The Latest Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for Aster
Aster, also known as Qingyuan, Ziqian, and Xiaobian, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Aster in the Asteraceae family, and it is also a traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of treating wind-cold cough and asthma, and consumptive disease with coughing of pus and blood. So how should aster be planted? Let us learn about it together.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Aster generally grows in low-mountain shady-slope wetlands, mountaintops, and marshes at an altitude of 400-2000 m. It has strong waterlogging tolerance and cold tolerance, but it is afraid of drought. When selecting a site, choose flat terrain with deep soil, loose and fertile soil, and good drainage for planting. Before planting, plow the soil deeply more than 30 cm. In combination with plowing, apply 3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, and an appropriate amount of superphosphate may also be added. Spread it evenly on the soil, then shallow plow once more before sowing, harrow finely and level, and then make raised beds. The bed surface width is 1.3 m, and the bed ditch width is 30-40 cm.
2. Propagation methods
Aster is generally propagated by fine roots near the ground. It can be planted in spring or autumn. In spring, around Qingming, dig out the seed roots and cut them into 3-6 cm lengths, then open furrows in the prepared ground, place 5-8 roots as a clump into the furrow, cover with soil and water, and seedlings emerge after about 20 days. Autumn planting must be before the Start of Winter. The planting method is the same as in spring. Seedlings from autumn planting grow robustly. Generally, those planted in spring do not bloom in the same year, and in the second year they bolt and bloom in autumn.
3. Field management
After the seedlings are fully established, cultivate and weed in time. When cultivating, pay attention to shallow hoeing and do not go too deep, so as not to damage the root system. Weeding should be timely, and weeds should be removed as soon as they appear. In combination with cultivation and weeding, apply 1000-1500 kg of decomposed human and livestock manure water per mu as a topdressing. When the seedlings grow to more than 7 cm, in combination with cultivation and weeding, apply another topdressing of 1500 kg of human and livestock manure water to promote seedling growth. Aster is afraid of drought, so during cultivation, be sure to pay attention to moisture. When there is drought, water in time. After heavy rain, pay attention to drainage to avoid waterlogging for too long, which can cause root rot.
4. Pests and diseases
The main disease is leaf spot, which mainly affects the leaves, but it is generally not serious. When the condition is severe, Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed for control, once every 7-10 days, 2-3 times in succession. At the same time, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to enhance the plant's disease resistance. The main pests are white grubs and cutworms, which damage rhizomes and seedlings. When opening furrows for planting, broadcast trichlorfon and plow it into the soil, or when the pest damage is severe, mix trichlorfon with soil and scatter it into the soil to poison and kill them.
The above is an introduction to how to plant aster. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.