Flowers of New Belgian aster. New Belgian aster: description, planting and care

Photo: Astra New Belgian (Virgin), more recently it has been called Novobelsky Symphyotrichum (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii)

Flowering asters are an integral part of the autumn country landscape. They complete the flowering season and set them up for the long snowy winter ahead. The species diversity of perennial asters is very large, but today we will only talk about the New Belgian aster (Aster novi-belgii), or Virginia, used in culture since the 17th century.

Often, the species "pooch" is grown in gardens, but modern varieties are more preferable, because. have an outstanding appearance and bloom much more abundantly. In addition, a non-varietal New Belgian can unpleasantly surprise you with its aggressiveness, because, thanks to the formation of numerous underground root offspring, it is able to fill the entire territory allotted to it in a short time and clog the neighbors in the flower garden.

INTERESTING VARIETIES OF ASTRA NEW BELGIAN

In flower catalogs you can find both old and new varieties. When choosing, pay attention to external characteristics: flower size; bush height (from 80 to 150 cm); loose, decaying bush or not requiring support, compact and strong. The timing of flowering is of no small importance, because some foreign varieties bloom only by the end of October and can be used in landscaping gardens of only a few lucky southerners. But fortunately, the main flowering dates for the New Belgian aster varieties imported to us are early September - mid-October.

White: "White Ladies", "Sam Benham", "Mont Everest", "Apollo".
Pink: "Dick Ballard", "Elta", "Rosa Perle".
Crimson: "Royal Ruby", "Crimson Brocade", "Karminkuppel", "Patricia Ballard".
Blue and lavender: "Porzellan", "Rosenquarz", "Saturn", "Octoberfest".
Dark lilac and purple: "Amethyst", "Reitlingstal", "Royal Blue".

Photo: New Belgian raspberry aster, Royal Ruby variety

ASTRA NEW BELGIAN: LANDING AND CARE

The best time to plant a plant is spring, in which case it will please you with the first flowering in the same year.
Never plant asters in the shade! Only in a well-lit area.
Prepare a seat: dig the ground onto a shovel bayonet, apply fertilizer at the rate indicated on the package. Mineral, namely complex flower fertilizer is preferable (be careful with organics - asters "do not like" its excess). Having spilled the hole well, plant your seedling without deepening it. If the nights are still cool and there is a risk of frost, cover the planting site with dry mulch material such as compost, bark, peat moss, etc.
Throughout the summer period, your aster needs care no less than all the other inhabitants of the flower garden. It will not tolerate drying out of the soil (as well as waterlogging). Top dressing will be needed three times per season: 1st 2-3 weeks after planting, 2nd during the beginning of budding and 3rd during the flowering period. For inattention to your person, your aster will “pay back” with crushed flowers, poor flowering and susceptibility to diseases, the main of which is powdery mildew.
New Belgian asters do not require special preparation for winter. They are hardy enough to survive extended cold periods. But if we are talking about a plant of the first year of life, then take care of the minimum shelter for it (a 10-cm layer of mulch will be enough).

HOW TO PRODUCE ASTRES?

Seeds? No, it's hopeless. Cuttings are possible if desired, but the lunge will be very large. The best way is division, which must be done every 3-4 years, preferably in the spring. Having dug up an aster bush, you need to divide it into parts, each of which will have at least 4-5 shoots. Do not forget to add nutrient soil to the pit if you plant one of the divisions in its original place. The distance between the bushes depends on the variety (from 30 to 50 cm).

Photo: New Belgian white aster, White Ladies variety

NEW BELGIAN ASTERS IN GARDEN DESIGN

Everything is simple here. The main criterion when choosing a place for an aster in a flower garden is its height. Tall varieties are planted in the background of the flower garden, along the fence, or make a solitary planting on the lawn. The dark green graceful foliage of the growing aster is a good background for the vast majority perennials And pilots .

At the same time, in the New Belgian aster, the lower part of the bushes is sometimes observed to be exposed due to the death of foliage, and medium-sized plants planted in the foreground can compensate for this shortcoming, these can be, for example, peonies , sedums, daylilies.

More compact varieties (from 80 cm and a little higher) are good in borders along the tracks.

If you wish and if you have space, you can combine large groups of different varieties of perennial asters into multi-tiered mixborders against the background of ornamental shrubs, diluting them with cereals, which are especially interesting in autumn. In addition to New Belgian, you can use New England, shrub, heather, alpine and ageratoid asters.

On the territory of Russia and many other countries, the New Belgian aster is the most popular among gardeners. Planting and care do not take much time, but this beautiful flower pleases with its beauty steadily. This plant grows in the form of a bush, strewn with many bright, beautiful flowers-stars. Description of the aster variety, growing from seeds, when to plant and how to properly care for the plant - all this can be found in this article. Using our recommendations, you can grow a beautiful plant on your site.

History of varieties

Now there are many types of New Belgian aster. It was brought to Europe in the seventeenth century from China by a French monk. The homeland of flowers is Asia, but they quickly spread to Europe, Central and North America, and South Africa. The perennial New Belgian aster is so beautiful that it quickly took pride of place in gardeners' plots, and has been popular for several centuries.

This is a late flowering plant. Among the people, this type of asters was nicknamed Oktyabrinks and Septembers because it blooms profusely and for a long time in autumn. But, the flower has another name - Mikhailov's chamomile. He was so nicknamed because the flowering coincides with the celebration of the day of the Archangel Michael.

Description of the New Belgian aster

This plant is perennial, and it was combined with shrub asters, which are considered a different species due to the similarity of flower stars. The difference between them is only in height. New Belgian asters are both short and tall, the length of the bush varies from 60 to 140 centimeters.

The stems of the bush are tightly adjacent to each other, they are thin, but strong and numerous. When growing, the bush becomes dense, but lush, it can be used as a hedge or a border plant, it is not afraid of haircuts.

The bush grows very quickly, it is covered with numerous dark green foliage with a glossy surface. When flowering, the upper part of the plant is covered with many flowers that cover it almost halfway. On an adult bush, up to two hundred flowers can bloom at once, the shades of which can be pink, white, purple, and lilac. Flowering may occur in July or September - it all depends on the chosen variety of the New Belgian aster. The plant is frost-resistant, the flowers withstand frosts down to minus five degrees. In the Central part of Russia and in the Northern regions, early-flowering varieties should be selected, since the later ones will not please with color for as long as possible. We offer you to get acquainted with the most popular varieties of the New Belgian aster.

"Mont Blanc"

This is a tall variety, the length of the bush sometimes reaches 140 centimeters, so a garter may be required. Flowering "mont blanc" continues for two months, starting in September. The flowers are very beautiful, terry, white, one from two to four centimeters in diameter, like all other varieties of New Belgian asters, Mont Blanc flowers are collected in inflorescences resembling baskets. The foliage is plentiful, the aroma of flowers is not strong.

Astra New Belgian "Marie Ballard"

This variety also belongs to the tall ones, the bush can reach a meter in height, but it does not need a garter, since the stems are very close to each other. Astra New Belgian "Marie Ballard" was bred in 1955 by Ernest Ballard, who became famous as a man who selected a large number of varieties of asters. This species turned out to be early flowering, and is suitable for growing in areas with a capricious climate, early frosts.

Flowering mainly begins in the second half of August, and lasts for sixty days. The flowers are quite large, up to eight centimeters in diameter. Their color is lavender blue, full disclosure occurs at the end of the flowering period, and then a bright yellow center is visible, which is in perfect harmony with the color of the petals.

"White Lady"

This flower is really beautiful, it is one of the most frost-resistant. It begins to bloom in September, but its duration is short, only a month. During this period, the bush is covered with numerous reed flowers collected in inflorescences. The petals are white, the center is yellow. The diameter of an individual flower is from two to three centimeters.

"Royal Ruby"

Shrub of medium height, not higher than 90 centimeters. The stems are straight, tightly pressed to each other. The variety fell in love with Russian gardeners for its frost resistance and rapid growth. The plant blooms for about a month, starting in August. The flowers are bright crimson, semi-double, the diameter of one is from three to three and a half centimeters.

"Amethyst"

The flowers of this variety resemble dark purple daisies. The similarity lies in the fact that both of them are reed, dark purple with a bright, yellow center. The bush is tall, reaches 120 centimeters, but, like "Marie Ballard", does not require a garter due to densely spaced branches. The foliage is large, can be up to 12 centimeters, dark. The flowers are small - up to three and a half centimeters in diameter, but very bright, creating an unusually beautiful contrast with the greenery of the foliage. Flowering is long, begins in mid-August, lasts until frost.

"Sam Benham"

This New Belgian aster is one of the most popular white flowering plants. The bush is massive, oval, very wide. The height can be up to one and a half meters. The stems are even, erect, abundantly covered with dark green foliage. The plant begins to bloom in September, and this period lasts a little more than a month. At this time, the leaves are almost invisible, they are hidden by a thick hat of snow-white flowers with a bright, yellow core. Flowers up to four centimeters in diameter, they cover the entire length of the bush.

"Royal Blue"

The bush of this variety is tall, up to 130 centimeters, but rather compact and neat. The stems are strong, straight, keep each other from breaking. Small, oblong leaves grow along the entire length. Flowering begins in early September, or at the end of August, lasts from 30 to 40 days. The flowers are about four centimeters in diameter, light blue with a yellow center.

"Sunset"

A distinctive feature of this variety is branching stems that form a beautiful, strong, tall bush. The foliage is small, like other varieties - oblong. The middle of the flower is yellow, framed by pink-purple, tubular petals. When looking at it, an association with the sunset really appears. Flowers bloom in September, fade in one and a half to two months.

Growing asters from seeds: when to plant?

Many gardeners prefer this particular method of growing beautiful, perennial flowers on their site. There are two ways - seedlings, and by sowing seeds immediately into open ground. Let's start getting acquainted with the technology of the second method, then consider the seedling.

Seeds must be sown before winter. If you live in the Southern region, then plant at the end of October or in November. If in other parts of Russia, then earlier - at the end of September or until the end of October, while the soil had not yet frozen, severe frosts did not hit.

If the seeds are purchased, then before planting, keep them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for a week, so they will harden and not die in the winter. After this time, soak the seed in warm water for a couple of hours. In fertile loams or in black soil, New Belgian aster will grow better, so you should take care of the condition of the soil. Add humus, peat and a little sand, if necessary, reduce acidity - dolomite flour. The site should be in a well-lit place. Prepare furrows, the distance between which is from half a meter, distribute the seeds, spill with warm water, sprinkle with earth. Shoots will appear in the spring, it is necessary to thin them out. Such plants will begin to bloom in the second or third year.

If you plant asters in seedlings, you will see the first flowers earlier than from bushes planted with seeds in the ground. Two months before the planned planting of finished seedlings in the ground, prepare the seeds by hardening them in the manner prescribed above. Fill the containers with a mixture of sand, fertile soil, peat and humus, plant seeds. Place the pots in a well-lit, warm area. When a few leaves appear, the plant dives and continues to be grown in a cool place where the temperature does not exceed +15 degrees. It is necessary to plant seedlings when there is no threat of frost.

Care

New Belgian aster is unpretentious, but a number of rules are still required:

• stable weeding and loosening;
• watering is rare, but plentiful, in rainy summers - not recommended;
• in autumn and spring, spread humus around the bush, and make full-fledged mineral dressings three times a season;
• remove wilted buds;
• before winter, remove all the stems, put a blanket of peat on the roots, remove it in the spring, loosen the ground.

The brightest and most memorable flowers in any flower bed or flower garden can rightly be considered the very first spring and late autumn. In autumn, when the whole earth is covered with fallen leaves, everything around is dark and gloomy, perennial asters fill the area with glimpses of colors. It is the aster that is a kind of long-liver flower bed, which can delight you with its bright and lush flowering even with slight frosts.

On the territory of Russia and other CIS countries, the most popular type of perennial aster is the New Belgian aster - a lush and beautiful bush with a huge number of small bright flowers-stars. By planting this crop on your site, you will not experience any difficulties with its cultivation and care for it, but in return you will get a lot of pleasure from contemplating the beautiful flowering of aster.

In this article, we will consider the features and description of the general genus of aster and specifically the New Belgian aster, we will describe its most popular varieties. We note the most important nuances of agricultural technology for growing this crop on our site.

Features and description of New Belgian aster

The belonging of different types of asters to certain families is very confused and few know the really correct classification. Only asters belong to the genus Asteraceae of the same name, the natural habitat of which is considered to be the territory of Europe and Asia. These are Alpine aster, Italian aster, Tatar aster and others. The New Belgian and New England aster, whose natural habitat is considered to be the territory of America, today belong to a completely different genus - symphiotrichum. However, despite this, all types of asters are still classified as a common large family of Compositae. New Belgian aster is a late-flowering plant, which is often called September or October by gardeners for its lush, bright and long flowering in autumn. All types of this culture are called asters for the similarity of flowers with beautiful stars, because in Greek "aster" means "star". There is another name for perennial asters. For the fact that the flowering period of the New Belgian aster and other perennial species coincides with the feast of the Archangel Michael, the flower was called Mikhailov's chamomile.

The natural habitat of the New Belgian aster is considered to be North and Central America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. However, most of them still came to us from the territory of America. Asters were brought to Europe from China by a French monk in the 17th century, after which this flower rightfully began to occupy one of the main places in numerous flower beds.

Description of the New Belgian aster

• The New Belgian aster is a perennial herbaceous plant, which is very often grouped together with shrub asters. The difference between these two species is only in the height of the bushes.
• New Belgian or virgin asters can be both dwarf and tall. On average, the height of this culture can be from 60 cm to 120 cm.
• The plant grows in the form of a bush, which consists of tightly fitting stems. When aster new Belgian grows, it is a dense and lush shrub that can be used as a border plant and subjected to shearing.
• Astra grows very quickly.
• The root system is represented by a strongly branching and creeping rhizome.
• The stems of the New Belgian aster are very thin, but numerous, completely covered with foliage and flowers.
• Leaves oblong lanceolate up to 12 cm long. They are dark green in color with a glossy surface.
• Flowers bloom almost along the entire upper part of the stems, covering almost half of their entire length.
• The flowers of the New Belgian aster are basket-shaped inflorescences, the diameter of which is 2-4 cm.
• The flowers are reed and quite numerous. Sometimes up to 200 pieces can bloom on one bush.
• The color of flowers can be very different: lilac, pink, white, purple.
• Flowering can begin both in July and in September, it all depends on the specific variety of the New Belgian aster.
• New Belgian asters can bloom until the first frost. Flowers and leaves withstand frosts down to -5 degrees.
• For planting in Russia, you should choose early and medium varieties according to the flowering period. Late varieties may not always have time to bloom before the onset of cold weather.

A variety of varieties of New Belgian or September aster

Varieties of the New Belgian aster are quite numerous and differ in a variety of characteristics. This culture can be dwarf, medium and tall. It is necessary to select a certain variety of asters from a pre-planned landing site. Consider the most popular and common varieties of this type of aster, which are loved by gardeners.

New Belgian aster variety "Marie Ballard"

• Astra New Belgian Marie ballard is a tall shrub that can reach a height of 90-100 cm.
• The stems are quite dense, so the bush does not require a garter and support.
• This variety belongs to the early ones, so the plant has time to fully bloom in our climatic conditions.
• Variety "Marie Ballard" was bred in 1955 by the creator of a large number of aster varieties Ernest Ballard.
• The flowering of this variety of New Belgian aster begins in late August or early September and lasts for two months.
• The flowers are quite large, reaching 5-8 cm in diameter.
• The color of the inflorescences is lavender-blue, which fully open at the end of flowering and at this time open their yellow core.

New Belgian aster variety "Mont Blanc"

• It is a tall variety that can reach a height of 120-140 cm.
• Due to their high bush growth, such asters sometimes require support.
• Flowering begins in September and lasts about two months.
• New Belgian aster "Mont Blanc" blooms with white double flowers, the diameter of which can be 2-4 cm.

New Belgian aster variety "White Ladies"

• A perennial herbaceous plant that can reach a height of 100-110 cm.
• Flowering begins in September and lasts about one month until frost. It is a fairly frost-resistant variety of New Belgian aster.
• Flowers small, lanceolate, white. The basket itself consists of very thin white petals.
• Flowers are located on stems in large numbers.
• The diameter of the inflorescences can be from 2 cm to 3 cm.

New Belgian aster variety "Royal Ruby"

• Medium-sized shrub that can reach a height of 80-90 cm.
• The plant is formed by straight stems, which are located tightly to each other.
• The variety is characterized by fairly fast growth and excellent frost resistance.
• Flowering begins in August and lasts about a month.
• Blossoming plentiful semi-double flowers of bright crimson color.
• The diameter of the inflorescence can reach 3-3.5 cm.

New Belgian aster variety "Amethyst"

• A tall perennial plant that forms dense and dense bushes.
• The stems are straight and strong, covered with oblong dark green foliage.
• The flowering of this variety of New Belgian aster begins at the end of August and lasts for about several months before the onset of frost.
• Flowers are presented in the form of dark purple inflorescences, which reach a diameter of 3.5 cm.
• With reed petals and a bright yellow core, this variety of aster is very similar to daisies.

New Belgian aster variety "Sam Benham"

• This variety of the New Belgian aster is considered one of the most popular white-flowered.
• In height, the shrub can reach 150 cm, the shape is more oval and rather wide.
• The stems are straight, densely covered with oblong foliage of dark green color with a glossy surface.
• Flowering begins in September and lasts approximately 30-35 days.
• During flowering, the entire bush is densely covered with snow-white inflorescences up to 4 cm in diameter with a yellow core.
• When looking at such a bush, one gets the impression that it is completely strewn with flowers. This is possible due to the fact that the flowers bloom along the entire length of the stems.

New Belgian aster variety "Royal Blue"

• This is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows in the form of a small bush, reaching a height of 120-130 cm.
• The stems are straight and strong enough.
• Along the entire length of the stems grow small oblong leaves of dark green color.
• Flowering of this variety begins in September and lasts approximately 35-40 days.
• During flowering, the entire bush is abundantly strewn with semi-double flower baskets up to 4 cm in diameter.
• The flowers of the New Belgian aster "Royal Blue" are light blue in color with a bright yellow center.

New Belgian aster variety "Sunset"

• This aster variety is a voluminous bush, which is formed by tall and well-branched stems.
• The leaves are small and oblong, green in color with a glossy surface.
• The flowers are pink-purple in color with tubular petals in the center of a bright yellow.
• Flowering begins in September, during which the entire bush is covered with bright flowers resembling daisies.

Reproduction of New Belgian aster: the most common methods

The New Belgian aster can be bred on your own without any problems. This culture reproduces in several ways, from which reproduction by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush can be distinguished. Each method has its own characteristics, having carefully studied which, you will choose the method that is optimal specifically for you.

New Belgian aster - seed propagation

• This method of propagation of the New Belgian aster is rarely used due to the long germination of seeds and the great work associated with its implementation.
• In addition, with the help of seeds, only species asters can be propagated, but not varietal ones. Otherwise, you risk getting not quite the plants that you expect.
• Astra can be propagated by seeds in a seedless and seedling way.
• For a seedless method, seeds are sown before winter directly in open ground. Prior to this, it is important to carefully prepare the planting material. If you purchased seeds in a store, they must be stratified within a week. To do this, place them in the refrigerator, and after the right time, place them in warm water for several hours. Fresh seeds do not need these actions.
• After preparation in November or December, make small grooves on the prepared bed and plant seeds in them, then pour well with warm water. Gently cover with soil.
• After winter, when the soil thaws, the first leaves appear on the seedlings. Be sure to dive plants.
• Aster grown by seed blooms only after 2-3 years.
• New Belgian aster can be grown in seedlings, then you will see flowering shrubs a little earlier.
• For this, the seeds are prepared in exactly the same way.
• Next, you need to select suitable containers and fill them with soil consisting of peat, humus, soddy soil and sand. Before sowing seeds, it is recommended to shed the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.
• Sow the seeds and place the container in a bright and warm place with a temperature of 20-25 degrees.
• After the appearance of several leaves, the seedlings dive and grow further at a temperature of 15 degrees.
• It is possible to plant seedlings of New Belgian aster in open ground after 2 months after planting.

Reproduction of New Belgian aster by dividing the bush

• This method is the most preferred for breeding New Belgian aster. It does not require much time and large-scale preparation, but it allows you to propagate rare varietal bushes.
• The best time to divide aster bushes is in spring, when young shoots are just starting to grow.
• Medium-sized bushes must be carefully dug up and divided into the required number of parts with a sharp knife or garden shears. This is done when you need to immediately get a large number of young plants.
• Large bushes that have a powerful and highly branched rhizome can be divided without digging it out of the soil. To do this, carefully separate one or more parts of the plant with a sharp shovel.
• The main rule is that each division should have at least 5 shoots. If you get less, such young seedlings need to be grown before you plant them in a flower garden.

Propagation of New Belgian aster by cuttings

• To obtain young seedlings of New Belgian aster, the cutting method is also used.
• This method is great for breeding varietal aster bushes.
• Cuttings can be carried out from May to August.
• Cuttings for propagation are harvested from the tops of the stems, which must be taken no more than 5-8 cm long.
• Prepare a place for planting cuttings. The soil should be nutritious and consist of peat, soddy soil and sand.
• The cuttings are placed in the prepared soil, watered abundantly and covered with a film or separately with plastic bottles.
• During rooting, the cuttings must be regularly ventilated and watered.
• Rooting occurs in about a month, after which young seedlings can be planted in a permanent place.

Preparing before planting New Belgian aster

To get a beautiful decorative bush of the New Belgian aster, it is important to correctly carry out all the preparatory steps. It is from the choice of high-quality and healthy seedlings, the optimal place for planting and competent soil preparation that the beauty and splendor of your flowers will depend.

Stage 1. Selection of varieties and seedlings of New Belgian aster

• First of all, it is important to correctly determine the varieties of the Novelgian aster.
• It is best to purchase them in specialized garden centers or nurseries that are professionally engaged in plant breeding.
• It is best to give preference to varieties that have already been tested in your climate zone. In this case, you will be sure that your aster will bloom on time and delight you with lush flowering.
• New Belgian aster seedlings are most often sold in plastic containers, so it is important to check the condition of the plants before buying. They should not have damaged areas, the leaves should be healthy and resilient. The plant must be chosen healthy, without signs of diseases and pests.
• Before buying New Belgian aster seedlings, consider where you will plant them. Taller varieties are perfect for a plot along walls and fences, dwarf varieties - along curbs and garden paths.

Stage 2. Choosing a landing site for New Belgian aster

• The decorativeness of the New Belgian aster bushes will depend on the right area in your yard or flower garden.
• Asters planted in the shade will gradually bloom more and more sparingly until they stop producing flowers altogether.
• For this culture, areas of the garden or flower garden with a lot of sunlight are suitable. Alternatively, some varieties of New Belgian aster can be planted in light shade.
• The site you choose should be protected from strong winds and drafts, as tall varieties can be damaged from their gusts.
• Asters also prefer places where moisture does not stagnate, so give preference to small hills.

Stage 3. Selection and preparation of soil for planting New Belgian aster

• The New Belgian aster prefers to grow on light to medium soils.
• The soil in your chosen area should be nutritious and neutral. If the acidity is too high, dolomite flour can be added during planting.
• It is important that the soil is breathable and does not retain moisture. If the aster grows in areas with stagnant water, it will become more likely to get sick, in particular, with powdery mildew.
• It is best to prepare a landing site in advance, preferably in the fall. To do this, carefully dig it up, about 2 bayonets of a shovel. Nutrient soil should be at least 30 cm of the top layer, so be sure to add humus during processing. In the spring, dig up the site again, loosen and level well and add superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

New Belgian aster planting technology

• The best time to plant New Belgian aster in a garden plot is spring. Focus on the month of May, when the earth warms up enough. The aster planted at this time will be able to strengthen and take root well before the onset of cold weather.
• Before planting, water the selected area for planting well again, remove all weeds and loosen to a depth of about 6-8 cm, and then level it.
• For planting New Belgian aster seedlings, it is not necessary to prepare large planting pits. It is enough to make small grooves.
• It is important to plant the aster correctly, pay special attention to the distance between individual seedlings. Perennial asters grow very strongly, so they need to be replanted every 3-4 years. In this regard, a decent part of the land should fall on one plant.
• If you are planting low-growing varieties, then the distance between plants should be 20 cm, and between rows 30 cm. For medium-sized ones - 30 between plants and 50 between rows. For tall ones - 50 between plants and 80 between rows.
• Seedlings in containers before planting can be spilled with water to make it easier to remove from them.
• Gently plant each seedling and tightly sprinkle the root system with soil, compacting it with your hands. The roots should not have an air pocket.
• After planting, all seedlings must be watered abundantly.

Agrotechnics for growing New Belgian aster: secrets and nuances of care

Caring for New Belgian aster is not difficult, it is enough to give your attention to periodically lush bushes and the plant will thank you with bright flowers that bloom until late autumn.

Watering New Belgian aster

New Belgian aster is a fairly drought-resistant plant, because a large amount of moisture can harm this plant. If the season is characterized by a large amount of rain, then the aster can not even be watered, natural precipitation will be enough for it. In a drier period, it is necessary to water rarely, but plentifully, preferably with water heated in the sun.

Loosening and mulching New Belgian aster

Periodically, the soil around the aster must be loosened and all weeds removed, as some varieties of this crop may die from an undesirable neighborhood. Before flowering bushes, it is desirable to spud them by about 5-8 cm to strengthen the root system. The soil around the New Belgian aster can be mulched with dry peat or sawdust. So the soil will not become clogged with weeds and this will protect the plant from excessive evaporation of moisture.

Top dressing of New Belgian aster

In autumn and spring, you can add a little humus under the aster bushes. Full feeding is carried out three times per season. The first time you can feed the plant 2 weeks after planting. Add superphosphate, potassium sulfate and ammonium nitrate under each bush. Fertilize a second time during bud formation. You can use superphosphate and potassium sulfate. The third time fertilizers are applied at the beginning of flowering. You can also use superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

Preparing New Belgian aster for winter

During the flowering of the aster, periodically remove all faded flower buds - this stimulates the emergence of new ones. In the fall, be sure to add a little humus under each bush. Almost all varieties of New Belgian aster are frost-resistant, but there are those that can be damaged by frost, especially if they are young plants. In this case, cut off all dry stems and sprinkle the soil around the plant with a layer of dry peat. In the spring, this layer is removed, and the soil around the plant is loosened. Remember that once every 3-4 years in the spring, the aster must be rejuvenated by dividing the bush.

Control of diseases and pests of New Belgian aster

• Powdery mildew. Signs of the disease are a white coating on the stems and leaves. This disease is most common in various asters. To combat it, it is important to start using special preparations in time, it is recommended to spray all plants immediately even in spring. The preparations create a film on the leaves and stems that prevents the appearance of the disease.
• Rust. A peculiar swelling appears on the lower plate of the leaves - a sign of the disease. To combat such a disease, it is necessary to use a solution of Bordeaux liquid.
• Jaundice. Manifested by yellowing of the leaves and stop flowering. It is carried by insects, so you need to use insecticides.

Pests:

• Aphid, spider mite, scoop, earwig. It is important to weed the beds in time to combat such pests, remove all debris. In case of severe damage, you can use insecticides.

The use of New Belgian aster in landscape design

• As a solo landing. Tall asters look great against the background of the lawn. their stems are usually strong and bend, so such an aster during flowering looks like a tall column covered with flowers.
• Group planting along the walls of the house, fences, arbors.
• Tall asters can be planted in the background in flower beds and flower beds.
• Low-growing asters are perfect for planting along borders and garden paths. They will decorate any flower bed or alpine hill.
• Some undersized asters can be planted in containers.

Photo of New Belgian aster in landscape design

You can more clearly see all the features and options for using asters in landscape design on the proposed photos.

New Belgian aster is a traditional decoration of gardens and flower beds of gardeners and summer residents. And although this plant has been used for many years, it has not lost its attractiveness, but continues to be valued and popular.

New Belgian Astra is a perennial cold-resistant flower of the Astrov family. The plant is widely distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. The height of the New Belgian is from 40 to 150 centimeters, depending on the variety. The bush has a three-dimensional shape, the inflorescences of the species are large, terry, most often have a purple color.

New Belgian and New English (American) are autumn varieties. They have a lot in common, however: the American grows up to two meters, while the New Belgian has an average height of about 1.5 meters.

Astra Marie Ballard

It belongs to tall varieties, can grow up to 1 meter. The stems are strong and elastic, so they do not require additional support. It is considered an early variety, as blooms in August and keeps color up to 60 days.

Variety "Marie Ballard" was created in 1955 by Ernest Ballard, after whom he got his name.

Inflorescences are large - from 5 to 8 centimeters. The color scheme is varied: from lavender to blue.

Perennial

All New Belgians are perennial flowers. All of them are divided into 2 subgroups: shrubby and herbaceous, depending on the height of the plant.

It doesn’t matter which variety of New Belgian you choose - each of them is perennial

The most popular perennial varieties among flower growers include the following types:

New Belgian "Mont Blanc". This is a tall plant up to 140 centimeters tall. Blooms from mid-September to mid-November. Inflorescences are terry, white.

New Belgian "Royal Ruby". Medium height with rich crimson inflorescences. Flowering time is from August to September. Frost resistant variety.

New Belgian "White Lady". Received its name for the snow-white flowers of small size. Blooms at the end of August. Frost-resistant.

autumn

There is no specific variety called "Autumn". This is a group of varieties that begins its flowering in early autumn. These varieties include the following New Belgian Asters:

• Sam Benham - this variety It ranked first among the white-flowered Asters. Plant height up to 1.5 meters. The stems are densely covered with leaves and many inflorescences. Flowering period: from mid-September to mid-October.

The unusual white appearance makes the Benham variety look like a chamomile

• Royal Blue is another tall plant with double blue flowers. Blooms in September and lasts until the end of October.
• Sunset is a medium-sized shrub of this variety and is densely covered with many small pink-purple buds. Blooms from September for 30-35 days.

Landing Rules

In order to get a spectacular lush flowering bush, you need to properly plant. The further fate of the plant will depend on how the seeds, place and care are chosen.

What to plant

The first step is to responsibly approach the choice of planting material. Choosing seeds or ready-made seedlings is worth in specialized stores. Outwardly, the seedlings should not be damaged, rot and other shortcomings.

If you take seeds, then the date of their manufacture should not exceed 1 year, otherwise the seeds lose their germination qualities and may not germinate.

Where do we plant

Choosing a location for the New Belgian is another important step towards the proper development of the plant. Since Asters love light and do not like drafts, the site must meet these requirements. In the shade, Asters become smaller and bloom poorly.

In a constant draft, the plant may not bloom at all, or in the future, thin stems will simply be torn off by the wind.

They do not like areas with stagnant water. Therefore, if the area is too wet, it is worth taking care about a quality drainage layer. It is best to plant Astra on small hills.

Optimal time and method of landing

Planted in spring or autumn. In springtime, optimally - mid-May, At this time the earth will already warm up and the plant will take root better. Before planting, the site should be cleared of weeds, loosened and fertilized.

In the beds, up to 8 centimeters deep, seedlings are planted at intervals of 15-20 centimeters for undersized and medium varieties, 50-60 centimeters for tall ones. After sprinkling and compacting each seedling with your hands, it is necessary to water each Astra well.

Use in autumn reckless way landing. Seeds are sown in the prepared land, sprinkled, watered and left until spring. In the spring, seedlings are thinned to the desired distance.

Caring for the New Belgian Astra

Caring for the New Belgian will not be difficult if you periodically give it your attention. Soon the plant will thank its owner with lush and abundant flowering, which will last until late autumn.

Watering and humidity

The flower of this species is considered drought-resistant, so abundant watering can to harm. In the event of a rainy summer, the plant does not need to be watered at all. In the dry season, moderate watering 1-2 times a week with warm water is sufficient.

Do not overdo it with humidity - the aster prefers drought rather than overflow

The soil

As for the soil, its composition should be light, loose and with a good drainage layer, since Astra does not need excess moisture. From time to time, the soil around the flower should be loosened and weeds removed from it.

top dressing

Twice a year fertilizer can be applied. This will make the leaves of the flower shiny bright, and the inflorescences lush and plentiful. It is good to carry out the procedure in spring and autumn, just before flowering. Humus, superphosphates and ammonium nitrate are suitable as top dressing.

For abundant flowering, it is also good to apply potash fertilizers.

Temperature

The temperature regime during the ripening of seedlings should be moderate, from 16 to 18 degrees. Mature plants are less whimsical and easily survive cold weather.

In order not to burn the flower, try to cover the aster from direct sunlight.

But Astra does not like heat, it is better to maintain the temperature limit at 22-24 degrees, otherwise the plant loses its decorative effect.

Winter Care

All varieties of Novobelgiyskaya endure frost, so additional shelter for the winter is not required. After the ground part of the plant fades, it is removed, a little humus is added under each bush and left for the winter.

An exception is young first-year plants, which are recommended to be covered with sawdust and covered with branches for the winter.

Potential Growing Problems

Often Astra New Belgian is affected by diseases and pests:

• Powdery mildew. Symptoms of the disease are manifested by white bloom on the leaves and stem. To get rid of this disease, special chemicals. They can also be used, without waiting for the disease, for prevention. The best time for processing is spring.
• Rust. It affects the lower part of the plant. Leaves swell and turn brown. Spraying with Bordeaux liquid helps against rust.

• Jaundice. Manifested by yellowed foliage and the absence or cessation of flowering. The carrier of the disease is insects, so the only means of control is the destruction of insects by any insecticidal agent.
• Pests in the form aphids, spider mites and cutworms also not uncommon for Astra. In order to avoid their appearance, you need to weed the plant in time, remove debris from under the bushes and treat the plant with any chemical solution to combat flower pests.

Note that all flower growers have to deal with pests. For example, different species attack our favorite orchids. We have already told.

Reproduction of the New Belgian

A plant can propagate in three main ways: seeds, division and cuttings.

seed propagation

This method is rarely used, because the germination of the seeds of the New Belgian Astra is quite long. In addition, only garden species can be propagated in this way, and varietal ornamental species may lose their properties.

The seed method of growing aster is suitable if you are not afraid of a long wait for seedlings

Seeds can be sown in the ground immediately after they are collected, that is, in the fall. To do this, planting material is sown in the prepared fertile soil to a depth of 7-8 centimeters, sprinkled with earth, watered well and left in the winter. For safety, you can cover the ground with sawdust or branches.

seedling method

In this case, at the very beginning of spring, the seeds are sown in a box with soil and placed in a warm place, previously covered with glass. When shoots appear, seedlings are opened and grown at a temperature of 16-18 degrees. As soon as the Asters reach the third leaf, they swoop down. And in late May - early June, they are planted in a permanent place in the ground.

Flowering of Asters grown in this way occurs at 2 or 3 years of age.

The division of the bush

This method is considered the simplest and most effective. It will not take much time and will allow you to propagate ornamental plants without losing properties. The best time for the procedure is spring, when young plants are just starting to grow.

Small bushes are carefully dug up and cut with a sharp instrument so that a sufficient number of roots remain on each. Parts are placed in pre-prepared wells, sprinkle, water and fertilize.

At least 5 shoots must be present on each divisible part.

cuttings

To get seedlings using this method, you need to cut off the top stem, 6-8 centimeters in size. The prepared material is placed in boxes with soil and placed in a warm place. A few days later, as the cutting takes root, it is planted in a permanent place.

New Belgian - excellent decoration for a garden or backyard

Thus, Astra New Belgian is an excellent ornamental plant that does not require much effort and time from flower growers. In turn, with proper care, the plant will endow its owner with abundant and long flowering, which will last all autumn.

Varieties of perennial asters attract the attention of flower growers primarily with their flowering. At a time when most of the plants in the flower beds are already living their last days, this beauty is just waking up. Dissolving its charming buds at the end of summer, it decorates the site until the very frost. In addition, unlike their annual relatives, the perennial aster does not require as much attention. Having planted it once, you can admire the abundant and long flowering for many years.

Perhaps the only "disadvantage" of such plants is their range. There are so many varieties of perennial asters that sometimes the choice leads lovers to a dead end. How not to get confused here, if only there are several groups, and what can we say about varieties ...

Today we decided to try to help you figure out what types of perennials exist. We also want to introduce you to some varieties of perennial asters with a photo. We hope that our article will facilitate the task and help you choose flowers to your taste. So let's get started.

Powerful New England asters

One of the most beautiful late flowering asters. Plants are similar to the New Belgian variety, which will be discussed below. You can distinguish them by the stems: in plants of this group, they are stronger and taller. As a result, the bushes grow slender, keep their shape well and do not need a garter. Some varieties are “growth” about 80 cm. Most of the bushes are rather large specimens up to one and a half to two meters in height.

New England asters (as in the photo below) are also called American.

In addition to size, the New England aster is very lush. Thin, but strong enough, straight shoots are covered with thick leaves-needles. The upper part of the stems actively branches. And when the bush blooms, the foliage is almost invisible under the inflorescences.

New England asters bloom late, in September, but stand in buds until frost. The flowers are quite large, with an average diameter of up to 4 cm, or even more. They tend to close in cold weather and at night.

New England aster varieties are characterized by high resistance to powdery mildew and rapid growth.

Astra Lucida

One of the low varieties in this group: a bush of a maximum of 1.1 m, but very strongly branched in the upper part of the shoots. Such growth is fully compensated by the beauty of flowering. Large buds are painted in a noble ruby ​​​​color. The core is also in this tone, but with a more pronounced red tint. Aster New England Lucida blooms in September for a month.

Resistant New Belgian asters

Another group of autumn perennial asters. All varieties are resistant to low temperatures and drought. Unlike the New England aster, the height of the varieties of this variety does not exceed 1.5 m. In addition, the bushes do not keep their shape so well and often fall apart under the weight of the buds. Depending on the specific species, flowering occurs in August or September. It lasts until the beginning of November, that is, until the arrival of the first frost. In most cases, the inflorescences are terry, some can reach a diameter of 8 cm.

New Belgian asters, photos of some varieties can be seen below, are also called virgin.

Particularly popular among flower growers are the following varieties of New Belgian asters:

• Oktoberfest;
• Royal Ruby;
• Henry Blue;
• Herpicton Pink;
• Friendly.

Astra Oktoberfest

Srednerosly bush 1 m tall blooms in August. The flowers are small, semi-double, with pale blue narrow petals. The core is colored yellow, which makes it look like chamomile, only blue. Blooming at the New Belgian Oktoberfest aster is long, until late autumn.

Astra Royal Ruby

Astra New Belgian Royal Ruby opens its first buds in August and blooms until November. Semi-double inflorescences have a rich royal color: the middle is yellow, and the petals are crimson red. The diameter of the flower is from 2 to 3 m. The bush is medium-sized for this group, its height does not exceed 90 cm, but it is very dense.

Astra Henry Blue

One of the new varieties of New Belgian aster, Henry Blue, is distinguished by its compact size. The bush is extended by a maximum of 35 cm. It has a very beautiful round shape. Blooms Henry Blue from late summer to mid-autumn. The photo shows terry asters, painted in purple-blue. They immediately attract attention and look favorably against the background of dark foliage.

Astra Herpicton Pink

The variety is characterized by long flowering, which begins at the end of summer and ends at the end of autumn. The inflorescences are medium in size, painted in pale pink color, with a yellow core. If there is enough lighting, the New Belgian aster Herpicton Pink grows up to one and a half meters in height.

Astra the Friendly

Very delicate variety with charming pink inflorescences. Their diameter is 7 cm, and the terry shape with a yellow center attracts the eye. The bush itself grows up to 1 m in height.

Compact bush asters

Varieties of perennial bush (shrub) asters represent another separate group. It includes species that are ideal for borders and rockeries. Their height does not exceed 1 m, although there are also smaller specimens with a height of only 20-40 cm. Such compact bushes look very nice even when they do not bloom, and are considered dwarf.

Perennial dwarf asters include not only shrub species. These also include undersized (up to 45 cm in height) varieties of Alpine, New England and Italian asters.

The dense crown of asters consists of many branching branches. The shoots are completely covered with small, but elegantly colored foliage. Dark green leaves with such an amount make the aster look like a boxwood bush. And when they bloom in autumn, small inflorescences cover the bushes with a bright solid hat. Another plus is that such asters do not require transplantation for up to 5 years. Older bushes simply become too dense, and then they are divided for reproduction.

One of the most beautiful and compact types of shrub aster undersized can be considered such varieties:

• Blue Bird;
• Dwarf Nancy;
• Rosenwichtel;
• Blue Autumn;
• Blue Lagoon.

Astra Blue Bird

Astra shrubby Blue Bird is one of the brightest representatives of border flower species. The bush has a beautiful shape: it is thick and dense, like a green ball covered with flowers. Plant height averages about 30 cm. It blooms in early autumn, flowering lasts 2 months. The inflorescences are small, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, semi-double, but there are a lot of them. In blue asters, the photo clearly shows a large middle, painted yellow.

Astra Dwarf Nancy

Aster bush Dwarf Nancy grows to a maximum of 25 cm in height. The shoots are so densely spaced that the bush looks like a sphere. It blooms with lilac semi-double inflorescences from early to mid-autumn.

Astra Rosenwichtel

Shrub aster Rosenwichtel is distinguished by lush forms and long flowering. The height of the bush does not exceed 30 cm, while it is very dense. The erect stems are actively branching and are completely covered with dark green small foliage. Aster blooms in August and blooms until October. Pink asters darken as they bloom, acquiring a reddish hue. The buds are quite large, up to 5 cm in diameter. The petals are arranged in several rows around a yellow core.

The variety is frost-resistant, but in dry summers it needs watering. Grows well in both sun and partial shade.

Astra Blue Autumn is a hybrid variety whose parents are the usual bush aster and New Belgian. From the first he took a compact size, and from the second - a bright color. The height of the bush is only 40 cm, while it grows in the form of a ball. In September, blue-violet buds with a yellow center bloom. Aster blooms until the coldest.

Astra Blue Lagoon

Very beautiful variety with rounded bushes up to 50 cm high and dark green foliage. Flowering occurs at the end of summer and lasts until frost. The inflorescences are large enough for such a plant, can reach 5 cm in diameter. There is a large yellow center in the center of the flower. Around it are several rows of bright purple petals.

Alpine perennial asters - spring plants

Despite the fact that this culture is considered autumn, some varieties of perennial asters are able to please with flowering as early as late spring. These include alpine asters. They differ not only in early flowering. Most of the plants are compact in size - beautiful lush bushes grow up to a maximum of 50 cm. In addition, their flowering usually lasts an average of about a month.

Some of the brightest representatives of the group are:

• alpine blue;
• aster Pink.

Aster alpine blue

Alpine blue, unlike autumn asters, blooms in the first half of summer, for which it is called spring. The height of the bush does not exceed 60 cm, while the inflorescences themselves are large. The diameter of the flower is 6 cm, and the color is dominated by lilac-blue tones. In the center of the bud, a yellow core is clearly visible.

The variety is most similar to chamomile - its flowers form at the tips of the stems, one on each.

Astra Pink

A lush and dense perennial will please with its modest size - only 30 cm in height. Actively branching stems are covered with beautiful green foliage. The lower leaves are oblong in shape, and those that grow on the stem itself are smaller and narrower. Pink blooms in May. The buds are medium in size (only 5 cm in diameter), terry, bright pink. Aster blooms for a month. Aster flaccid differs from other perennial plant species in the arrangement of inflorescences, which gave it its name. A 60 cm high bush consists of erect stems (some varieties can grow twice as high). In the upper part, they have many branches into arched shoots. Each of them is densely strewn with small flowers, representing a whole flowering branch. Astra blooms in September, the buds are white or light pink. The middle of the inflorescence is yellow at first, then turns red.

Another characteristic feature of the side-flowered aster is the red color of young stems.

Unpretentious and beautiful small-flowered aster

Separately, it is worth mentioning such a variety of perennial asters as small-flowered or heather aster. This is one of the most unpretentious species, which can most often be found in a flower bed. At its core, it is, the bush grows rapidly to the sides, capturing the territory. It is very powerful, with strong branching shoots. The height of the plant does not exceed 1 m, but with such a crown, it already seems huge. In addition, dark green leaves are located along the entire length of the shoots. At the bottom of the stem, they are larger and tougher.

Heather aster is not afraid of frost, drought, or sudden changes in temperature.

The small-flowered aster blooms all autumn, and this is the main advantage and difference of the species. Its inflorescences are the smallest of all asters. The color depends on the particular variety and can be white, purple or blue. The core of the flower, as usual, is yellow or red. There are so many buds that under their weight the shoots tend to the ground. For this reason, the bush must be tied up or allowed to lie on the ground with a carpet.

Golden aster, golden

In conclusion, I would like to mention one more type of perennial autumn beauties - golden (yellow) aster. In the scientific literature, it is known as the flax leaf aster. This species differs from the plants described above in the structure of inflorescences. Flowers are more like fluffy yellow balls collected in inflorescences. They are very small (no more than 1.5 cm in diameter), but they look beautiful and gentle. The bush itself grows up to 50 cm in height. Its stems are strong, covered with very narrow, needle-like leaves. And the golden aster blooms at the end of August, marking the arrival of golden autumn.

Here they are so diverse, varieties of perennial asters. Tall or dwarf, large or small, but they all have one thing in common: a light breath of autumn. Astra blooms - it means that summer is saying goodbye to us, but juicy autumn colors come to replace it. Choose your favorite color and "size" and enjoy these beautiful colors!

Perennial asters in the garden - video