Dutch Aster: Planting Methods and Precautions Explained

The Dutch aster (Aster novi-belgii) is a sun-loving plant that grows best in a spot with plenty of light. It has high ornamental value, with the flowers as the main point of interest; the blooms are commonly rose-red and the flowering period is in October each year. Nowadays, many people want to grow Dutch asters, but before planting, you still need to have a full understanding of its growing techniques.

How to plant Dutch asters

They can be grown by division, cuttings, sowing and other methods. Division can be done in spring and autumn, normally once every 3 years; cuttings can be taken in spring and summer, by cutting off relatively tender branches and inserting them into the soil, where new roots will grow in about 18 to 20 days; sowing can be done in April each year, and about 12 to 14 days after sowing you can see the sprouts emerge.

Dutch aster planting methods and precautions

1. Planting methods:

1. Site selection: Dutch asters are a dryland crop, so choose a plot with convenient transport and close to a water source. It requires loose-textured, finely crumbled, well-aerated sandy or sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5-7.

2. Pre-sowing preparation: Plan early and establish ditches inside and around the field. At every 30 m of bed length, dig 1 cross ditch 35 cm wide and 35 cm deep; for every 10 beds, establish 1 main vertical ditch 30-40 cm wide and 40 cm deep; the surrounding ditch should be 40 cm wide and 50 cm deep; the ditch outside the field should be 80-100 cm deep to ensure smooth drainage. Plough the land early and apply base fertilizer well, applying 10-15 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer per mu; make beds running north-south, with a bed surface 90 cm wide, sow 3 rows, and ditches 30 cm wide and more than 30 cm deep to enhance soil permeability.

3. Sowing method: For large-scale sowing, use a seeder, with a sowing depth of 1 cm, and check the covering thickness after sowing. If it rains, hand sowing can be used to fill in.

2. Precautions:

After sowing, water first, then cover with straw; after covering, check the emergence and moisture conditions, and remove the covering in good time to prevent leggy seedlings. This can prevent the effects of high-temperature sun exposure and heavy rain washout on Dutch asters, ensuring uniform, complete seedlings.

Dutch aster management

1. Pruning: For the first two prunings, you can prune heavily. That is, you can cut off all the tips. In this way, the axillary buds can sprout in greater numbers, and there will be more branches. For the next two prunings, our main consideration is its appearance and shape. Prune according to the specific situation, however it looks good. After pruning, it is best to make it look relatively harmonious. For the last one, timing is the main thing to control. Because its full bloom period is very short, sometimes only about one week. So at this time you must seize the opportunity.

2. Watering and fertilizing: Dutch asters can tolerate drought and poor soil, but this does not mean they do not need reasonable watering and fertilizing. Before planting Dutch asters, a sufficient amount of base fertilizer needs to be applied to ensure the soil has enough nutrients, and during the growing period of Dutch asters, a thin fertilizer needs to be applied once every 2 weeks to make the plants grow vigorously and bloom more. Watering should also be reasonable; for daily watering, water when the soil is dry and let it dry out between waterings, and in dry weather water more, and you can spray water to maintain air humidity.

Common pests and diseases of Dutch asters and their control

1. Brown spot. Brown spot is also a relatively common and highly damaging disease for Dutch asters, and pesticides should be sprayed in good time for control, such as a 2000-fold dilution of 25% triadimefon wettable powder.

2. When aphids or red spider mites cause damage, you can spray to kill them with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate, or use a 1000-fold to 1500-fold dilution of dimethoate for control.

3. Powdery mildew. When Dutch asters break out with powdery mildew, pesticides need to be sprayed in good time for treatment; the pesticides that can be used include a 500-fold dilution of 36% thiophanate-methyl, a 1500-fold dilution of 20% triadimefon, etc.; using them several times in a row gives a better effect. Note that in winter you should remove diseased leaves and burn the withered leaves, and in daily management pay attention to ventilation.

When planting Dutch asters, you must choose the right time and then plant them. After planting, management also needs to be strengthened; timely pruning, watering and fertilizing, and pest and disease control are all essential tasks to ensure their growth. Only when these are done well will Dutch asters grow healthily.