The September Belly or New Belgian aster is known to many gardeners. This unpretentious plant is used for border and group planting, design of parquet lawns and alpine hills. Shrubs with small flowers look picturesque against the backdrop of autumn gray.
What does a New Belgian aster look like?
There are many species of Aster Symphyotrichum Novi belgii, many of them are easily recognizable by the numerous flower baskets resembling stars.
Plant characteristics
Astra differs from its large-colored relatives in winter hardiness. It winters well in temperate latitudes, where there are severe frosts.
Astrochki bloom late, at the very end of autumn, when flowerbeds and beds are empty. Keep decorative for a long time
Short description:
- the aster forms a dense bush with densely branched shoots, there are tall species above a meter high and undersized, with shoots up to 30 cm;
- stems erect, branching from ½ height;
- leaves are lanceolate, sinless;
- inflorescences are formed in the form of baskets with a diameter of 2-3 cm, reed flowers are located on the edges, tubular in the center;
- tight wrapping of the bud;
- seeds are small, dark.
Note! The plant is unpretentious, resistant to disease. Care for the flower is minimal.
Which family belongs to
Astra Wallard or Virginia is a species of the Asteraceae family of Asteraceae herbaceous shrubs.
Briefly about the history of the appearance
In the wild, the plant is found on all continents. Presumably, the propagation of the culture began from North America, Asia is mentioned in other sources. It is believed that Catholic monks from France, traveling in China, brought the plant to Europe. Flower breeding engaged in the XVII century. New species, resistant to frost, still appear.
The buds tolerate frosts to -5 ° C, they are not afraid of the right snow. Under the sun, buds come to life, continue flowering
Description of varieties derived from pure Aster novi-belgii
Belgian aster is extremely popular in Russia. Attention deserves varieties that are decorative:
- Marie Ballard has been known since 1955, named after the creator's daughter. This is a tall variety, forming a dense bush that does not require garter. The hue of the buds is bluish-lilac, the core is yellow. The buds appear at the end of July, the bush blooms for 2 months;
- Mont Blanc is a late-flowering variety with white terry inflorescences up to 4 cm in diameter. Stem height 1.2-1.4 m;
- White Ladies is another white variety with daisy-like flowers. It blooms in September, the height of the stems is up to 1 meter;
- Sam Benham - a relatively new white variety, shoot height up to 1.5 m. Blooms in September.
- Royal Ruby is a medium-sized shrub that grows to 60-80 cm. Terry flowers with bright raspberry color. The center of the bud is deep yellow;
- Amethyst - tall, late flowering, baskets diameter 3.5 cm. Dark purple buds do not fade in the sun;
- Sunset forms a spherical bush up to 60 cm high, small flowers, 2.5 cm in diameter, lilac-pink;
- Blue piano is a tall variety of aster with blue daisies, characterized by a long flowering time. If there are no severe frosts, it blooms until mid-November.
Seed cultivation
Astra virginia hybrid varieties fall into Russia by seed. Bushes are grown in seedlings at home or in greenhouses.
Note! It is useless to collect seeds from hybrid varieties on their own, they inherit species characteristics in only 30 cases out of a hundred.
Landing capacity and soil
Asters have a fibrous root system, the plant quickly adapts to damage to small roots. Seeds can be sown and dived into common boxes. As a soil, a mixture of peat or compost soil with turf in a ratio of 1: 3 is recommended.
Seed preparation and sowing
Purchased seed material is subjected to stratification - kept in the refrigerator for at least 10-14 days. Before sowing for 2 hours immersed in warm water. Seeds are laid out on moist compacted soil, sprinkled with loose soil with a layer of 1 cm. Shoots appear in a week.
The timing
Sowing is carried out 2.5 months before the transfer of plants to the open ground (March-April).
Bright varieties of septemberins will become a real decoration of any garden
How to care for seedlings
For the full growth of seedlings, the earth is loosened after each watering. Nitrogen fertilization is carried out after 2 weeks of growth.
Important! Before picking, the root system of the seedling is 1/3 shortened, the procedure stabilizes the growth of young roots.
Landing
As soon as warm nights are established, the seedlings are transferred to the street. Leave in boxes for a couple of days, then planted in open ground, make shallow holes.
Replanting method
If seeds are bought in the fall, they are planted in the ground when the ground begins to cool. Shoots will appear in the spring, they need to be looked after as at home. Plants will bloom in a year. For sowing, they choose a place protected from the cold wind, a well-warmed place, young seedlings grow poorly in a draft. Only the strongest plants are left for reproduction.
How is Astra Virgin perennial propagated?
Gardeners often practice vegetative and bush propagation.
Bush division
Every seven years, Belgian asters are transplanted to a new place to preserve the splendor and decorativeness of the buds. The bush is divided with a knife, immediately remove all suspicious roots. The shoots on the daughter bushes are cut, parts are immediately transferred to a new place or put in a container of water.
The procedure of division division does not take much time. It’s important to use clean inventory so that you don’t have a fungal infection.
Cuttings
For border planting, plants are propagated by cuttings, cut from bushes older than 5 years. Put in water for rooting. After this, the stalk can be rooted in a new place.
Note! Between plants leave up to 50 cm. Thickened planting often affects pests.
Features of home care
Dwarf varieties of asters of many years old New Belgian are used for landscaping loggias, balconies, conservatories.
Temperature
In spring, the plant is grown as a regular indoor flower. During the flowering period, the plant is moved to a cool place, the buds will delight until November.
Lighting
Asters do not bloom well only on the north side, on other windowsills they feel great. In December, the pot is cleaned in a dark, cold place.
Watering
The bush is intensively moistened during the growth period, in winter, watering is reduced to a minimum.
Important! During the rest, the aster cannot be overdried, it will die.
Spraying
For abundant flowering, the plant is treated with ovary. On one bush, more than 200 buds are formed. Spraying with water is recommended with the onset of the heating season, when the air becomes dry.
Humidity
The bush does not tolerate stagnant water, although it is very hygrophilous. There should be a hole in the tank to drain excess water.
Priming
Astra grows well on loam, does not like too nutritious and loose soil. The ground for indoor flowers is mixed with turf, sand is added.
Top dressing
Home aster is fed twice a year: with nitrogen after waking up, with mineral complexes - at the beginning of budding.
Dwarf species of Belgian aster grown in conservatories and apartments
When and how it blooms
Before planting an aster, you need to learn more about its flowering.
Types of flowers
Baskets are formed from three types of flowers:
- transient (form a wrapper);
- tubular (located in the core, form the testes);
- reeds are petals along the edges of the core.
Flower shapes
More common dish-shaped inflorescences resembling daisies. In needle-shaped marginal petals, narrow, twisted. Terry are formed due to reed flowers.
Flowering period
In temperate latitudes, early flowering species bloom in late June. With medium flowering - in August. Later - in September.
The terry variety of bushy asters is suitable for cutting into bouquets.
Transplant after purchase and during reproduction
Planting material is carefully inspected, the tips of the roots are removed, the shoots are cut to 1/3 of the height.
Note! If the location of the mother bush is unknown, it is advisable to treat the plants with fungicides and insecticides before planting.
Possible problems in growing
New Belgian astra when planting and care in compliance with the rules of agricultural technology is not susceptible to disease.
Leaf problems
Withering of the crown occurs with increased acidity of the soil, the disease is called fundamentosis.
Pests
In clogged areas, plants are affected by aphids, spider mites. When processing garden crops, we must not forget about flowers.
Disease
It is extremely rare for a bush to rot; this is only possible in flooded areas of the garden.
Signs of improper care
With an excess of nitrogen fertilizers, the number of buds decreases, with a lack of phosphorus, the buds become smaller.
The bush is especially beautiful at the very beginning of flowering, when there are no seed plants and withering petals.
The bright colors of the Belgian aster will color the autumn landscape. Stems strewn with buds can be added to bouquets, twigs will stand in water for a long time. Dwarf species grow well in apartments, on glazed balconies and loggias.
