When and how to plant aster seedlings?

According to excerpts from biology textbooks, asters belong to the herbaceous group of plants and are directly related to the Compositae family. Thanks to their extraordinary appearance, you can decorate any part of the front garden or arrange a mini-flower bed on the balcony. Frost resistance and unpretentiousness are the very factors that gardeners all over the world appreciate. These qualities make it possible to decorate a private area even in late autumn.

Astra is an unpretentious plant that easily takes root when transplanted to a new soil, and most importantly, it perceives any climatic phenomena in certain regions. In a warm area, the planting process should be carried out in the first days of May, but if the gardener cannot devote the specified time to sowing, you can postpone it to the first days of June. In cold climates, it is preferable to plant flowers in the last days of March. Do not forget about the vegetative period. For each individual variety of asters, the growth process has certain parameters, on average it fluctuates within 80-130 days.

An important influence on the sowing period is the gardener's desire to enjoy the beauty of flowers at certain times of the year. Some people like to enjoy the beauty of the plant in July, others like autumn bloom. Experienced growers provide more specific data regarding the growing season of different varieties of asters, namely:

• early flowers - 80–90 days;
• medium early flowers - 90–110 days;
• late flowers - 120–130 days.

Even an amateur grower can make correct calculations of the growth time, the main thing is to carefully read the information provided by the manufacturer on the seed packaging. If the seeds were collected at home, you should use the information provided earlier and independently choose the date of sowing.

The main characteristics of aster seedlings are entirely dependent on the quality of the substrate and seeds. It is important not to forget about the need for pre-sowing treatment of both materials, due to which the gardener provides ideal conditions for the subsequent growth of seedlings. Only if the rules for preparing the substrate and seeds are observed will it be possible to grow friendly, healthy and strong plants.

Experienced gardeners know that asters reproduce exclusively by seed. In this case, the material is sown both in open ground and in seedlings. Each sowing method has its own characteristics, but for both cases it is important that the seeds are of high quality. Any planting material must be prepared in advance. In the case of aster seeds, two effective methods are being considered.

• Germination procedure. This is a very popular method for increasing the strength and growth of seeds, while it does not require special skills and extra costs. The seeds are folded into a small flap of tissue material, tied with a thread if necessary.Then the bag is immersed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for several minutes. After the specified time, the flap from the seeds is removed from the disinfectant liquid, slightly squeezed out and transferred to an ordinary plate or saucer. Thus, the seeds should lie for a week, while it is necessary to watch so that the cloth bag does not dry out. You can put a spray bottle with plain water nearby and sprinkle it if the bag is slightly dry. 7 days after the manganese treatment, the tissue flap with the seeds is placed in a plastic bag. The folded bag must be left in a room where a constant air temperature of +22 degrees is maintained. And after 2-3 days you can start planting the prepared seeds.
• Soaking procedure. The use of this method allows the gardener to start planting seeds within 10 hours after the start of their preparation.

An important factor for high-quality growth and good seed development is a favorable substrate. In pursuit of the goal of growing asters, you should remember that ordinary soil from your own garden is not good. Even for dwarf varieties, it is extremely important to feel well-drained soil. From this it follows that the most successful choice would be to buy the appropriate land in a specialized store. Although you can prepare the substrate of a suitable consistency yourself. The very process of preparing soil for seedlings does not take much time, does not require much effort, and most importantly, it does not affect the family budget in any way. So, it is worth adhering to the following algorithm of actions:

• first you need to prepare all the ingredients for the recipe for a high-quality substrate; you should take land, peat and river sand, while all elements should be in equal quantities;
• mix the prepared ingredients thoroughly in a deep container;
• the last stage is the disinfection of the prepared substrate - for this you can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate or purchase a special composition in a flower shop.

In addition to a high-quality substrate, the capacity where they will grow is very important for aster seeds. And in this matter, you should be extremely careful. Tall flower pots are in no way suitable for the role of a flower greenhouse, but their miniature counterparts will do just fine. In turn, experienced flower growers share their observations that for sowing aster material it is best to select a low container with a maximum side height of 5 cm.For this, wooden boxes or plastic pallets are suitable.

When choosing old wooden boxes, the florist is obliged to process them, namely, rinse well and treat with a manganese solution. At the bottom of the container, there must be small holes through which excess moisture will leave. This factor is extremely important when growing seeds. If irrigation liquid collects in the substrate, this will lead to stagnation, due to which the death of the young root system of the seedlings occurs. Do not forget, according to the rules for sowing and growing asters, containers with seedlings should be covered. The most suitable option is considered to be glass that corresponds to the size of the container with the substrate.

After all the preparatory work has been done, you can start planting the seeds. Experienced gardeners are aware of the intricacies of the sowing process, but For beginner flower growers and lovers of mini-flower beds on the balcony, it is important to carefully read the correct sequence of planting aster seeds.

• At the very bottom, a drainage layer should be laid out, about 1–2 cm. Expanded clay, small pebbles or broken brick are considered ideal for drainage. It is these elements that protect the substrate from stagnation of the irrigation liquid.
• Further, grooves are made in the soil. They should not be large, the depth of each hole should be 1–2 cm, otherwise it will not be possible to see beautiful aster buds in the near future. The distance between the grooves should not be less than 5 cm, otherwise the young roots close to each other will become very crowded, which will negatively affect the growth of plants.
• The seeds themselves for sowing should be taken very carefully, they are not only small in size, but also extremely fragile in structure. The seed must be evenly distributed over the prepared grooves, so that several different varieties do not settle in one hole. The substrate is sprayed from a spray bottle before direct seeding with seeds.
• For the convenience of working with seed, experienced gardeners advise using a small piece of paper, making a hollow in it. So it is much easier to fill in the seeds in small quantities, while clearly controlling the process.
• After sowing, a small layer of river sand should be poured into each individual groove. A 1 cm thickness is enough. Thus, the seeds will have additional protection. By its structure, the sand preserves a moist environment very well, thanks to which the sprouts will not experience a shortage of water, which means that the black leg disease will not befall the aster embryos.
• At the end of the sowing work, a lid is placed on the surface of the container. As mentioned earlier, this can be glass or plastic wrap. In the absence of these elements, the plastic plate will become an analogue of the cover. After that, the container with the landings is sent to a warm room with dim light, where the air temperature is kept within +22 degrees. It is this climate that is considered the most favorable for the growth of aster seeds at home. In such conditions, the container should stand until the first shoots appear.
• While waiting for the appearance of seedlings on the surface of the substrate, the grower must constantly monitor the moisture content of the soil. The ground should not be dry, otherwise the aster embryos will die. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly spray the soil with a spray bottle. Keeping seedlings in a permanent container is also not recommended. The seeds need to be given the opportunity to breathe fresh air. To do this, simply remove the glass or bag from the surface of the box. The first few times the "walk" of plants should be 10-15 minutes. With each new time, this period of time can be gradually increased.

The correct care of the sown seeds will reward the gardener with a large flowering crop. But this does not mean that crops must be watered every hour, sprayed after 15 minutes and fertilized with everything that comes across in the yard. Asters are unpretentious flowers, but they require basic attention from the gardener. The main thing is not to overdo it and not to run, so to speak, to keep the golden mean. The best part is that all the growing steps, starting with the preparation of the container, are done by hand at home.

• The container with the planted seeds should be located in a room with moderate light. Under no circumstances should direct sunlight be allowed. If it is impossible to hide the box from natural light, you need to look for a compromise option for its location, for example, under the table, or put a protective board. In the absence of daylight, we are talking about cloudy days, artificial lighting will have to be maintained.
• With each day of growth, aster seedlings gain strength and begin to get used to the temperature favorable for life. But a warm climate is replaced by a cold one, which means that the aster must be taught from the very embryo to such changes. To do this, it is enough to rearrange the container with seeds in a room with a lower temperature within + 16– + 18 degrees.The main thing is to do it gradually, otherwise the plant will get severe stress. In addition, too warm air and lack of sunlight for a long time will cause the plant to stretch upward, which means that the flower will spend all its strength only on growth.
• The watering procedure requires special attention of the grower. During the period of growing seeds, it is very important to monitor the moisture content of the soil. Of course, it is not recommended to constantly spray the substrate, but the plants should be watered regularly. It is better to look at the condition of the sand in the grooves as an indicator. If it is dry, then the seedlings need to be watered. Deficiency of moisture can lead to wilting of seedlings, and excess can lead to diseases and rotting of the root system.
• About a week after sowing the seeds, the first leaves will appear on the soil surface. They look sophisticated and sophisticated at the same time. And here amateur flower growers are ready to relax, as the growth process is underway, which means that asters feel comfortable in their own environment. But in fact, only half of the way has been covered.
• After 2-3 leaves on each seedling appear on the surface of the soil, the gardener should begin the diving procedure. In simple terms, each grown shoot is transplanted into a separate container. To prevent the root system from being damaged, you will need to use a special spatula when transplanting seedlings. As an analogue of this tool, a teaspoon or dessert spoon will do.
• In the new seedling container, use a soil similar to the seedbed. You can only add a little ash to the soil. The container itself should have individual compartments, for example, ordinary flower pots. If they are absent, plastic cups will do. The grooves in each individual case are made according to the size of the seedling root system. The root should sink into the hole without creases. If the root system turns out to be too long, it is allowed to split off about 1/3 from each antenna. After the aster root is in the groove, it is lightly sprinkled with earth, and in no case should they be influenced by force.
• After planting, the soil must be moistened. The spout of the watering pot should not be brought directly to the plant. The jet from the spout of the watering can should flow near the sides of the pot.
• Dived asters are strictly prohibited to be exposed to sunlight. This can kill the plants. But even in dark rooms, flowers will be uncomfortable. This is where the search for the golden mean should be undertaken. The main thing is that the temperature regime of the day is within + 16– + 18 degrees, and at night it does not drop below +12 degrees.
• A week later, you can feed the dived seedlings for the first time. Nitrogen must be present in the feeding for young asters. It is he who affects the growth of the plant above the soil surface. In addition, asters need potassium and phosphorus, which are responsible for the strong immunity of the flower and the flowering process of the plant. Experienced gardeners are happy to share the recipe for their own fertilizers. In a deep container with clean water, 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 15 g of potassium salt and 15 g of superphosphate are mixed.

Planting aster seeds in open ground is entirely dependent on the climatic conditions of a particular region. Asters tolerate cold well, they are not afraid of low air temperatures. The main thing is that the soil at the time of planting was warmed up to +15 degrees. According to the average statistical data, the procedure for planting aster seeds falls for the whole period of April and May.And it is also important to focus on the grown seedlings, 8 leaves should be present in the structure of each seedling at the time of planting, and the height of the embryo should reach 10 cm.

It is important to note that asters must be accustomed to hardening 14 days before planting seedlings on a flower bed. To do this, a container with seedlings is placed outside in the daytime so that the seedlings are saturated with warm air. The very first "walk" of flowers should not exceed 15 minutes. The next day, the time of the flower festivities can be increased by 10 minutes. Thus, the gardener will be able to plant seedlings already accustomed to the night coolness in the open ground.

Correct transplanting of aster seedlings into open ground is the key to a rich flower harvest. It includes several steps.

• The location of the future flower bed with asters should have good lighting, the main thing is that there are no drafts. Open ground intended for planting seedlings must be fertilized. For this, nitroammofosk will do. And for preliminary disinfection of the earth, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or shavings of laundry soap is suitable.
• When choosing a place for asters, do not forget about correctly selected neighbors. From them, flowers can receive not only positive trace elements, but are also capable of picking up various ailments. For example, the list of diseases of dahlia is in many ways similar to diseases of asters, which means that if health problems arise in one type of flowers, the second variety automatically suffers.
• The day before planting, the soil must be cleared of weeds, and then loosened. The maximum loosening depth should be 6 cm. Then the soil is watered abundantly with water and remains alone. The seedling itself is also flooded with water, making it easy for the gardener to remove the seedling root. Immediately before transplanting, small grooves are dug in the flowerbed, so that the roots can comfortably settle in a new place.
• When transplanting an aster, love comfortable weather conditions, which means that the procedure must be carried out in the morning, before the scorching rays of the sun appear, or in the evening. The distance between plantings depends on the variety of asters.
• As soon as it is planted in open ground, it is necessary to start feeding the flower crop. For the qualitative development of plantings, an infusion of mullein according to a dilution formula of 1: 10 will do.

Despite their unpretentiousness, asters, like any other flower creatures, can pick up many unpleasant ailments. Even at the time of growing seedlings, there is a huge risk of black leg disease. This disease in a flower appears due to the density of plantings and excess moisture in the substrate. This ailment should be treated with the drug "Previkur", as an analogue, you can make a solution of ash. If the water in the soil does not have time to escape, moisture stagnates, which means that the root system of flowers does not receive the required amount of air. Thus, the process of photosynthesis stops, and the plant gradually dies.

Novice gardeners are often faced with the problem of slow growth of seedlings. Poor quality seeds are the reason. The solution to the issue will be re-sowing, while the seed material will need to be kept in aloe juice for some time, and the substrate should be completely changed. When fusarium occurs, which very often attacks asters, there is one sure way - in no case fertilize the flowers with manure.

Spider mites negatively affect the development of inflorescences. The same goes for meadow bugs. Only two such creatures can cause a whitish bloom, then the leaves of the plant curl and buds dry out. Any insecticidal preparations will help to cope with them. Aphids are a similar pest, from which the aster becomes curly. Insecticides are also used for treatment.

For information on when and how to plant aster seedlings, see the next video.