Astra is incredibly popular and common colors, which often grow on country sites. Deciding with the landing site, learning to multiply, water, plant these colorful plants, the gardener will be able to organize an incredibly original flower leaf.

Astra is one of the favorite plants of our gardeners. Traditionally, annual Chinese asters grown in the country clubs. Their blossom is always associated with the end of the summer - no wonder the Astra is called the "autumn rose"! Meanwhile, today there is a great many species and varieties of this plant that can decorate our garden from spring to winter frosts!

The origin of Astra

"Astra" translated from Latin means "star". Indeed, her thin elegant petals resemble rays of distant stars. Romantic belief reads: if at midnight go into the garden and get up among the Astr, then you can hear a quiet whisper. It is the earth "Stars" talk to their heavenly sisters!

Motherland Astra is China, where it was grown in gardens with deep antiquity. In Chinese culture, this flower has long symbolized beauty, elegance and modesty. In Europe, Astra was delivered to the Hush century. The first flowers raised from the seed French botanist A. I wandered and called them "queens of daisies". They really resemble flowers daisies, but their larger. And after a few decades, European breeders have replaced many new varieties of ASTR, including perennials.

Perennial Astra are the closest relatives widespread in our gardens annually Chinese Astra.

Compared with the majestic colors of annuals, the flowers of perennial Astra are smaller. But there are such a great many on the bush that it looks like a luxurious bouquet! Flowers are collected in baskets and have a wide variety of colors and shades - white, soft blue, pink, purple, bright crimson, red, purple. Especially perennial Astra decorate the garden in the fall, when there are no other colors in the open soil. And bouquets of them stand in a vase for up to 3 weeks!

Perennial Astra have a number of significant advantages over one years.

First, they look more original, because they are still rarely found in the gardens. Secondly, it is easily multiplied and promoted new places. Thirdly, they are extremely cold-resistant. The bushes are well winter without shelter and withstand freezing to -5 ° C, continuing to bloom abundantly and keeping the lush greens. And finally, you can create magnificent garden compositions blooming from spring to late autumn!
Let's talk about perennial astrach more.

Which types of Astra choose?

To date, about 500 species of perennial asters of simple, semi-world and terry forms are known.

By the time of flowering, the species can be divided into 3 groups. Early bloom in May-June, Summer - in July-August. Autumn Asters please us from September to November.

From the earliest, Astra Alpine, which blooms before all the others already at the end of May. This is a compact rosette plant with a height of no more than 30 cm, forming adorable curtains. It grows well even on stony soils. The main thing for him is a sunny place. Burnt leaves are preserved by green even in winter, and small blue, white or lilac flowers are similar to modest daisies.

Of the summer species, Astra Italian (Frycarti) deserves special attention. This is a magnificent perennial height of up to 60 cm. Leaves of linear lancing, dark green. Baskets of lilac-blue flowers up to 4 cm in diameter are collected in shields. The Astra flowers is very abundant and long - from the end of July to mid-October.

Astra Novoangali (American) forms gorgeous bushes with decorative "rough" leaves with a height of up to 2 m. Its inflorescences - carmine-yellow or liqueurose - collected in thick brushes at 25-30 pieces. She blooms in September.

Astra Novo-Belgian (Virgin) is also a tall shrub similar to an inverted pyramid. The plant can reach a height of 1.5 m. The stalks of the bush are weird, stronger, bare or pubescent. Numerous purple, pink, dark red inflorescences - baskets are collected in panicles. Moreover, flowers are sometimes up to 200 pieces - placed in 5-6 rows! For flowering in September, this variety was popular with the name "September".

Where and how to plant?

Any asters are very light sounds. In the shade they grow badly and easily affected by mildew. Therefore, we plant them on open areas well lit by the sun. They prefer drigly, medium-heavy neutral soils rich in humus. Most varieties are quite demanding on the presence of nutrients and mineral elements. The soil must be sufficiently moistened and loose. Not at all suitable for landing low areas with stagnant waters. Under these conditions, the roots of the plants begin to rot, the leaves are covered with rust and dry.
Perennial Astra grow well in one place for 5-6 years. Then the bushes too

thicken and add each other, making it difficult. Therefore, they need to periodically rejuvenate and disassemble.
Before boarding Astra, we introduce organic fertilizers in the soil (a bucket of 4 square meters. M). Tall and empty varieties in a row at a distance of 60 cm between bushes and 100 cm - between rows. Distances when landing compact and low-speed - respectively, 30 and 50 cm. Tall varieties of perennial Astra are necessarily tapping to the support.

How to breed?

Annual Astra multiplies with a seaside and reckless way. Seed out from seeds on the windowsill with other garden plants, and in May, planted on the flower beds and in the flower beds. With a reckless way, the seeds of annual Astra sowing directly into the ground. A seaside method is preferable, since the preservation of plants is higher, and flowering begins for 2-3 weeks earlier.

Perennial Astra can also be multiplied by seeds. But seedlings are weak and do not always give good varietal material. Reliable, faster and easier to multiply their division of a bush or cuttings.

The division of bushes can be carried out even without digging. A sharp shovel compress part of the bush, which is then separated by hand into smaller decene. Each of them must have a kidney and several roots. Small pieces of rhinestice rare varieties can first be resolved in the "Shop", and after a year to fall on a permanent place.

To reproduce the division of bushes, choose adults, well-developed bushes growing in one place for 5-6 years.
Numerous root offspring can also be used as planting material. The fission of rhizomes is carried out in spring or autumn - depending on the flowering time. Astra Alpine and Italian Deliver and transplant early spring or after flowering. Astra autumn blossom - only in spring! In the autumn division, the bushes of late varieties will bloom only the next year.

Good results gives green shots. For cuttings, we use young shoots that appear around the bushes during spring and summer. The cuttings from such shoots are quickly rooted. Asters are growing quickly, forming powerful and lush bushes.

How to care?

The main care for Astraim is periodic soil looser. The main thing is to prevent its excessive seal and the formation of soil crust. Similarly, we remove weeds at the same time. Pour the plants as needed. The greatest need for watering Perennial Astra is tested in dry periods and with increased increase in the vegetative mass. Plants are responsive to the introduction of phosphate fertilizers and lime, as well as feeding with special mineral complexes during the growing season.

How to use asters in landscape design?

Due to the variety of colors and shades, as well as the heights and shapes of the bushes. Perennial Astra give us endless opportunities for their use to decorate the garden! For example, two low-duty grades of autumn asters with white and lilac flowers, differing in height at 15-20 cm, look great in the garden as a miniature alive hedge. Lined in the form of a border, the bushes of these Astra from early spring decorate the garden with juicy and dense greens. And since September and the most November frosts, a mini-wall of low-speed Astra is covered with a solid flower carpet!

Of the dwarf varieties of Astr, the color contour frame of flower beds or a variety of ornaments in the center of the flower bed.

They look great in gravel gardens and rockers. Alpine Asters are perfectly suitable for curb landings, slides and stony areas with poor soil.

Astra Chinese is well developed root system, so it easily transfers the transplant almost at any age, even when is ready to bloom

Astra looks well both as solts, and in a motley floral chore. You can create a variety of compositions from some ASTR, picking up the plant to your taste on the color and height of the bushes. You can land them in groups with other plants.

The most advantageous combinations with sheds, violets, bada, gerany, as well as fine-color plants - gypsophila, Kermek, Iberis.

Tall asters look perfectly in landings around the perimeter of the plot. But their bushes have the property to be offended below. Therefore, in front of them, it is advisable to arrange a decorative cover to plant lower perennials, long retaining.

From childhood I remember how proudly went to school on September 1 with a bouquet of beautiful Astra! Undoubtedly, these flowers are an autumn symbol! The name of Astra comes from the Greek Words 'Callinos' - the beautiful and 'Stephos' - wreath, the inflorescences in the structure resemble a wreath. Astra - Translated from Greek means "Star".

Astra Anasta (Callistephus chinensis). © Anna Rusakova Content:

Legends about the origin and symbolism of ASTR

Ancient legend says that Astra grew out of the dust falling from the star. Already in ancient Greece, people were familiar with the constellation of the Virgin, which was associated with the goddess of Love Aphrodite. According to the ancient Greek myth of Astra arose from cosmic dust when Deva looked from the sky and cried. For the ancient Greeks, Astra symbolized love.

There is a belief that if at night to become among the Astra and carefully listen, then you can hear a light whispering: This asters lead an endless conversation with their sisters-stars.

There is another legend of the appearance of Astra on Earth: two Taoist monks decided to go to the stars. They walked for a long time on a barbed forest. Thought through the thickets of juniper. Raised by barely noticeable mountain paths. Slised on snowy glaciers. Until reached the top of the highest mountain Altai. But, having reached the top, they saw that the stars were still high in the sky and were not closer.

Log was the way back. The monks have no food, nor the water, they struggled the body into the blood, broke clothes. Almost without strength they descended from the mountains, and went on a wonderful meadow, where he was pure stream and wonderful flowers grew. "Look," said one of the monks, "we did such a hard way to see the beauty of the stars in the sky, and they turn out to live here on Earth." They dug up and brought several plants into the monastery and began to breed these flowers, calling them astrams that it means stars in Latin.

In China, Asters symbolize beauty, accuracy, elegance, charm and modesty.

For Hungary, this flower is associated with autumn, so in Hungary, Astra is called "autumn rose". In ancient times, people believed that if they throw a few leaves of Astra in the fire, then the smoke was able to drive a snake from this fire.

Astra flower is a symbol of women born under the astrological sign of the Virgin. Astra is a symbol of sadness. This flower was considered a gift to man from the gods, he was charm, an amulet, a particle of a distant star. Therefore, the sadness symbolized by him is sadness of the lost paradise, it is impossible to climb the sky.

Description Astr

Callistefus Chinese, or Astra Annole - Callistephus Chinensis.

Motherland - South West of the Far East, China, Mongolia, Korea.

Annestly herbaceous plant with a powerful, urine wide-wired root system. Stems are green, sometimes reddish, solid, reprehension, simple or branched. The leaves are located in the next order, the lower on the stiffs, widespread or oval-rhombic, on the edge of the unequal-and large-grained, sawn or ordinary; Top - seating.

Inflorescence is a basket consisting of tongue and tubular flowers. Flowers from July to deep autumn. Fruit - seed. Seeds ripen 30-40 days after the start of flowering, retain the germination of 2-3 years. In 1 g 450-500 seeds.

Wild-growing annual Astra is little decorative. In culture, numerous hybrid varieties have long been used, differing in the form, magnitude, structure and color of inflorescences; On the form and size of the bush and flowering time.

Types of Astr.

There are over 600 astra varieties in the world. They differ in height, flowering timing, growing goals and the structure of flowers.

In terms of flowering, they are divided into 3 large groups:

• Early. The period from the appearance of germs before the start of flowering is 83-115 days. Flower from early July to September.
• Middle. 116-122 days. Flower from the end of July-early August to September. This group includes most varieties.
• Late. 123-131 day. Flower from mid-to-end to deep autumn.

Height divided into 5 groups:

• Dwarf. Up to 25 cm.
• Shorty. Up to 35 cm.
• Average. Up to 60 cm.
• Tall. Up to 80 cm.
• Giant. Above 80 cm.

By the nature of use, they are divided into 3 groups:

• Cotable. High, with large terry inflorescences and long blooms.
• Shuffle. Low, compact, suitable for both flower beds and growing in pots on the window, greenhouses.
• Universal. Medium size Compact plants with long blooms and large inflorescences. Used for cutting and in flower beds.

By the structure of inflorescences divided into 3 groups:

Growing Astr.

Location

Plant is light-chapter, cold-resistant. The greatest decorative achieves when growing in conditions of temperate temperature and humidity and soil, it prefers open, solar places, but takes out and halftime.

The soil

It grows best on the lungs, fertile soils with acidity close to neutral. Making the manure under this culture leads to the affection of plants with fusariasis. For this reason, astra cannot be planted after gladiols, tulips, carnations and return to the former plot earlier than 4-5 years. The best predecessors are calendula and TAGETES.

The best soils for astra are fertile, light lungs or sandy, with a medium reaction close to neutral. On empty sandy or clay soils, Astra is drawn, that is, instead of terry large flowers, simple and non-nice are growing. Places prefer solar, with moderate humidity.

Fertilizer

In the fall, under deep soil resistance, it is recommended to add 2-4 kg of humidiation or compost, in front of the spring resistance - 20-40 g of superphosphate, 15-20 g of ammonium sulfate, 15-20 g of potassium salt. Fertilizer doses are indicated approximately. Specific doses must be calculated based on the agrochemical analysis of soil samples.

Reproduction of Astr.

Astra is best grown by a seaside method - it accelerates and lengthens their flowering. To obtain seedlings, the Astra is sown in the room at the end of March in the box with garden earth. From above, fall asleep with a thin layer of land (1 cm), carefully watered and covered with a film or glass. At Seed Astra dense shell, but they germinate quickly - by 3-5 days after sowing at an air temperature of 18-20 degrees. It is best to take the crop seeds last year.

Seedlings are moderately watered, and with the advent of two real leaves, it is picked (searched) into a box with a height of 8 cm and with a distance between plants 3 cm. When picking the root of the reserves, the ASTR is cut. In the future, moderate watering and loosening. With the first opportunity, it is necessary to make young plants on fresh air.

The time of planting seedlings should have a durable stem 6-10 cm high and 5-7 large green leaves. Time to landing in a flower garden - from the beginning of May. Astra is not afraid of light frosts, well tolerate a transplant and quickly take root. The distance between plants when landing: high grades - 40 cm, average - 30, low - 15 cm.

The seeds of Astra can be heated and directly into the ground as soon as the earth fills. At the same time, plants are better hardened, less diseased diseases, but bloom later.

Astra well tolerate transplant during flowering. After the onset of frosts, you can dig a plant with a lore earth, put in a pot and put on the window - Astra will continue to bloom.

Pests Astr.

Kindic wave damages young plants in the seedlings, when there are only 3-4 plants in plants. Kindic Till causes the deformation of the leaves on the top of the plants. Leaves seek wrinkled.

Measures of struggle: Apply a spraying of chlorophos, carbofos, deposit or drug "Inta-Vir". Spraying should be carried out early when plants have no more than four real leaves.

In addition to Tly, Astra can damage the tobacco trips, having slumbsy Pennie, meadow bug. In the south of the country, it is badly damaged by sunflower fire. To combat them use permitted and commercially available drugs.

Astra Anasta (Callistephus chinensis). © Kor! An

Astrich's disease

Fusarious fading, or Fusariosis Astra, is a mushroom disease that is caused by one of the fungi of the genus Fusarium. There is usually the disease usually already in adult plants, in the blockonization phase and the beginning of flowering. Radical measures to combat the disease is not yet invented. However, there are preventive measures of the struggle that can reduce the incidence.

It is very important for astra to create a cultural work on the site, and in large areas - crop rotation. Astra should alternate with other floral and vegetable plants so that it returns to the previous place no earlier than 5, better than 6 years.

At the site that is preparing for the landing of Astra should not make manure and fresh compost, but only humid and well-overwhelmed compost. Increase field resistance to fusarium All techniques that contribute to the increase in the physiological stability of plants, namely: pre-sowing treatment of seeds with solutions of trace elements, growing healthy, strong seedlings, non-rooting macro and microfertilizers. You should not put the plants thick, it is necessary that the arser will be well ventilated and the root cerv has been caught.

Plants affected by fusariosis should be removed from a plot or from a flower garden. In no case can they be buried to the ground or fold into compost. They certainly need to burn. And of course, it is very important to choose for landing the most resistant to the fusarium variety. And there are quite a lot of such varieties.

In the raw summer, in addition to Fusariosa, Astra can affect gray rot, verticillosis, malievous dew. In the fight against these diseases, periodic treatment with drugs such as Fundazola helps.

Occasionally, viral diseases appear on Astre - jaundice and cucumber mosaic. To prevent these diseases, it is necessary to deal with periodically appearing tool. This is the main carrier of viral diseases on plants. The plants affected by viruses as quickly as possible are removed and burned. Put them into the ground or lay in compost.

Asters - probably the most popular flowers adorning the flower beds, flower beds, garden ramks, balconies and terraces in the late autumn. The AsteracEae family includes 600 species - multicolored annuals and perennials, which are traditionally associated with autumn. They can bloom from spring to the first frosts, and the scale of colors, types of inflorescence allows you to create beautiful flower beds.

In this article you will find information about annual and perennial astra - landing, growing and care in open ground, reproduction of plants, pests and diseases, and other information interesting for lovers of this beautiful flower.

Plant Description

The name of Astra comes from the Greek word "star" and refers to star-shaped, multi-treat form of colors.

The inflorescence of ASTR is a real work of art. Around the disc-shaped center, inside the baskets, are yellow or pink tubular flowers, which are confused with pestles and stamens. The flower basket itself is formed from outdoor leaves, having different colors - from white to classic purple, but never yellow.

The plant, depending on the species, reaches a height of 20-30 centimeters to 1.5 meters. Most Astra - Perennials, bloom from year to year, except Chinese varieties.

In our gardens the following types are most common:

1. sustained Astra (ASTER DUMOSUS) - thanks to the wealth of dark green leaves, the free space on the chapels is perfectly filled, the height is usually 20-60 cm;
2. astra Belgian, Novobelgian - varieties of this species have dark green leaves, a large inflorescence with a yellow middle, form underground collines and grow strongly;
3. astra Novoangali - tall look, forms large bushes tall up to meter;
4. alpine - low-speed Astra up to 40 cm high, flowers appear in June;
5. astra heather soil;
6. chinese - there are short and tall varieties, flower - terry.

Among the most common Chinese varieties that actually belong to the separate type of plants, there are two-year and annual species, information about the durability of the variety is better to ask directly from the seller.

All variety of species and varieties is described in detail in the article about.

Soil Requirements, Place of Planting

Shrub asters come from the Prairies of North America, they do not create problems in rooting even in poor soil. Nevertheless, most species, especially popular Novoangalian varieties reaching 120-150 cm in height, and Novobelgian, blooming from mid-August, it is recommended to plant on moderately wet soil, but never on a constantly wet soil.

The required cultivation condition is an uncompromising solar position. In the shade, these wonderful flowers suffer greatly, which manifests itself:

1. lack of flowering;
2. the development of fungal infections.

Landing

Astra is successfully grown from seeds. Sowing is held in February - in containers. Seedlings contain in greenhouse conditions, some gardeners on the windowsill, providing the proper humidity of the substrate.

You can plant astra seeds into open soil, as a rule, do it in May, when the daily temperatures become stable - 10-15 degrees, the likelihood of frosts will disappear. In front of the landing, it is desirable to make superphosphate. The landing scheme depends on the variety. On average, it is necessary to observe the distance between the plants - 15-20 cm, it is possible to sow seeds more often, since not everyone is sprouting, then we can cut the crops.

The correct interval depends on the end magnitude of the bushes:

• first, the plants develop very slowly, but their final dimensions do not allow to increase the landing density of more than 3-4 plants per square meter;
• for smaller shrub varieties, the landing scheme is 8-9 seedlings per 1 m².

Attention! When landing, it is impossible to put compost right under the roots, you need to position it at the bottom of the pit and pour out the layer of land.

Care

Asters have some features of the care, which should be learn before you decide to grow this decorative plant.

Garter and trimming

Tall varieties require tapping, it is important to conduct a garter on time. The shoots that fallen on the ground are hard to straighten, all the plant loses charm because of the wrong shape.

The formation of high bushes is the periodic trimming of shoots - if in July to reduce their half, the stalks will raise the power and will look impressive.

Attention! Such trimming can delay flowering for 2-3 weeks!

When flowers appear (most of the species bloom in the period from August to October), it is worth watching the plant, on time to delete the shockless floral baskets - this will help the development of subsequent kidneys.

At the end of autumn, when the plant begins to slowly dry, you need to immediately cut all the shoots to the surface of the earth.

Watering

Although some varieties of Astra are able to withstand moderate drought, they grow much better in conditions of a low, but constant level of humidity. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly water asters during the growing season, especially at the end of summer - the lack of water at this time can significantly reduce the amount of kidneys. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on weather conditions, gently directing the flow of water under the plant - on the root system.

The mulching of the soil around the plants has additional support, limiting the development of weeds, holding moisture in the ground.

Fertilizer and subordinate

Astra is rather "voracious" plants that need a lot of nutrients. Their favorite medium is an organic compost that should be mixed with the soil before planting. In the spring and during the flowering period, it is necessary to mix compost with the soil around the plant - this will pay off the beauty of colors.

Reproduction

Astra can multiply in several ways:

1. seeds;
2. cuttings;
3. decision roots.

Decision roots

The easiest and most natural way is the separation of the root coma. Sometimes it is a recommended procedure, because after a few years, growing at one level of the plant are thickened.

After digging the plant in May-June, gently divide the roots into several parts, getting rid of central old shoots. The rest of the parts are searched in other places on the flower bed. Each new part should be at least 3 shoots.

Shining

An alternative method is the reproduction of ASTR cuttings that produce in spring. The cuttings are cut, after rooting the shoots in the substrate, the young seedlings are moved to a permanent place.

Sowing seeds

Asters also breed from seeds. Often the question arises when it is better to plant astes, multiply by seeds. Seeds plant in containers in spring or summer (from April to July). In the soil it is necessary to disembark the seedlings in September.

The landing scheme depends on the type, variety. For example, the Alpine Asters grow well and compacted, they are planted at a distance of 30 × 30 cm.

Diseases and pests

Astra - perennial plants that are usually winter in the soil without problems. After cutting the shoots to autumn, you need to cover the root zone with an additional layer of compost soil or bark. Old plants are more likely to face, bloom less, so they need to be rejuvenated every 3 years, replant with the division of the bush, as described above.

Puffy dew

A much more serious problem is a malievable dew. This is a fungal infection, quite often attacking asters. The disease is manifested by the appearance of white coating on the leaves resembling flour, slightly impregnated with water.

Especially sensitive to the tormentous dew of the Novobelgian variety. It is necessary to fight torpid dew using aerosol fungicides, for example, topaz.

Fungal diseases

Fungal diseases affecting asters can be prevented by avoiding excessive irrigation and taking care of not to water the leaves in the irrigation process. The aforementioned separation of the root coma every few years is also good preventive care.

Jaundice Astr

The disease is manifested at the initial stage with the yellowing of the sheet along the veins. Then the whole plant becomes yellow-green. Soothes weaken, leaves are thinned. Flowers become yellow-green, distorted.

The disease is caused by phytoplasm. Causes of appearance:

1. phytomlamism is transmitted mainly by insects;
2. it is possible to infection while breeding together with the vegetative material.

Phytoplasm cannot develop outside the owner. If the plant dies, phytoplasm is also dying. Unfortunately, there are no effective ways to combat them if the infection has already been implemented. An erroneous diagnosis causes an unnecessary and unreasonable use of fungicides or bactericides in domestic gardens. Sick plants need to dig and burn.

Leaves twisted

Wrinkling, curled leaves - a sign of this infection. Viral disease leads to an increase in ASTR growth. No preparations will help. You need to dig plants and burn.

Fusariosis (rot)

The disease attacks the soil, it is in the soil that a source of infection is contained. Astra becomes brown, wither. One of the solutions is a plants transplant to another, healthy place, because the contaminated soil can infect seedlings for several years. Fungicidal spraying is carried out not only on the plant, but also on the soil.

Aphid

Sometimes Astra is affected by Tly. To combat pests, use a soap solution that needs to be sprayed 2-3 times a day until the insects retreat.

Features of planting and leaving various species

Sustained Astra

When growing have moderate requirements:

• they are easy to multiply - by dividing the root coma, preferably in the spring;
• after the transplant grow rapidly;
• in our conditions are characterized by complete frost resistance;
• for landing, chosen solar, not very dry places;
• on fertile and well-cultivated soils will be given exceptional flowering, it is necessary to make a portion of compost or manure around the root coma of plants.

Novobelgian and Novoangali

Landing and care for Novobelgian and Novoangli Astramy are a bit different:

• These varieties of ASTR are characterized by large sizes. Some varieties in favorable conditions can grow up to 2 meters. Therefore, they are planted in the background. Little flowers with intense painted flowers are well combined with aerial herbs on large perennial peels.
• If it is difficult to distinguish to which group a plant owns, you need to look at the shape of the root. New Belgian varieties quickly apply to the use of underground rhizomes. Novoangali form compact roots, independently do not grow to other parts of the flower beds, a flower bed.
• Both species prevent many nutritional requirements - they bloom well only on fertile and well-groomed, sufficiently wet soils.
• Both types are planted only at sunny positions. In the field of the plant, the plants bloom late, not very plentiful.
• They deteriorate them like shrub varieties - the division of the bush.

Alpine

• Plants prefer warm, sunny positions. They cannot be planted in very shaded places, because bushes will be unattractive, leaves and stalks will become yellow.
• Alpine asters are best breeding in a vegetative way, but you can soaring them with seeds.
• Landing a long-term Alpine Astra and care for it are similar to other species. But it is worth paying special attention to the soil.
• You need to be seen these perennials on fertile, permeable, alkaline soil.
• The corresponding pH of the soil plays a rather important role in the cultivation of this species. Therefore, too acidic soils need to be lime before landing the Alpine Astra. Periodically, lime should be carried out in order to maintain the correct soil reaction.
• Alpine Asters grow in nature on pretty light, sandy soils. If the soil in the garden is too heavy and wet, it should be facilitated by adding sand or small gravel. This will improve the structure of the soil, will provide good drainage - excess water can lead to root rotting.

Astra in landscape design

Garden asters are well presented in large clusters, preferably surrounded by high plants that additionally protect the stems from the wind. Smaller bushes, up to 20-40 cm high, can be placed on the edge of the Rabatka, as a multi-colored strip separating from the lawn.

In the Astra compositions, it is perfectly harmonized with perennials that blooming with several different time intervals - you can plant tulips or daffodilion bulbs between them, they will bloom in the period when Astra will only develop the leaves.

• east Mac;
• fighter;
• stockrose;
• mordovnik.

Flowering late varieties look beautiful in the company of silver and gray ornamental herbs.

Astra is the most popular and easiest version of the flowering plants in the autumn garden design. It is mistaken to think that it is impossible to enjoy the charm of the flower before - Alpine, low species flourished at the turn of May-June! Quite early - in August, newlyobelgian species flourish, which in addition to typical shades acquire intriguing colors - red and cherry. Novoangalian varieties are very impressive, including:

• red "Ruby";
• pink "bruisy";
• delightful white grade "Calm Snow".

Mixing different in height and color of Astra variety on a flower bed, we get easy to maintain, a fabulous corner that can be enjoyed to the end of autumn.

In the second half of summer and at the beginning of autumn, when typical summer flowers lose magnificence - the kingdom of Astra begins in the gardens. It's very easy to grow asters at the cottage. The plant is unpretentious, rarely sick, due to care. The variety of cultural varieties is impressive, the scale of colors and shades of colors obtained during the breeding process is extremely rich. The plant will decorate a lush buoy of any flower garden.

Astra is considered the most popular in Russian gardeners with floral culture. It is unpretentious, easy to maintain, resistant to low temperatures. Rail ashs die even novice gardeners.

Sowing seedlings and landing in open ground

Sowing Astra to obtain a seedliness produced from mid-March to April. For this prepare the nutrient soil, adding some sand to the garden or garden land, equal part of the peat, humidiation or compost. Then the resulting mixture was disinfected by a solution of manganese, also treated with utensils for planting. At the bottom it is necessary to pour stones for drainage.

For sowing take healthy non-phase seeds, which are desirable to go. The seeds fall asleep the earth, watered soil with warm water. From above on drawers are placed film or glass to create the necessary conditions. As soon as the sprouts will appear two full leaves, they are transplanted into the pots. Watching the frequency of watering so that fungal diseases do not occur.

The disembarkation on the site is made when it is reached with 9-10 cm. It is planted in a well-willed earth, tall flowers away from each other, other varieties, retreating about 20 cm. Astra prefers solar places. It is not recommended to grow it in raw heavy soil, because it will cause root. It is important to trace so that when landing the growth point was not blocked. Attention should be paid to cultures that grew here last year, because, for example, tomatoes and potatoes can leave the fungal diseases after themselves.

Reckless way of planting

In the open soil, work is performed in early spring or autumn. Spring sowing must be held in the first decade of May in the warming ground. You can first determine the soil with a solution of manganese. Seed seeds need to pour and cover with a film. If shoots are thick, they are thinned, remote borsakers can be placed in another place. In the fall, the seeds are sown in the already frozen soil (the grooves are prepared in advance), so they are mulched. It is noted that with the autumn sowing Astra will bloom later, but bloom will be longer and abundant.

Astramy care

It is quite easy to care for flowers, the main thing is to water and remove weeds in a timely manner, loosen to access the oxygen to the roots. When watering does not need to moisten the soil. To preserve moisture in the roast summer, the land is molded with sawdust, dry grass, cheese. Mineral fertilizers use more often for feeding:

• Ammonia Selitra
• Sulfate potassium
• Superphosphate

Fertilizers can be dry into the grooves near the roots or dissolve in water. At least three feeders are needed:

1. after a little time after the sprouts were planted on the flower,
2. when buds and buds began to form
3. after blooming.

Asters are sensitive to viruses and fungal diseases, such as fusariosis, septoriasis, bacterial spot. As prevention of diseases, it is recommended to dissolve a nettle infusion in water. At 1 kg of raw materials take boiling water bucket, withstand several days, add one glass of solution to the water bucket.

Asters in landscape design

When using ASTR in landscape design, it is important to draw attention to their size. Different varieties of ASTR can be height from 25 to 80 cm. High asters can be used as a composition of the composition or among the same colors in the height. Dwarf Astra Apply as accents or background.

Astra is a flower, which highly appreciate gardeners around the world. By the end of the summer, when most plants were already fighting, he decorates flower beds with the most different colors. Grow the Astra is easy if you consider all the landing rules and subsequent care.

Description

This is a herbaceous decorative plant of a family of comprehensible. Astra perennial and annuals, they all have tens of thousands of different varieties, characterized by height, shape, painting inflorescences.

Anasta Astra is called Callistefus. The stem of its reprehension, weakweed, with the rich leaves of a saturated green color with a gentle green color. The urine root system is quite powerful. The inflorescence in the form of a basket consists of tubular flowers and surrounded by petals that can have a different color - from white to dark purple. Only orange color is absent in the palette. Thanks to the unusual form of the inflorescences of Astra and received its name, translated from the Greek - "Star".

Perennial Astra

These flowers decorate the garden in the late autumn, when flowering plants almost remains. They are also called Octobrinks, winter astrams due to the fact that even the first frosts climbed, they do not lose their beauty and, as soon as the sun priges, revive again, revealing the exhausted buds. Astra Perennial can be the most of the most height - from 30 centimeters to 2 meters. Therefore, you can decorate the border, roccar, or place in the center of the flower bed. They are perfectly suitable for creating songs and as a garden wide.

These very unpretentious plants adapt to any soil. Places are preferred solar, but also on the shaded areas they feel good. Fertilizers usually make spring and during the bootonization period. In the fall, you can apply as feeding wood ash.

Pereparing a long-term ARSTRU should be every 5-6 years. Reproduction can be divided by a bush or disembarking shoots. Separated by a spade part of the plant. It is necessary to do it carefully not to damage underground shoots. This part of the bush is planted on the site illuminated by the sun, since Astra is a flower, which blooms much worse in the shade. In addition, the plant is subject to disease.

ASTR grade, which include perennials, are quite varied. Sustained Astra is considered to be the most common in our area. It is covered with small (about 3 cm in diameter) flowers usually purple, less often blue or pink. Popular and such varieties like Astra Alpine, Italian, Tongolskaya. All of them are mostly distinguished by the form and color of the inflorescence. The high Astra includes Novoangalian and Novobelgian, the height of them can reach 1.5-2 meters.

Growing conditions

Astra is a flower that does not require creating any special conditions. However, its decorative properties will exercise much better if the cultivation of some rules are taken. The landing place should be chosen well lit by the sun, so that the flowers have time to bloide to the cold. Soils These plants prefer loamy, fertile, thoroughly reheated. Before boarding, it is necessary to provide drainage and water permeability, since the dampness and stagnation of moisture of the plant is carried very badly. The cultivation of the colors of Astra on raw soils provokes a disease of mildew. The poor in the composition of the soil enriched with an organica, adding 10 kg to each square meter.

Reproduction

Perennial Astra can multiply with stalling. The shoots appearing on the plant in the spring and during the summer, are very quickly rooted (in 25-30 days), forming new strong bushes. The cuttings take 5-7 cm long and planted in the prepared in advance of the ground from the turf, peat and sand. From above can be covered with a film to speed up the rooting process.

Astra multiply can be divided by a bush. It is important that at the same time there was a 3-4 escape on the separated part and a bit of the roots. The reproduction of seeds is also possible, but it is very unproductive, since the germination of seeds is lost fairly quickly. Therefore, this method is used very rarely.

This method spawns only annual asters. Cultivation of seeds can be carried out with a seedler or unreasonable method. In the latter case, the seeds are sown directly into the ground and covered with the film until the first shoots appear. When the third real sheet appears on the plants, they are thinned at a distance of 10-15 cm. The cultivation of the colors of Astra is quite problematic. Not all varieties are distinguished by a good germination, and an open place under adverse weather conditions reduces the chances of seeds for germination. Therefore, experienced gardeners prefer a seaside way.

Growing seedlings

At the end of March seed seeds in a greenhouse or special boxes. They are filled with soil mixture, harvested in advance of the turf, peat and sand (in the 2: 1: 0,5 ratio). For every 5 liters of the mixture, you can add half a cup of wood ash. In the ground, a small groove is made, which, after sowing, is sprinkled with washed sand with a layer of 0.8 cm. After that, it is necessary to pour a solution of manganese light-pink and to maintain a moisture to cover the box with a film. Temperature for germination should be approximately 18-20 ° C. It is important to produce watering on time, not allowing soil moistening.

Astra - flower, whose seeds are pretty quickly lost to the germination. This requires a more serious approach to their choice. For landing should be selected only by fresh seeds. Previously, they are recommended to be treated with a solution of a fungicide in order to prevent the possibility of appearances in plants of diseases caused by fungal infections.

Picking

Under favorable conditions for seedling colors ASTRA in 3-5 days already gives the first shoots. The film must be removed and put the container with seedlings into a well-lit place. When 2-3 leaves appear on the astra sprouts, they can be divened. For this, the soil mixture, which has the former composition, adding a tablespoon of mineral fertilizer to it with potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus content. Filling the special pot in this soil, it makes a small deepening, which is neat so as not to damage the roots, seedlings are placed.

Then the soil around the plant is slightly tamped and watered with a standing water. Watering should be done very carefully, ranging from the edges of the tank and trying so that the water does not fall on the leaves.

Bedding

When 5-7 large leaves are formed on seedlings, they are transplanted into open ground. It usually happens in the middle of May. Before disembarking, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance. If its acidity is increased, then it is recommended to add 150-200 g of dolomite flour or wood ash and 50 g of mineral fertilizer to each square meter. Sand and peat are brought into clay soils. At about a distance of 20-30 cm asters are planted from each other. The cultivation of seeds seeds with insufficiently favorable conditions can lead to the formation of too stretched plants. Such seedlings need to land at approximately 3 cm. Slightly bore the soil near the plants, produce watering and poured on top of a small peat layer to avoid the formation of the crust.

Astramy care

After the flower landing is over, Astra needs further care. It is not such a burdensome, as when growing other plants. All that is required for full growth and flowering is weeding weeds, timely watering and feeding. In the arid summer, watering flowers must be more abundant, otherwise the leaves can yellow, and the amount of inflorescences will decrease. Watering is especially important during the bootonization period.

At the same time, Astra need feeding with mineral fertilizers. They contribute to more lush flowering and increase the stability of the plant to disease. The long-term Astra is a flower that is long grown in one place requires compulsory in the soil of the organicists.

Diseases and pests

The most common astra's disease - fusariosis, when the rot is striking not only the root, but also stem. Plants and malicious dew appearing resulting from too close landings or shortage of nutrients. There are also diseases such as rust, black leg, verticillosis.

We are not indifferent to Astra. Insect pests. Mainly it is a web tick, slug, kidnew and others. Plant spraying by special means helps to get rid of them, as well as the processing of the lime and thoroughness of the soil.

Sort Astr.

It is impossible to list all the varieties of these beautiful colors. Only those that enjoy the greatest popularity of domestic gardeners can be noted.

Among the tall varieties used mainly to compile bouquets, an associate is highlighted with raspberry-red large inflorescences up to 12 cm in diameter. Blue Animes, called so for the color of his buds, can reach height 70 cm. Nata, Havskaya Silver and Java Blue, Marshmallow, Suliko - Each of these varieties has its own unique beauty.

Low grades (Border Border, Summer, Godka, Vologda Lace, Woodland Star and many others) are used mainly for decorative design of borders, flower and lawns.

By providing comfortable conditions for this plant, you can grow it in the apartment. Homemade asters need enough light and moisture.

Among the garden colors, perhaps, no longer meet a similar variety of forms and colors, like ASTR. There are cheerfulness of needle, chrysanthemum, crown. Coloring Astr just amazes imagination - red, burgundy, pink, white, yellow flowers are able to create a real carpet in the garden. And, taking into account the unpretentiousness of these plants, to grow such a splendor on its plot, even the most inexperienced novice flower.