Growing aster from the seeds is pretty simple but it takes a lot of care. Aster seeds need well-drained soil to grow well. Place the seeds in the soil and cover them about 1/8 inch with fine soil. Carefully, water them after planting. Eventually, keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge. Keep reading the article to know about how to grow aster from seed.
How to Grow Aster from Seed?
If you want to grow aster from seed, it is quite simple. Prepare the soil with organic compost to increase its drainage. Scatter the aster seeds on the soil and cover them about 1/8 inch with the soil. Water them to keep the soil moist. Seedlings will emerge after some days of sowing. Keep reading about how to grow aster from seed.
Aster is an evergreen plant that will continue to produce shoots and flowers even when it’s cut back by the winter. It’s easy to grow because it’s extremely resilient and will come back from almost any type of setback. As a result, it’s also very easy to lose track of or neglect when it comes to taking care of your aster seedlings. However, if you do this, the resulting plants will not be as attractive or have the same growth potential as if you took better care of your seeds.
Prepare Aster Seed
To grow plants in their natural environment, it is imperative to know what season the seeds will be transplanted in. This knowledge can help decide when to begin the process of planting your seeds.
Seed germination is one of the most important steps in growing a successful garden. Many gardeners are tempted to use their seeds but are often frustrated when they don’t produce a strong plant. Instead, they may be better off using plants they’ve grown themselves as well as purchased from a reputable nursery that specializes in perennials.
Choose small Container
Fill small containers with potting soil or compost and place them in the center of your seed trays. This will allow you to start seeds in small containers, thus allowing for easy access to your plants once they are ready. If you don’t already have a seedling tray you can use plastic cups, pots, or other small containers. They should be at least 3-4 inches deep.
Plant the aster Seeds
Place one seed in each compartment, pressing it firmly in place with your fingers. Don’t worry if some of the soil sticks to the seeds as they will be buried in the soil.
Chilling the Seeds
Cover the germination medium with a light layer of sand or other inert material. Make sure you put it in a warm room (i.e. the door will not be left open for long periods). Keep the container in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator. Don’t cover it with plastic wrap. This will inhibit seed germination.
Chilling the seeds artificially mimics the chilling process seeds would undergo in nature. Using a fridge to chill the seeds, prevents the seeds from dying due to a lack of moisture.
Place the seed Tray in a Sunny Location
Remove the seeds from the refrigerator approximately two to four weeks before the expected last frost. Then place the tray in a sunny spot indoors. This spot should receive at least six hours of sunlight each day. Your garden is going to require lots of time and a bit of patience to get ready for planting. Don’t worry – it will be worth the wait!
How to Transfer Aster Seeds Sprouts?
Transplant asters into their new locations in the early spring. While you want to transplant them after the threat of frost has passed, it is best if you do so before the plants start flowering, as that will be when the threat of frost is greatest.
Site Selection
Asters thrive in light to medium-sized sites with well-draining soil. The soil can be rich or of poor quality, but it must drain well. Aster is best suited for the sun to partial shade, however, they can withstand some shade. Planting asters at the top of a slight incline or hill will improve soil drainage and can be a good idea to do as well. However, it’s not always necessary to do so.
Soil
The asters are ready to transplant, and now is the time to prepare them for their new home in the flower bed. Spread some nutrient-dense compost around the roots of each plant before you dig them up. Add 2 to 4 inches of compost to the soil. Next, use a garden fork to mix in the compost.
Dig Holes for Planting
Dig one or two holes just large enough to fit the bottom of each pot. These will serve as drainage holes. The root depth should be roughly the same as the current container. It’s also important to space plants 1 to 3 feet apart depending on the variety of plants. Miniature varieties, however, may only be spaced apart 4 to 6 inches.
Plant the Seedlings
Plant each aster in the center of its hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is even with the surface of the soil surrounding it. Fill in the rest of the hole around the root ball with the soil you previously removed from the planting site. Use your hands to gently push the soil into the holes.
How to Water?
To get a good crop of food, you need to do your best to give them the right growing conditions, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for that. When the seedlings are in the ground, you should water the soil thoroughly to help settle the soil and encourage the plants to establish themselves. There should not be any major puddles on the surface of the soil, but the soil should be visibly damp.
How to Care for Aster Seedlings?
- Maintain healthy soil with regular applications of mulch. This will make sure that your asters are well-fed for years to come!
- Asters are sensitive to water. They need water to live. Too much or too little water can cause them to fail. If the soil is dry it’ll wilt. If they have too much water they’ll get muddy and the stems may die.
- For better results, enrich the soil with a balanced, general-purpose fertilizer once a month. This will keep the nutrients in the soil active and allow for even growth and development in the plants.
- You’ll need to do some light pruning in the spring and some heavy pruning in the fall. Keep in mind that you’re pruning a young bush. Pruning it too aggressively could mean a shorter life. The best way to prune is to make sure you’re only cutting out dead or diseased parts of the plant. Cut back your aster as soon as the foliage dies in the fall. If you cut the entire plant down to the soil level in winter, new growth will emerge.
- Stake tall varieties. Most asters can grow without staking, but many need some help getting to their full potential. If you’re growing a particularly large variety, install a stake in early summer and train the foliage upward to give them a better head start.
- Divide the plants every two to four years. Remove half to two-thirds of the established plants. Leave the rest in its current location.
- If you’re growing a garden, the best thing you can do is choose disease-resistant varieties. If pests do emerge, you can treat them appropriately with pesticides or fungicides.
How long does it take aster to grow from seed?
Usually, aster takes 3 to 4 months to bloom after sowing. Moreover, aster seeds will sprout after ten to twelve days, when you place them in the refrigerator for about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is it hard to grow aster?
Aster needs full sunlight and warmth to grow well. Moreover, it grows best in loamy and well-drained soil. The best time for sowing aster seeds is spring but most people purchased potted plants.
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