieties, if you want to plant a beautiful border - dwarf and compact.

According to the structure of inflorescences, asters are divided into 3 types:

• tubular - inflorescences, which consist only of tubular petals;
• transitional - complex buds, which are formed from one or two rows of marginal reed petals, and small tubular flowers are collected in the center;
• reed - baskets fully formed from reed flowers.

Reed asters are divided into several types:

• Non-double simple. Inflorescences are borne, which are formed from 1-2 rows of reed flowers along the edge of the basket and a large disc of small yellow tubular petals in the center. Famous varieties: Edelweiss, Pinocchio, Waldersee, Salome, Margarita, Madeleine.
• Crown asters. Their distinctive feature is terry baskets, consisting of long tubular petals in the middle and reed along the edge. Notable varieties: Ariake, Tikuma, Aurora, Prinetta, Princess, Ramona and Fantasy.
• Semi-double - Victoria, Matsumoto, Mignon, Rosette.
• Curly asters. They are characterized by wide reed flowers, twisted into a spiral, which gives the baskets an attractive appearance. This group includes such varieties as Comet, Tiger Pavz, Ostrich feather, Queen of the market.
• Spherical asters - Milady, Lido, Triumph, American Beauty, Germany.
• Tranny - with short ligulate flowers, bent outward. Varieties: Voronezh, Victoria and Thousandshen.
• Acicular - are distinguished by narrow ribbon reed petals. The following varieties are cultivated on the plots: Record, Exotic, Riviera, Star, Compliment, Risen.
• Hemispherical asters - with flat, like a rook, ligulate flowers. Popular variety series: Miss, Amor, Rosovidnaya, Pomponnaya aster.

There is no color classification yet. The color of perennials is very diverse. Botanical nurseries even grow bicolor varieties. The rich compositions of the Astrovs are grown in flower pots, containers, on verandas, terraces or balconies. They will add coziness and autumn nostalgic colors to any space.