How to plant asters correctly in the fall before winter and is it possible

Flowering plants are in demand among gardeners. Anyone can plant an aster in the fall or before winter. But with one condition, you must follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners. Otherwise, the seeds may simply not sprout.

Why sow asters in the fall before winter - advantages and disadvantages

Planting aster before winter has a number of advantages and one minor drawback.

Pros:

• stable immunity to diseases;
• hardening of plants;
• the flowering period shifts 2-3 weeks earlier;
• there is no need to grow seedlings;
• flowers are resistant to temperature changes.

Minus:

• high consumption of planting material, some seeds cannot germinate.

Planting seeds in the fall has many advantages. Therefore, gardeners often resort to this method of growing aster. This makes it easier to cultivate flowers in the spring.

Which aster seeds are suitable?

Flower growers recommend planting varieties adapted to growing in this way. Pompon types of asters are most often used. They also sow their own planting material. Seeds for planting before winter must be fresh. In the 2-3rd year, germination in the spring is very poor.

An important condition for planting before winter is strict adherence to the instructions of experienced gardeners.

Timing of winter planting

Seeds are planted in the ground at different times, the period depends on the region in which the gardener lives:

• In the Moscow region they are sown in late October and early November.
• In the Urals and Siberia, planting is planned for the end of September, beginning of October.
• But the south in November.

When choosing the date for planting aster seeds in open ground, the weather forecast is taken into account. It is advisable to plan planting when frosty weather sets in. During the thaw, the seeds germinate and then freeze. In spring they do not sprout at all. Therefore, when to sow seeds, the summer resident decides for himself.

Stages of winter planting of asters

The recommendations of experienced gardeners are strictly followed. Otherwise, the summer resident risks being left without seeds and flowers.

Preparing the site and soil

It is advisable to choose a site where the asters will be illuminated by the sun most of the day.

Then the selected area is dug up, adding the following components:

• peat;
• superphosphate;
• urea;
• potassium;
• wood ash;
• river sand.

The soil is dug up to a depth of 25 cm, grooves are immediately formed and the bed is covered until the onset of persistent cold weather.

The soil for filling the furrows is collected in advance. Place in a dry place, the structure should be crumbly. Because in the spring, when the sprouts begin to emerge, the crust over the bed will not allow them to germinate.

Sowing

Planting of seeds is carried out within the allotted time depending on the region of residence of the grower. Planting material is laid out along the grooves and sprinkled with prepared soil. The planting depth is 2-2.5 m. You need to sow asters correctly in winter. Seeds are planted frequently. In the spring, after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are thinned out. Excess planting material is not thrown away. It is used for planting elsewhere.

Shelter for the winter

The plantings are covered with polyethylene, pressed down at the edges and left until the thaw in the spring. Then the cover is removed and covered with dry plant debris. They are not removed until consistently warm weather arrives.

Preparing perennial flowers for winter

If there are perennial representatives of the family in the garden, do not forget about preparing them for the winter period. If everything is done correctly, the plants will delight you with abundant flowering next year.

How to trim

Summer residents are wondering whether it is possible to prune perennial asters. Experienced flower growers advise making sure to carry out pruning. You need to wait until the stems dry out. Most often this happens after the first severe frost. Then cut them at a height of 2-5 cm from the ground. Sawdust is used to cover varieties that do not tolerate frost, as well as young bushes.

Fertilizers

An important stage in preparing plants for winter is fertilizing.Before wintering, the plant collects more nutrients from the soil. It is necessary to add organic matter or complex fertilizer. Flower growers recommend feeding perennial asters with wood ash. 0.2-0.3 kg of the substance is distributed around the plants, then the soil is loosened.

Proper propagation methods before winter

Perennial asters are propagated in different ways. It is difficult to determine the correct method. Each summer resident chooses a method that is convenient and simple for him. It is necessary to plant plants, observing the deadlines, so as not to destroy them, but to propagate them.

Dividing the bush

A simple method is to dig up an adult plant and divide it into several parts. There should be 3-5 shoots left in one bush. The root system of the separated parts of an adult plant must be strong. Perennial asters are planted about a month before the onset of cold weather. The bushes manage to take root during this period. An important condition is watering and fertilizing immature plants.

Water as the top layer dries. Feed with a weak solution of mullein, approximately 15-20 days after transplantation.

Planting by seeds

Planting material can be purchased at the store or collected independently. Collected seeds remain viable for up to 3 years. But it is better to use fresh planting material, since plants need a lot of strength and energy to plant before winter.

Perennial aster is propagated by seeds in the same way as annual aster. The furrows are prepared in advance and sown in frozen ground. Then cover with polyethylene and leave until spring.

Cuttings

Propagation by this method is more suitable for summer. But some summer residents plant using this method in the fall. The cuttings are cut 40-45 cm long, the lower cut is made at an angle of 45⁰. They dig into the ground and wait for the cuttings to take root.Then the roots are mulched and left until spring.

Spring care

When the snow melts, if film was used, remove it. Some summer residents advise covering with plant debris, some do not.

Seedlings that begin to emerge from the ground need plenty of sunlight. The gardener has the right to decide for himself what to do. If the plantings are not covered, then the gardener needs to monitor the weather forecast. During frosts, cover the sprouts to prevent them from being damaged by frost.

When consistently warm weather sets in, the seedlings are thinned out. Since the seeds are planted more densely than during spring planting, the excess ones must be removed.

Thinned flowers will grow faster. They will form a strong root system, the key to a well-developed above-ground part and abundant flowering. Water the sprouts as needed. Not forgetting that aster does not like excess moisture. They begin to rot. But the soil should not dry out either. It is necessary to monitor the humidity level. To preserve moisture, loosen the soil. In addition, it reduces the number of weeds, which also interfere with the proper development of plants.

Treatment for diseases

Aster, like other plants, is often attacked by viruses and fungi. Compliance with agricultural practices significantly reduces the risk of diseases in plants.

If signs of disease appear, it is necessary to immediately treat with special preparations. They are purchased in stores. Summer residents treat asters with chemicals without fear, as it has an effective effect and relieves diseases for a long time.

Use chemicals with caution if fruit and vegetable crops grow nearby. Especially if spraying is carried out. Compliance with planting requirements helps avoid the occurrence of diseases.

Feeding

Young, immature plants require fertilizer. It is important to remember that it is better to underfeed than to overfeed.

In spring add to the soil:

• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• nitrogen.

There is no need to add organic matter, since it is added in sufficient quantities when forming beds in the fall. Planting aster before winter helps many gardeners. Following the recommendations and techniques of agricultural technology will allow you to get a flowering flowerbed several weeks ahead of schedule.