Chinese Astra: description of varieties, planting, growing and care with photos

Flower lovers do not forget asters, dear to their hearts. Now their collection is complemented by new varieties. Breeders have improved the characteristics: frost resistance, resistance to diseases, pests - this is a Chinese garden aster. The range of colors captivates, fascinates even people who are indifferent to colors. One bush can have 40 or more peduncles with different shades. This makes the bush majestic, unsurpassed.

Description and characteristics of the Chinese aster

The Chinese aster has a powerful root system, but does not go deep. The superficial location of the root allows you to painlessly separate part of the flowers for propagation, cutting. The bush can be sprawling and pyramidal.

The abundance of colors does not belong to the Chinese aster - these are different varieties. Among them there are not only ordinary tones: white, red, yellow, but there are also such colors as blue, purple, lilac. This is rare for other colors.

There are specimens with a double color, when one shade is in the center, it borders another or cuts the flower into pieces with shades.

Inflorescences can be spherical, round flattened. Diameter - miniature, medium, large. The growth of the bush varies from 20 to 90 centimeters. They are grown as annuals and biennials, by seed, seedlings. Chinese aster takes root in any region.

Popular varieties

Chinese aster has many varieties. Conventionally, they can be divided by height (in centimeters):

dwarf - 20;
undersized - 40;
mid-sized - 65;
giant - 90.

By the shape of a bush:

sprawling;
pyramidal;
columnar;
wide tight;
oval.

And also by the time of flowering, by the structure of the bush, by the size of the inflorescences. A popular variety is a mixture of cut varieties. The bush is columnar, up to 70 centimeters tall. The flowers are large, double, of various shades.

Serenade

Japanese breeders have bred the Astra Serenada variety from the Matsumoto series. Grow as an annual. Each new season, a different landing site is chosen to avoid Fusarium disease. The plant loves sunny areas.

Serenade grows as a shrub, each stem has many inflorescences. The flowers are semi-double, 3 cm in diameter, rising on tall peduncles. The range of colors - from white to burgundy shades, there are blue specimens. In the cut, they do not lose their original appearance for 2 weeks.

Dragon

The tall pyramidal bush strikes with grandeur. On the stem are large balls with twisting reed petals. Outwardly, the Dragon variety is similar to garden chrysanthemums. Bright flowers with iridescent hues.

Baloon

Variety Balun is formed by a bush of a pyramidal shape. The plant stretches up to 60 centimeters. Amazing large spherical inflorescences up to 15 centimeters in diameter. Terry flowers. The petals are so close to each other that the rain does not get inside. Up to 7 peduncles appear on each bush.

Princess

Princess Variety grows as an extensive bush. Height - 75 centimeters. Flowers in diameter vary from 9 to 13 centimeters. Petals are tubular, collected in balls. Shades of pastel colors emphasize the delicate image of the plant.

Old castle

A very small bush of a pyramidal shape, 70 centimeters high. It strikes with many peduncles - up to 40 pieces. Inflorescences of delicate shades: blue, pink, lilac, milky. The diameter of the balls is 10 centimeters. The petals curl inward.

Pom-poms

The shape of the bush is columnar. Height - 60 centimeters. Variety Pompoms with round flattened inflorescences. Flowers - up to 8 centimeters in diameter, scattered around the bush in the amount of 30 pieces. The incredible color of the buds will decorate any flower bed, flower garden. They look great in cut. Keep smell, appearance 2 weeks.

Reproduction of Chinese asters

Flowers are grown by seed, seedlings. The easiest method is by bushes. To do this, they dig up the root, separate part of the bush. Transferred to another place.

Growing flowers

Seeds are planted in open ground in three stages. But flowers will appear only 3 months after germination. Propagation by seedlings will speed up flowering. After 1.5 months, the buds will open.

Date of planting

In open ground, planting material is sown after the earth warms up, and frosts are not expected. In Central Russia, this period falls on April, May.

Soil sowing is also carried out in late autumn - after November 15, then it can be sown from December to February. The soil and grooves are prepared in advance. Sowing seeds for seedlings at home begins in early March.

Seed preparation

Planting material loses germination after 2 years by 50 percent. It is better to choose fresh seeds of the last harvest. Choose a planting site in advance so you know what height to expect. If a flower bed is planted, harmonious colors matter.

Seeds are prepared in two ways:

Germination. Prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate, wet a napkin and wrap the seeds. In a week, sprouts will appear. Periodically moisten the napkin so that the seeds do not dry out.
Soaking. For a day, the planting material is lowered into the same solution.

Potassium permanganate protects flowers from infectious diseases.

Planting seeds for seedlings and caring for them

You can sow planting material in peat pots, containers. If the second option is used, a dive will be required. The soil for seedlings is chosen nutritious: soddy land, sand 3: 1. Vermiculite is added for breathability. Self-prepared soil is disinfected.

Seeds are sown to a depth of 1 centimeter, covered with a layer of sand. Spill the soil abundantly and cover the container with a film. Seedlings are kept at a temperature of 23 degrees. Shoots will appear in 7-10 days.

Shelter is removed, the air temperature is reduced by 5 degrees. Re-watering is carried out after seed germination. Provide lighting to seedlings - 12 hours. If the seeds are planted in boxes, if there are 2 leaves, they pick.

After 10 days, fertilize with complex microfertilizers. When 4 leaves are formed, re-feeding is made. Seedlings are hardened off before planting in open ground. Start with 30 minutes, gradually increase the time.

Transplanting flowers in open ground

In early June, seedlings are sent to open ground.

Prepare the ground in advance.
In autumn they dig up the earth on a spade bayonet and bring in humus.
In the spring they cultivate the land and add mineral fertilizers.
Chinese aster prefers neutral soil. Take a test and adjust the reaction of the soil.
The holes are prepared and watered abundantly.

Peat cups are planted in holes and pressed down with earth. At the same time, they deepen 2 centimeters lower than the glass, deepen the overgrown seedlings by 5.

Care Process

After planting in open ground, the plant needs: watering, loosening, top dressing. As well as the fight against weeds, diseases, pests.

Feeding and watering

In dry summers, watering is plentiful, but rare. 3 buckets of water are poured per square meter. In the first dressing after planting, mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil. The second top dressing is carried out with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers during the period of active flowering.

Loosening and mulching

After each watering, when the earth dries out, the soil is loosened. Since the root system is close to the surface, loosening should not be carried out deeper than 5 centimeters. Remove weeds. The soil is mulched to retain moisture and prevent weed growth.

Preparing for winter

Chinese aster endures the winter without shelter. In the northern regions, where frosts exceed 40 degrees, it is still worth playing it safe. The bush is cut and covered with leaves, humus. Use weathered peat.

Various diseases and pests

Astra can become infected with Fusarium. To prevent this from happening, you should follow some requirements for agricultural technology:

change landing site every year;
do not use compost, replace with humus;
give free air access to the bushes - when planting, the variety is taken into account for growth and tillering;
do not fill the ground.

If the disease has struck, dispose of the bush and burn it. Aster can be attacked by slugs, bud aphids. You can prevent the invasion of aphids in advance - the seedlings are treated with Chlorophos for preventive purposes. Metaldehyde is used in the fight against slugs.

Possible growing errors

Prudent flower growers cover flowers for the winter with spruce branches. It may be good for other plants. But asters, from the presence of conifers nearby, can get sick with rust.

Astra prefers soil with a neutral reaction. Do not rush to plant seedlings in any soil. Take a clod of earth and divide it into 2 parts. Pour with vinegar, if there is a reaction, and bubbles will appear - the soil is what you need - neutral; no, sour. If the earth is acidic, add dolomite flour or lime.