Description of New England aster varieties, planting and care features
Deep autumn pleases with various colors. But these are the colors of the leaves that change color from the cold. The New England American Aster brings a slice of summer into the cold weather. Depending on the variety, you can see the rainbow colors of the huge bushes. Each plant has many bright inflorescences that can not but please the eye and cheer up.
Description and characteristics of New England (American) perennial asters
The homeland of the New England or New Belgian aster is considered the eastern regions of North America. It grows as a bush, the shape is back pyramidal. Among the numerous varieties, the bushes are mainly medium, tall, giant - 0.5-2 meters. In girth, the bush spreads up to 80 centimeters.
Grown as a bush perennial. It differs from other species in the multiplicity of peduncles - up to 200 pieces per bush.
The spreading root system of the aster allows the plant to be propagated by the bush method. Astra is recovering quickly.
The rainbow range of colors allows you to decorate borders, flower beds, and arrange compositions. The New England aster looks great with undersized plants. Flowers are 2-4 centimeters in diameter. Reed petals, sometimes in several rows, sit in a ring above the tubular ones. Tight fit to each other gives the impression of terry.Stems glabrous or fleecy. Branched at the top. Leaves are lanceolate, sessile, green.
Varieties of varieties
New England aster pleases with many varieties.
Bars Pink
The giant bush (1.5 meters) asters Bars Pink has many inflorescences. The diameter of the flower is 3-4 centimeters. In the center there are tubular petals of a yellow, red hue. Reed, simple petals of pink, lilac color are sitting around. The plant looks beautiful in groups and singly. In a cut, one stem replaces a bunch.
Brauman
Perennial aster Braumenen with a spreading root system. Propagated vegetatively and by seeds. Stretches up to 120-130 centimeters. The tubular petals inside are yellow, dirty orange. The reed petals are mostly lilac. Decorates flower beds, flower beds. In cut it stands 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. Wine red reed petal outer ring. They please with flowering in the autumn - up to 30 days. If you remove dried inflorescences, the flowering time can be increased.
Constance
An equally beautiful variety of asters Constance. Its height is 180 centimeters, it looks advantageous among low-growing plants, green grass. On the bush there are 200 peduncles with miniature buds 3 centimeters. The center is framed by tubular petals of yellow or brown color. The outer circle of the inflorescence is lilac. Astra Constance survives well in the northern regions, as it withstands sub-zero temperatures up to 7 degrees.
Dr. Ekener
Astra Dr. Ekener belongs to tall varieties. Propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds. Small inflorescences - up to 4 centimeters in diameter, collected in a brush. The tubular petals are yellow, brown. Ligulate flowers of a red-purple hue. Aster pleases with flowering in October, when other plants fade.
In the cut, the Doctor Ekener variety remains intact for up to 15 days, provided that the water will be 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 clog them.
Reproduction of the Novobelgian
Astra Novobelgiskaya is grown by various methods. Vegetative: cuttings, dividing the bush. Seeds: seedling and non-seedling method.
Seed reproduction
One of the seed propagation methods is the seedless method. This method involves sowing seeds in open ground. The seeds are planted in 3 stages. In autumn, grooves are prepared, seeds are sown. The beds are abundantly watered and covered with humus. In winter, the grooves are prepared in advance. In winter, seeds are laid, covered with earth and a shelter is made from organic materials. In the spring, after frosts, the shelter is removed.
In spring, seeds are germinated or soaked before planting. Freshly harvested planting material does not need these procedures.
Seeds are sown in grooves, covering with a 5 mm layer of soil. Produce abundant watering. Cover the planting with foil. When 3-4 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive. The distance between the 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 capsule. The soil, for the purpose of disinfection, is spilled with a hot solution of potassium permanganate, or freezing, steaming is used.
The 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 moist.
- The seeds are planted to a depth of 1 centimeter and sprinkled with sand.
- Cover the container. The room temperature is maintained at 22 degrees.
- When shoots appear, the shelter is removed.
- Lower the temperature to 15-16 degrees.
- 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 divisions. In each part, three new shoots with a root system are left. The procedure involves several functions:
- updates the hive;
- new bushes will appear;
- necessary when replacing the landing site.
There is a second option. The bush is left in place. Cut off the 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.
Cuttings
Cut the cuttings from the crown by 15 centimeters.A twig with several buds is sent to a greenhouse to form a root system.
Growing features
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 time
Seeds are planted in open ground in three stages:
- Deep autumn - the second decade of November.
- Winter - sowing is possible from December to February.
- Spring - April-May, after frost, when the earth will be warmed up.
Seedlings, before planting in open ground, are grown for 65 days. Somewhere in March, they sow aster 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. The temperature is lowered to 10 degrees. The procedure is carried out within 10 days.
Seat selection
The New Belgian aster loves sunny areas. Shaded areas help to stretch shoots, reduce the number of inflorescences. The plant does not tolerate cold winds. Aster does not tolerate stagnant water. Before planting, the depth of groundwater should be determined.
Planting method
Medium-sized varieties of New England asters are planted according to the 30x50 scheme, giant ones - 80x60 centimeters.
How to care for flowers?
Simple actions are required during the growth of flowers: watering, feeding, fighting diseases, pests.
Watering and moisture
In a hot summer, 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.
Watering frequency depends on air humidity. The higher the humidity, the less watering. After watering, the soil is loosened. Just keep in mind that the roots are close to the surface, so you can't go deeper than 5 centimeters.
The soil
Astra needs a nutritious soil with a neutral reaction. If the soil is acidic, add dolomite flour or lime.
Top dressing
New England aster responds well to feeding.
- First feeding. Mineral fertilizer is applied when 4 leaves appear.
- Second feeding. At the time of budding, complex fertilizers are applied.
- 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 tolerate 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 hemp. Lay the leaves, humus on top.
Treatment from pests, diseases
In the fight against fusarium, a solution with potassium permanganate is used. The seeds are soaked for 3 minutes and washed under water. If a bush is affected, all affected areas are removed and burned. Healthy asters are sprayed with Fundazol.
Powdery mildew, gray rot affect perennials in summer. Reasons: rainy weather, overflow. The bushes are treated with Topaz. Spider mites and aphids attack the Novobelgiskaya aster. The bushes are sprayed with a preparation that is harmless to bees, but deadly for pests - Aktofit.
Possible problems
Florists face some challenges when growing New England asters.
- Seeds do not germinate or appear in small quantities. It is necessary to use freshly harvested planting material. Germination is reduced by 50% every year. Pay attention to the collection time when purchasing.
- Aster is susceptible to fusarium. Preventive treatment of seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate, the fulfillment of agrotechnical requirements will help to prevent the disease: change the planting site after 3-5 years, do not plant densely bushes. Follow the moisture content of the soil under the bush.
- Lean flowering. Perhaps because of planting a bush in the shade. From a lack of sun, the inflorescences thin out, and then the bush will not bloom at all.
- Rust disease has appeared. This means that they covered the aster with spruce branches. Conifers infect aster.
