Astra New English: description of varieties, features of planting and care with photos

Deep autumn pleases with various colors. But these are the colors of the leaves, which change color from the cold. A piece of summer is brought into the cold weather by the New England American aster. Depending on the variety, you can see the iridescent colors of huge bushes. Each plant has many bright inflorescences that cannot but please the eye and cheer you up.

Description and characteristics of New England (American) perennial asters

The eastern regions of North America are considered the birthplace of the New England or New Belgian aster. It grows in a bush, the shape is back pyramidal. Among the many varieties of bushes, mostly medium, tall, giant - 0.5-2 meters. In girth, the bush spreads up to 80 centimeters.

Grown as a bushy perennial. It differs from other species in the abundance of peduncles - up to 200 pieces on one bush.

The sprawling root system of the aster allows the plant to be propagated by the bush method. Astra recovers quickly.

Rainbow colors allow you to decorate them with borders, flower beds, arrange compositions. The New England aster looks great with undersized plants. Flowers 2-4 cm in diameter. Reed petals, sometimes in several rows, sit in a ring above the tubular ones. A tight fit to each other creates the impression of terry.Stems are bare or hairy. Branched above. Leaves lanceolate, sessile, green.

Varieties of varieties

New England aster has many varieties.

Bars Pink

Giant bush (1.5 meters) Asters Bars Pink has many inflorescences.The diameter of the flower is 3-4 centimeters. In the center are tubular petals of a yellow, red hue. Reed, simple petals of pink, lilac color sit around. The plant looks beautiful in groups and singly. In the cut, one stem replaces the bunch.

Braumeen

Perennial aster Braumeen with spreading root system. Reproduces vegetatively and by seeds. Stretches up to 120-130 centimeters. Tubular petals inside yellow, dirty orange. Reed petals are mostly lilac. Decorates flower beds, flower beds. When cut, it lasts up to 2 weeks without losing its smell and appearance.

Rote Stern

The powerful aster bush Rote Stern can stretch up to 150 centimeters. A giant bush with numerous inflorescences will decorate any front garden, flower bed. Aster flowers resemble chamomile. Inside the inflorescence are tubular, the petals are brown. The outer ring of reed petals is wine red.Pleased with flowering in the autumn - up to 30 days. If you remove the dried inflorescences, the duration of flowering can be increased.

Constance

No less beautiful variety of aster Constance. His height is 180 centimeters, he looks advantageous among undersized plants, green grass. There are 200 peduncles on the bush with miniature buds 3 centimeters. The center is framed by tubular petals of yellow or brown. The outer circle of the inflorescence is lilac. Astra Constance survives well in the northern regions, as it can withstand sub-zero temperatures up to 7 degrees.

Dr. Ekener

Astra Dr. Ekener belongs to tall varieties. Propagated by cuttings, division of the bush, seeds. Small inflorescences - up to 4 centimeters in diameter, collected in brushes. Tubular petals yellow, brown. Reed flowers of a red-violet hue. Astra pleases with flowering in October, when other plants fade.

Dr. Ekener cut variety remains in its original form for up to 15 days, provided that the water is changed daily. You can extend the period with a silver coin, a spoonful of sugar or aspirin. It is not recommended to plant small perennials near asters, they will kill them.

Reproduction of New Belgian

Astra New Belgian is grown by various methods. Vegetatively: cuttings, dividing the bush. Seeds: seedling and seedless method.

Seed propagation

One method of seed propagation is the seedless method. This method involves sowing seeds in open ground. Seeds are planted in 3 stages. In autumn, furrows are prepared, seeds are sown. The beds are watered abundantly and covered with humus. In winter, the grooves are prepared in advance. In winter, seeds are laid, sprinkled with earth and a shelter is made from organic materials. In the spring, after frost, the shelter is removed.

In spring, seeds are germinated or soaked before planting. Freshly harvested planting material does not need these procedures.

Sow seeds in furrows, covering with a 5 mm layer of soil. Produce abundant watering. Cover the landing with a film. When 3-4 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive. The distance between seedlings is 15 centimeters.

As soon as the seedling stretches up to 10 centimeters, it is transplanted to a permanent place. During planting, the distance between the bushes is taken into account, based on the characteristics.

Seedling method

Seeds for growing seedlings are germinated or soaked before sowing. It is not necessary to scarify, since the seeds do not have a dense box. The soil, for the purpose of disinfection, is shed with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or freezing, steaming is used.

As containers can be boxes, individual peat pots. The latter option injures the root system less, and the flowers take root faster. The soil is watered until wet.

1. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 centimeter and sprinkled with sand.
2. Cover the container. The room temperature is maintained at 22 degrees.
3. When shoots appear, the shelter is removed.
4. Reduce the temperature to 15-16 degrees.
5. When 3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate containers.

Dividing the bush

Gardeners often use a simple method - dividing the bush. At the age of 3 years, the plant is dug up and divided into sections. In each part, three new shoots with a root system are left. The procedure involves several functions:

• updates hive;
• new bushes will appear;
• required when changing landing site.

There is a second option. The bush is left in place. Cut off a part with a sharp shovel. Then they are divided into divisions and planted in a permanent place. The distance is maintained - 50x80 or 20x30 centimeters.

Cutting

Cut the cuttings from the top of the head by 15 centimeters. A branch with several buds is sent to a greenhouse to form a root system.

Features of cultivation

New England aster is unpretentious, and in the process of growing it is only important to fulfill the main requirements: choose the right planting time, place.

Optimal timing

Seeds are planted outdoors in three stages:

1. Deep autumn - the second decade of November.
2. Winter - sowing is possible from December to February.
3. Spring - April-May, after frost, when the earth is warm.

Seedlings, before planting in open ground, grow 65 days. Somewhere in March, aster is sown at home. The division of the bush is carried out at any time: in spring, summer, autumn, before or after flowering.

Preparation of seedlings

Seedlings are hardened before planting in open ground. Lower the temperature to 10 degrees. The procedure is carried out within 10 days.

Choosing a seat

New Belgian aster loves sunny areas. Shaded places contribute to the stretching of shoots, reduce the number of inflorescences. The plant does not tolerate cold winds. Does not tolerate stagnant water. Before planting, determine the depth of groundwater.

Planting method

Mid-sized varieties of New England asters are planted according to the scheme 30x50, giant - 80x60 centimeters.

How to care for flowers?

Simple actions required during flower growth: watering, top dressing, disease control, pests.

Water and humidity

In a hot summer, the New England aster is watered abundantly. The procedure is carried out after sunset. Pour 3 buckets of water under each bush. Watering is also required at the time of budding.

The frequency of watering depends on the humidity of the air. The higher the humidity, the less often watering. After watering, the earth is loosened. Just keep in mind that the roots are located close to the surface, so you can not go deeper than 5 centimeters.

Soil

Aster requires neutral nutrient soil. If the earth is acidic, add dolomite flour or lime.

Feeding

New England aster responds well to top dressing.

1. First dressing. Mineral fertilizer is applied when 4 leaves appear.
2. Second feeding. At the time of budding, complex fertilizers are applied.
3. Third feeding. During active flowering, potash-phosphorus fertilizer is applied.

Temperature

New England aster tolerates drought well. You will not see the plant drooping. Only the lower leaves will turn yellow. It also withstands autumn frosts up to 8 degrees.

Winter care

Winter hardiness is the main characteristic of the New Belgian asters. But even they will not endure frosts above 40 degrees. In harsh climatic conditions, the bushes are insulated for the winter. To do this, cut the stems so that there are stumps. Leaves are laid on top, humus.

Processing from pests, diseases

In the fight against fusarium, a solution with potassium permanganate is used. Seeds are soaked for 3 minutes and washed under water. If a bush is affected, all affected areas are removed, burned. He althy asters are sprayed with Fundazol.

Powdery mildew, gray rot affects perennials in the summer. Reasons: rainy weather, overflow. Bushes are treated with Topaz.They attack the New Belgian aster spider mite, aphid. The bushes are sprayed with a preparation that is harmless to bees, but deadly to pests - Aktofit.

Possible problems

Flower growers face some challenges growing New England aster.

1. Seeds do not germinate or appear in small numbers. Freshly harvested planting material must be used. Every year the germination rate decreases by 50%. Pay attention to the collection period when buying.
2. Astra is prone to Fusarium. Preventive treatment of seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate, fulfillment of agrotechnical requirements will help to prevent the disease: change the planting site after 3-5 years, do not plant thick bushes. Follow the soil moisture under the bush.
3. Scanty flowering. Perhaps due to planting a bush in the shade. From the lack of sun, the inflorescences thin out, and then the bush will not bloom at all.
4. The rust disease has appeared. So, they covered the aster with spruce branches. Conifers infect aster.

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