Astra is a huge variety of shades and shapes of flowers. It is easier to say what color asters are not found: orange and green. There are even two-color baskets, which is not so common in the world of colors. This causes the interest of gardeners and excites the imagination of landscape designers. But aster, like any other plant, requires a special approach to cultivation.
Sowing asters in open ground
The most common is the cultivation of asters from seeds. They can be purchased in specialized stores or use your own. But in order for the flowers to meet your expectations, it is important to know where, when and how to sow planting material.
Optimal sowing time
Calling the ideal time for sowing asters is not always easy, as it depends on the plant variety. So, early asters are immersed in the ground earlier than usual, and some are sown literally in the snow.
Important! Before planting, it is recommended to soak the seeds for seven hours in a solution of molybdenum or zinc chloride (about 0.5 g per liter of water). This will help grow a strong plant with lush buds.
Early asters are sown in the second half of March. By July, approximately 90 days after planting, you will receive the first flowers. Medium early varieties bloom after 110 days.
The dates of sowing asters of late varieties are set at the end of April - beginning of May, when the air temperature does not fall below 10 ºC. They can expect flowering in 120 - 130 days, that is, by the end of August or by the beginning of September, and some varieties can bloom until frost. Anyway, Plants grown in the open ground from seeds bloom later than those grown from seedlings grown in the greenhouse.
Did you know? The Astrov family, or Compositae, has 200-500 species. This annual or perennial herbs, baskets of flowers which are collected in the form of panicles or shields. They grow everywhere in Central and North America. And that flower, which is usually called aster, actually belongs to the genus Callistephus and is called Chinese Callistephus. It has green or dark red simple stems, alternate leaves, inflorescences in the form of a basket.
Another question is how many asters are sprouting from seeds planted in late autumn. Seeds are sown in grooves made in slightly frozen soil after the first frost. It is good to close grooves with humus or peat. Some varieties can be thrown directly into the snow, closing the grooves with peat. Do this in December and January. This method of planting is an excellent prevention of fusarium. When the snow melts in the spring, the place where shoots are planned is advisable to cover with foil, creating a greenhouse effect. Remember that it is desirable to sow the seeds collected from last year's harvest. Two-year-olds have less germination, and the seeds of a greater age practically do not germinate.
How to choose a site for planting asters
To the cultivation of asters did not bring a lot of trouble, it is important to pre-select a suitable place for flower beds. Asters grow well in partial shade, but still love sunny places more. However, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the climate, since with a strong heat they noticeably lose their decorative effect. Also make sure that the place is well ventilated and not too wet. It is advisable to clarify how close ground water lies to the flowerbed.
Pay attention to what grew on the flowerbed to asters. For example, if earlier tulips, gladioli, levkoy, carnations, tomatoes, potatoes, and asters were growing on this place, it is better not to plant them, as there is a high risk of damage by their fusarium. In such a land to plant these flowers is possible only after six years. Asters on a flower bed after calendula, marigolds, perennial herbs feel well.
How to prepare the ground for planting
For a plant, neutral fertile or light soil is best suited. Prepare it in advance. If sowing is planned in the spring, then in the fall the site should be deeply dug up with compost or humus at the rate of 2-4 kg per square meter with the addition of sand. The latter will give good drainage and breathability.
In the spring, if the soil is depleted, it is necessary to carry out another digging with superphosphate (20-40 g per square meter), ammonium sulphate and potassium salt (15-20 g each). Just before planting, the flower bed must be weeded, loosened by 4-6 cm. In order to have lush and healthy flowers during flowering, the ground for asters must be well hydrated before planting.
Important! Today there is no single generally accepted classification of asters. None of the compiled is complete. But if you divide quite roughly, the perennial asters are divided into two groups according to the timing of flowering. The group of early-flowering includes asters Italian (Aster amellus), Bessarabian (Aster bessarabicus), and Alpine (Aster alpinus). More numerous is the group of autumn-flowering plants: New England, Belgian, shrub and others.
How to sow correctly
Grooves for sowing plants should be shallow, up to 4 cm. Before throwing seeds in them, they must be watered well. After sowing, the grooves are covered with soil and covered with special materials. You can also spend mulching, but only in dry weather. When shoots appear, the shelter can be removed, and when two or three leaves appear, thin out the sowing. There should be a distance of 10-15 cm between shoots. Seedlings that had to be removed can be transplanted to another place.
Basic rules for the care of asters
The main rule in the question of how to care for asters is in time to weed the ground from the weeds and loosen it well to a depth of 4-6 cm after each rain. To accelerate the growth of roots, it is recommended to spud the bush for 6-8 cm.
How to water asters
When watering, we must remember that asters do not like excessive moisture and moisture. It is a drought-resistant plant, although it requires intensive watering in hot weather. On average, for each square meter you need about three buckets of water with the condition that the earth will then be loosened. This is especially important when the appearance of buds. Abundant watering during this period promises flowers with large buds during flowering. If to tighten with watering, flowers will lose not only in pomp, but also in color. 
When, how and how to feed asters
Over the entire period of the life of the asters, they must be fed at least three times. The first dressing is recommended to do two weeks after disembarkation. For this, mineral fertilizers are used, for example, 50 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium sulfate, 20 g of ammonium nitrate per square meter. When the buds appear, use fertilizers that do not contain nitrogen. During the flowering of asters, 50 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used per square meter. It is recommended to use organic fertilizers only on poor soils.
Use of nip for asters
Removal of the buds, the tips at the ends of the shoots results in the active growth of lateral shoots and wide branching of the main stem. This is usually done with a sharp knife or just nails. Most often, these manipulations are carried out when the plants go into intensive growth. Although they do not do all varieties of plants. It is recommended to Astra shrub from which it is possible to form undersized fences strewn with flowers.
Did you know? In Latin, the word "aster" is translated as "star." A philosophical legend connected with the name of the flower is how two monks decided to approach the stars, rising to the top of the highest mountain. After many days and nights, reaching the top, they found that the stars are still far from them. Below, they were waited in the same long and difficult way without food and water. Reaching the foot of the mountain, exhausted, they discovered a beautiful meadow dotted with amazing flowers. “It's amazing! We were looking for stars in the sky, and they live under our feet!” Said the monks and took with them a few bushes. Returning to the monastery, they began to grow and distribute them around the world.
Pinching is also recommended for flowers that grow in partial shade and stretch towards the sun. Such plants are also desirable to tie up to the pegs or planted them in advance at the fence. Remember that faded flowers should be cut.
Why do pruning flowers
Pruning bushes involves the complete removal of the upper part of the plant. If this is not done, then over time the bush loses its splendor, the leaves and flowers become shallow, the flowers lose their brightness. The rejuvenation of the bush is carried out for three seasons. In the first cut the third part of the branches, choosing the oldest. The next season - another third of the old shoots, and in the last remove the remaining ones. Make sure the new ones remain untouched. It is also important to cut the cuts with garden grease in order not to accidentally damage the plant. To make it strong enough, add feedings. Gradually rejuvenating the shrub, you do not shock the plant and get the desired result.
Collecting your own seeds
You can sow both purchased seeds and your own, collecting them at the end of the season as they mature. It is necessary to collect them when the flowers wither, and its middle parts darken, having become covered with a white down. 
Such an inflorescence must be carefully removed and wrapped in paper, where it will dry out. Do not forget to sign the bag, indicating the type of aster and the date of collection, as for planting seeds must be used not older than two years. As you can see, to properly land asters is quite simple. Caring for them is also easy. A variety of colors promises beautiful and lush flower beds in your garden from mid-summer until the first frost.
