When to plant and how to grow asters from seeds

Asters have won the hearts of many gardeners thanks to their attractive appearance and low maintenance requirements. Many decide to grow asters from seeds but don't know when to plant them. To ensure the flowers delight with long and abundant blooms, it's important to provide them with the most comfortable growing and living conditions. And, of course, special care is essential. What flowerbeds? bloom all summer.

Sowing dates

Growing asters from seeds usually begins in late March or early April, when the weather outside is relatively stable and the soil is warm enough for the seeds to thrive. If sowing aster seeds directly into the ground, sow them a little later, in late April or early May, or in late fall, when the ground has already frozen.

If sowing seeds in the spring, prepare a spot in the garden bed in the fall. Once the seeds are in the ground, cover them with two layers of special material. To harden off the plants, remove the covering when there is no wind and the temperature does not drop below 7 degrees Celsius. Wait until May to completely remove the covering.

If you sow seeds for seedlings, you'll need about 1.5 months before sowing them outdoors. For example, sowing aster seeds for seedlings on March 25th will yield shoots by May 20th-25th. The time from germination to flowering for this flower is 80-140 days. If you want the flowers to bloom even earlier, you should sow them as early as March. Information on when to plant asters for growing from seed is usually provided on the packaging. open roses after winter.

To ensure aster seedlings thrive, prepare the appropriate soil. Specifically, it should be light, loose, and humus-rich. To prepare the soil, mix three parts turf, two parts peat, and one part river sand, and add two tablespoons of wood ash. Pour this soil mixture in equal parts into the seedling containers.

Mixing the soil yourself isn't always possible. In this case, an alternative is to use a ready-made potting mix and add ash and sand. If the soil is prepared correctly, the risk of plant disease is minimized. However, just in case, you can treat the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing and germination

Since aster seeds are quite large, they can be spaced apart in containers. Before planting, water the soil. Bury the seeds in moist soil to a depth of no more than one centimeter. Then, cover the containers with plastic wrap to prevent the plants from drying out and place them in a bright location. To ensure the first shoots appear as early as possible, it's important to keep the soil moist but not overwatered, as this will cause the plants to rot. Temperature control is also important; the optimal temperature for seedlings is 18-20 degrees Celsius.

Important! As soon as the first shoots become visible, the containers with seedlings should be moved closer to the window, where it is light and cool.

When the first two full leaves appear, the seedlings can be transplanted into individual cups. Flower seedlings are quite fragile, but have a weak spot at the transition from the stem to the root. Therefore, before transplanting them into cups, water the soil thoroughly. After 30 minutes, use a match to remove the asters and transplant them into the prepared cups.

Rules for caring for seedlings and transplanting into open ground

Growing asters from seedsWe've already figured out when to plant (photos and videos). But how do you care for the plant and plant it in open ground? Asters need to be watered infrequently, but generously. The cups or pots where the seedlings are growing should have good drainage to allow excess moisture to drain away.

If the soil for seedlings is prepared correctly, there's no need to fertilize it during the growing season. Before planting outdoors, the plant needs to be prepared. Specifically, hardening off the plant. To do this, take the seedling cups outside, increasing the amount of time they remain outdoors each time.

Asters: growing from seeds, when to plant outdoors in Siberia and other regions? The best time for most regions is mid- to late May. However, after sowing, the plants need to be covered until the first days of June. Plant them 20 centimeters apart. Asters branch well and bloom profusely and profusely, so there won't be any gaps in the garden bed, even at this distance. Choose a sunny spot for aster flowers, and the soil should be mild.

Important! Before sowing asters in open ground, it is not necessary to add fresh manure to it.

Asters are generally easy-to-grow plants, but they prefer loose soil. Therefore, you should occasionally loosen the soil yourself.

How to care for asters in open ground

• Asters love light and tolerate cold well. They grow best in non-acidic, loamy soil. To ensure lush blooms, choose a location out of shade.
• Asters can tolerate frost as long as temperatures don't drop below -5 degrees Celsius. However, they dislike heat and drought, as these conditions are detrimental to plant growth.
• When growing asters outdoors, they need to be regularly weeded, fertilized, and protected from pests and various diseases. Proper watering is also important.
• The plant is watered at the root, without raising the watering can or watering hose too high.
• The first time you need to fertilize the plant is when the budding period begins. Ready-made mineral fertilizer complexes, which can be purchased at a gardening store, are suitable for this.
• The second feeding is done when flower buds begin to form. Use the same fertilizer as the first.

Advice! Wood ash is a good fertilizer for asters, as it contains many microelements necessary for the full growth of asters.

Asters begin blooming 3.4 months after planting. Flowering continues until the onset of severe frost. Provided with all the necessary conditions for growth and development, asters will surely delight you with their beautiful, vibrant buds and become a favorite addition to any flowerbed!