Astra pion-shaped: photo, growing from seeds

For many people, asters are associated with the early autumn, when the days are still warm and sunny, and in the evenings the autumn coolness is felt. Surely, many of our readers sent children on September 1 to school with a bunch of these bright and beautiful flowers.

The name of the flower in Greek means "star". Perhaps its shape reminded me of an asterisk with outgoing rays, or maybe it got that name because of its exquisite beauty. One of the many legends tells us that asters grew out of starry dust falling from the sky. At night they talk with their heavenly sisters.

This amazing flower was a charm for the ancient Greeks, who brought good luck. To receive the favor of heavenly bodies, people began to plant it in front of temples and houses. Astra pion-shaped - unquestionably, one of the most decorative species of asters. This species is late-flowering, and therefore even in autumn it pleases with magnificent flowering and bright colors.

This flower amazes with a variety of shapes and colors: white and pink, burgundy and purple, yellow and delicate lilac terry flowers delight. It is rare to find a garden in which a variety of asters are not grown. Today in the world there are about 600 species and more than 800 varieties of this plant. However, in this article we will describe a pion-shaped astra. What is it that attracts flower growers? How does it look? What is necessary for beautiful flowering?

Astra pion-shaped: description

Astra is very beautiful, has a long flowering period and a variety of bright colors. These flowers have a perfectly developed root system. Their petals are crenate, with large teeth and broadly oval form. The stems of the plant are sessile, straight. Inflorescences are quite large baskets in the form of panicles or scutes.

In the middle of the flower, you can usually see the yellow core, and along the edges of the tongue petals are painted in a variety of colors. The diameter of the basket can reach 15 cm. The name of your aster is pion-shaped (you can see the photo below) because of external resemblance to the pion. The unusual shape of the flower is formed by elongated outer petals, which are noticeably longer than the central ones.

All the petals are directed to the middle, and thanks to this, the inflorescence acquires the shape of a ball and is very similar to a pion. The plant is medium-sized: from 40 to 70 cm in height. It perfectly retains its shape, due to the weak branching of the stems. Blossoms aster pion-shaped from early July to early October.

Species and varieties

Astra pion-shaped, the cultivation of which will not cause you problems, today is represented by numerous varieties. However, the most popular are three of them:

• Tower;
• Lady;
• Duchess.

The colors of these varieties can be very different. Astra pion-shaped grow from seeds, as this is an annual plant. Three methods can be used:

• Seedling;
• stratification;
• Sowing in the open ground.

Astra pion-like: cultivation. Choose a place

For planting it is advisable to choose an open sunny place, which is reliably protected from the wind. This plant completely does not tolerate stagnation of water, so it should not be planted in areas with closely-lying groundwater. The soil for seed germination must be well drained and nutritious.

Landing in open ground

In warm regions, it is possible to plant a pion-shaped one directly in the open ground. Seedling in this case is optional. Seeds are planted in the soil usually at the end of April, when the earth has already warmed up sufficiently and does not form lumps, or closer to winter. They should be covered with a film.

When the seedlings and the first real leaves appear, the plants are planted, leaving a distance of about fifteen centimeters between them. If planting an aster pion-shaped into the ground in April, it will blossom later than the plants grown from seedlings, for about two weeks. And the seeds planted in November will bloom already in May. Astra pion-shaped, the seeds of which are sown directly into the open ground, usually bloom more actively. In addition, the plant grows more resistant to disease and hardened.

On warm sunny days, the film is opened for airing, and it is completely removed closer to summer. After that, the cultivation is reduced to regular loosening of the soil around the plant, watering it and feeding it before the budding, and, of course, during flowering.

Growing seedlings

In more northern regions, seedlings obtained at home are more suitable for the cultivation of pion-like asters from seeds. In this case, the plants are sufficiently strong and will acquire the necessary immunity to diseases. I must say that in the middle zone of our country many gardeners are interested in aster pion-shaped (growing from seeds). When to plant plants?

Seeds sow in boxes in March: by the time of the landing in the open ground, strong and healthy seedlings grow. For seedling, the seeds are planted in the soil into which the nutrient mixture is previously added. They are scattered over the surface and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth. Then they are watered and covered with a polyethylene film. For emergence of sprouts, the temperature of the air in the room should be about + 20 ° C. After their appearance, the temperature can be slightly reduced.

Two weeks before planting aster pion-shaped into the open ground, hardening and dressing of seedlings are carried out.

Method of stratification

This method is used by experienced and professional florists when growing asters pion-shaped. Planting and grooming in this case imitate the autumn growing of flowers. This method is based on the use of contrasting temperatures to accelerate the sizing of germs. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil, then they are sprinkled with a layer of snow (1 cm). They will take root under the melting snow. For a few hours the container with crops is placed in a cold place, and after that it is moved to heat.

This alternation of temperatures is carried out until the seeds are pierced. After the appearance of the first shoots, the plants are planted on peat pots or tablets. Grow sprouts in accordance with certain norms. Feed her two times: the first - in May, using a solution of "Agricola" and nitrofosque, and the second - two weeks later.

Astram does not need too moistened soil, so seedlings are watered infrequently. The main thing is to make sure that the soil does not dry up. After each watering, the seedlings are ventilated.

Landing in the ground

Before this serious procedure in the life of plants, seedlings are hardened: every day they take it out to fresh air, gradually increasing the time of "walks". You can start from thirty minutes. After that, your seedlings will not be afraid even frosts to -4 ° C. Since the time you planted the seeds, and before transplanting into the ground should pass at least two months.

If the seeds are sown in the middle of March, the transplants can be transplanted in mid-May. Then the flowers are grown in an unchained and light soil. On damp sites, they will be amazed by rot. Most of all plants prefer sandy loamy soil or non-acid chernozem. In the depleted soil experts recommend to add humus from autumn. After the spring digging, it is necessary to add superphosphate, potassium salt, ammonium sulphate.

Before transplanting into the open ground seedlings should be well watered and wait for a while, until the roots are moistened. Then they will easily escape from the soil. They are carefully pulled out of the container together with a clod of soil and are rooted in the soil. On it it is necessary to make grooves or holes in advance and water them. After planting the seedlings on top of the soil sprinkled with dry soil and slightly compacted so that the plants were resistant. The seedlings are watered at the root.

Care of the plant

Asters are not too demanding in nursing. But some rules must be observed:

• Timely watering;
• Loosening (after each watering and rain);
• Top dressing.

In addition, it is necessary to monitor the moisture of the soil. In a dry and hot summer, the asters are watered abundantly, but infrequently. In order for the root system to develop normally, flowers should be planted. And regular careful weeding will help reduce the risks of diseases.

Feeding

Astra pion-like top dressing are necessary. In the fertilizer season, they are introduced twice: before the formation of the buds and at the beginning of flowering. Feed these plants "Agricola".

Diseases

The growth of most plants is often associated with problems associated with various diseases. In this sense, pion-shaped asters are no exception. For example, incorrect crop rotation can cause fusarium wilt of the plant. This disease appears during flowering and is manifested by the lethargy of the plant and the falling off of the petals. Flowers affected by this disease are recommended to burn.

No less dangerous disease is powdery mildew. It is caused by the following reasons:

• Violation of irrigation regime;
• Lack of nutrients in the soil;
• Too much planting.

Sign of the disease is a gray-white coating on the leaves and stems. Help in the fight against him preparations "Sulfamid" and "Topaz".

Often the astra affects the fungus, which is manifested by dark spots in the form of rings on the leaves. Affected leaflets are removed and burned, and the plant should be treated with "Polynom" or "Fundazol".

Astra can be susceptible to one more disease - jaundice. With it, the flower covers large yellow spots. Unfortunately, he has not yet developed the treatment and the plant will have to be removed to protect neighboring flowers from contamination.

For the prevention of gray rot, copper sulphate, Bordeaux liquid, and copper chloride are used. The plant is treated before flowering. This disease is fairly easy to recognize by a gray-white coating on the leaves. It develops due to excess moisture and excessive nitrogen content in the soil. Affected areas of the plant are removed.

Pests

Among the pests, the most dangerous for the pion-shaped asters are the gallic or leaf nematodes. Between the veins of leaves there are brown spots. In the advanced stage, when the entire plant is affected, it is removed.

If you notice that the leaves of your asters are combined, and besides, foamy formations are visible on them, it means that the plant was attacked by a slobbery penne. The flower will require a cleaning shower from the hose and further treatment with garlic infusions.

In dry and hot weather, an astra can be cuddled with a spider mite. The plant is treated with a soap solution and sprinkled with infusion on the basis of garlic, dandelion and onion husks.

The beauty of asters is admired by many people. These flowers are a true decoration of the garden or garden site, for a long time we are pleased with the magnificent bouquets in the vase. That their blooming was active and lasted as long as possible, it is enough to look after them regularly and competently.