Annual aster: description and characteristics, features of planting and care

One of the most common and picky flowers that our gardeners love so much is the annual aster. It's amazing how many varieties it has. Varieties differ in shape, flower size and amazing colors. And the main feature of Callistefus is complete unpretentiousness, which allows even a beginner to grow a flower garden.

Description and characteristics of annual asters

Annual asters have characteristic advantages that distinguish them from perennials and other similar flowers:

• great variety;
• picky about soil conditions;
• plant quickly reaches flowering phase;
• no need to care when forming a bush;
• flowering lasts a long time, up to 50 days;
• survives short-term frosts.

Color varieties

Now there are about 40 groups of annual asters and more than four thousand varieties. Plants are usually classified by:

• bush growth;
• on the arrangement of inflorescences;
• for the purpose of cultivation.

Important! Before buying seeds, it is always recommended to make sure that the specified variety is suitable for the content. Therefore, you should buy seeds and seedlings only from trusted sellers.

Bouquet

As the name suggests, the flower aster is grown to make colorful bouquets.It has a medium height and is characterized by abundant flowering. Seeds are recommended to be sown at the end of March, and with the appearance of the first shoots, they can be planted in open ground according to the 5x5 scheme. Seedlings can be moved to the flower bed as early as mid-May, June.

Duchesse

One-year undersized aster, excellent for breeding at home. The average height of the bush reaches 30 centimeters, the circumference of the flowers is from 7 to 12. Flowers are often grown on window sills, in pots and containers. The plant is resistant to short frosts, and blooms until stable hard frosts.

Shrub cutter

Cut aster, on the contrary, has a large growth, up to 75 centimeters, and small flowers (no more than 5 centimeters). The bush cut aster blooms for a surprisingly long time - from June to September. Grown in open ground. Astra is resistant to climatic changes and various diseases.Grow exclusively in seedlings.

Needle

Astra Needle is a tall plant with massive terry inflorescences. The plant blooms late, the period lasts from mid-August until heavy frosts. And the life span of a cut flower is 2-3 weeks. When leaving, it is required to provide a certain amount of sunlight and completely eliminate the stagnation of moisture in the soil.

Pionoid

Amazingly beautiful Astra Peony has a stable bush resembling a cone (thickened from below, thinning towards the top). The flowers are large - up to 10 centimeters, have a spherical shape. Blooms for a short time - from mid-August to late September. Planting is recommended by seedling method.

Pink

Aster Rosea is distinguished by a pleasant pink inflorescence and the height of shrubs (60-70 centimeters).The shape of the bush is stable cone-shaped. Inflorescences on one plant - up to 25 pieces. The most popular representative of the variety is Lady Coral. Maintains a decorative look in all climates.

Claws

Classic medium-sized aster is popular in Central Asia. Great for urban flower beds and flower gardens. Pleases the eye since July with dense foliage and spreading ray inflorescences. Has many varieties: Fire King, Chinchilla, Jewel, Carmelita.

Chrysanthemum-shaped

A characteristic feature of this variety of aster are large flowers with wide pointed petals. During flowering, the plant is easy to confuse with chrysanthemum, but medium bushes (up to 60 centimeters) and amazing brightness of flowers do not allow you to make a mistake. The plant is characterized by multiple flowers and a long shelf life.

Coronal

The tall variety of the annual aster belongs to the early flowering ones. Inflorescences are terry, compacted, with many tube-shaped petals. The variety is often used to decorate flower beds and summer cottages.

Globular

Aster Spherical - the most spectacular of all the bushes. The plant is medium-sized, with small bright inflorescences. Flowers completely cover the trunk and form an amazing dome. The Globular Aster is not used in bouquets, but the plant looks elegant on the site.

Fit features

For the annual aster, as for any other plant, the most important role is played by the soil for planting. Therefore, experts recommend preparing the soil in the fall: dig up, moisten, saturate with fertilizers. There are two ways to plant an aster: seedling and seedless.

Seedling method

The seedling method involves sowing seeds in special boxes, and only after the first leaves appear, the plant can be planted in open ground. The seedling method provides protection against possible changes in climatic conditions and allows you to provide proper timely care.

Seedless way

In open ground, seeds can be planted for the winter, but this is risky. While the seeds are in the soil, nothing threatens them, but germinated plants can freeze. After the appearance of the second stronger leaf, it is recommended to thin out with the calculation of a distance of 15 centimeters between the bushes.

Aster care

Annual asters are extremely unpretentious plants, so they do not need special care. It is required to initially provide fertile soil and timely watering. Sometimes it is recommended to weed the beds to improve the aesthetic appearance.And if you feed the plants 1-2 times, then the inflorescences will be larger and the stems more stable.

Irrigation

Excess water is detrimental to the annual aster, so watering should be moderate. There is no standard watering regimen for the plant, it is calculated based on soil absorption.

Important! Water should not be allowed to stagnate in the soil - these are the best conditions for the appearance of rot.

Fertilizer

When applying fertilizers for annual asters, it is recommended to proceed as follows:

1. 2.5 weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground, it is required to fertilize the plants with a standard set of mineral supplements. The quantity is calculated as follows: 50 grams per square meter.
2. At an early stage of bud development, you can apply an additional portion of fertilizer with a content of potassium and phosphorus.

Loosening and mulching

Important! The formation of a hardened crust from the soil at the roots of Callistefus should be avoided. To do this, it is recommended to resort to loosening and further mulching.

However, do not bury the roots deep. Also, during this procedure, you can easily remove unnecessary weeds.

Asters care after flowering

Since asters are annuals, it is not necessary to count on the long life of the flower, but many grow seeds on their own. To do this, it is not recommended to get rid of the inflorescences, but to wait for the seeds to appear. Collect them, and only after that get rid of the bushes. It is important to capture the root system as well so that it does not interfere with next year.

Diseases and how to treat them

Diseases that often affect annual asters:

1. Fusarium wilt.
2. Late blight.
3. Rust.
4. Spotting.
5. Brown rot.

Many gardeners are of the opinion that it is easier to destroy infected plants and plant new ones than to treat. However, symptoms appear when there is an excess of nitrogen or moisture in the soil. Often a decrease in indicators is enough for a full recovery.

Pests and methods of their destruction

The main pests of the annual aster are:

• farmed slug;
• common earwig;
• sunflower moth;
• slobbering pennitsa;
• meadow bug.

Special treatments, elementary digging and lime treatment of borders successfully help to fight pests.

Possible difficulties in growing asters

Annual asters are unpretentious, and do not cause additional difficulties for gardeners. However, sometimes it can be difficult to choose a watering regimen. With a high neglect of the flower bed, it is also difficult to get rid of weeds and excess plant sprouts. But the beauty of the flower garden is worth it.

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