Sowing Methods and Key Technical Points for China Aster
1. China aster seeds are relatively large, so we need to insert the tip of each seed into the soil one by one; note that China aster is a shallow-rooted plant, so do not insert them too deep.
2. Keep the temperature at around 20°C, with moist and fertile soil; generally, seedlings will emerge about one week after sowing.
3. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm, they can be planted out; in summer's high temperatures, be sure to increase watering appropriately.
How to Grow China Aster
China aster has rich flower colors, varied flower shapes and bright colors, and is one of the important flowers in courtyards, so it has a broad foundation for cultivation. So do you know how to grow China aster?
Key Points of This Article
China Aster
Propagation Methods
China aster is always propagated by seed, and drilling is likely to produce seedlings. Under 14-16C conditions
they germinate in 4 days and emerge in about 10 days. Generally they are sown mostly in spring, but can also be sown in summer and autumn; 2-3 months after sowing they can bloom. Sowing can be done in batches as needed to control the flowering period. Dwarf types are sown in greenhouses in February-March or in cold frames in March, and can bloom in May-June; sown in the open field in April-May, they bloom in July-August; sown in early July, they can bloom during "National Day"; sown in early to mid-August, the seedlings overwinter in cold frames and bloom the following year during "May Day". Medium varieties are sown in May-June and bloom in August-September; sown in August, they need to overwinter in cold frames and bloom in May-June the following year. Tall varieties can be sown in both spring and summer and all bloom in autumn, but early summer sowing is preferable; when sown early, the plants are tall and the leaves old at flowering, with the lower leaves turning withered and yellow.
Cultivation Techniques
During the seedling stage, China aster is transplanted 2-3 times, which can make the stems thick and sturdy, the plant shape full, and the fibrous roots dense, improving drought resistance, waterlogging resistance and lodging resistance. For spring-sown seedlings, when they grow to 5-10cm, they can be moved about one month after sowing, and planted out about two months after sowing. During the seedling-raising period, water 2-3 times and loosen the soil once. After planting out, water 2-3 times, then loosen the soil, and loosen the soil after rain. Generally, topdressing and watering are carried out after planting out and before flowering. Pay attention to intertillage to preserve soil moisture, so as to avoid excessive watering or excessive rain making the soil too wet, causing the plants to grow leggy, lodge or develop diseases. When buds appear at the tips of the branches, watering should be reduced to inhibit the elongation of the main branches and promote the growth of side branches; when the side branches grow to 2-3cm, slightly increase the water to make the plant shape full. Topdressing should be mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Do not grow continuously on the same land, and it is also not suitable to sow or plant seedlings in plots where other Asteraceae plants have been grown, so as to ensure healthy growth.
Pest and Disease Control
Yellowing Disease
Symptoms of damage: China aster yellowing disease is an important disease of China aster; diseased plants are short
China Aster Yellowing Disease
and stunted, with small, discolored flowers. After infection, the leaves turn pale yellow and often produce broom-like clusters of branches from beginning to end; the flower colors on the clustered branches all fade to varying degrees, and the petals are usually pale yellow-green. The plants grow weakly and can continue to infect nearby plants. [3]
Control methods:
1. The best control method is to grow the plants in net houses.
2. Spray 50% malathion 1000-fold solution or insecticides such as diazinon to control leafhoppers.
3. Frequently clear the wild weeds around China aster to reduce sources of infection.
4. In the early stage of the disease, spray medical tetracycline or oxytetracycline 4000-fold solution.
Precautions
China aster is a type of flower plant with very strong ornamental value. It is not only used for garden cultivation but also grown as a potted plant, and is also an important cut flower material.
How to Grow China Aster and the Growth Habits of China Aster
China aster, also known as Jiangxi wax, July chrysanthemum, gesang flower, etc., is an annual or biennial herb of the genus Callistephus in the Asteraceae family. It is produced in Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Yunnan, Sichuan and other places, and grows on hillsides, in grass clumps, by water or in shady sparse forests. It is usually introduced for ornamental planting in botanical gardens, gardens, courtyards and other public places. Now let us take a look at how to grow China aster!
Growth Habits of China Aster
China aster is a shallow-rooted plant, so pay attention to water supply in dry seasons. The plants are robust and not particular about soil, but they like fertilizer and grow better in fertile sandy soil. They like sunlight and moisture, are not tolerant of waterlogging, and are prone to pest and disease damage under high temperature and high humidity. Both heat tolerance and cold tolerance are relatively poor. Tall varieties have strong adaptability and can be planted anywhere, while medium and dwarf varieties have poor adaptability and require careful management. Continuous cropping is avoided, and planting once every 3-4 years is required. For potted plants, it is advisable to replace the soil with new soil once a year.
Propagation Methods of China Aster
1. China aster is always propagated by seed, and drilling is likely to produce seedlings. Under 14-16°C conditions, they germinate in 4 days and emerge in about 10 days. Generally they are sown mostly in spring, but can also be sown in summer and autumn; 2-3 months after sowing they can bloom, and sowing can be done in batches as needed to control the flowering period.
2. Dwarf China aster varieties are sown in greenhouses in February-March or in cold frames in March, and can bloom in May-June; sown in the open field in April-May, they bloom in July-August; sown in early July, they can bloom during "National Day"; sown in early to mid-August, the seedlings overwinter in cold frames and bloom the following year during "May Day".
3. Medium China aster varieties are sown in May-June and bloom in August-September; sown in August, they need to overwinter in cold frames and bloom in May-June the following year. Tall varieties can be sown in both spring and summer and all bloom in autumn.
How to Grow China Aster
1. During the seedling stage, China aster is transplanted 2-3 times, which can make the stems thick and sturdy, the plant shape full, and the fibrous roots dense, improving drought resistance, waterlogging resistance and lodging resistance. For spring-sown seedlings, when they grow to 5-10 cm, they can be moved about one month after sowing, and planted out about two months after sowing. During the seedling-raising period, water 2-3 times and loosen the soil once. After planting out, water 2-3 times, then loosen the soil, and loosen the soil after rain. Generally, topdressing and watering are carried out after planting out and before flowering.
2. When growing China aster, pay attention to intertillage to preserve soil moisture, so as to avoid excessive watering or excessive rain making the soil too wet, causing the plants to grow leggy, lodge or develop diseases. When buds appear at the tips of the branches, watering should be reduced to inhibit the elongation of the main branches and promote the growth of side branches; when the side branches grow to 2-3 cm, slightly increase the water to make the plant shape full. Topdressing should be mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Do not grow continuously on the same land, and it is also not suitable to sow or plant seedlings in plots where other Asteraceae plants have been grown, so as to ensure healthy growth.
Pest and Disease Control of China Aster
1. Yellowing disease: the best control method is to grow the plants in net houses. You can also spray 50% malathion 1000-fold solution or insecticides such as diazinon to control leafhoppers. At the same time, frequently clear the wild weeds around China aster to reduce sources of infection. In the early stage of the disease, spray medical tetracycline or oxytetracycline 4000-fold solution.
2. Gray mold: gray mold is caused by Botrytis fungi, whose sclerotia overwinter on diseased residues or in the soil. The disease occurs easily when the temperature is around 20°C and the humidity is very high. It is more severe in plastic greenhouses than in glass greenhouses, so pay attention to greenhouse ventilation, reduce humidity, and avoid inappropriate watering. Promptly remove diseased plants and leaves to reduce sources of infection. During the disease period, spray 50% procymidone wettable powder 1500-fold solution or 50% iprodione 1500-fold solution.
3. Fusarium wilt: in the early stage of the disease, and before the disease occurs, apply chemicals as a root drench or spray. Use 50% carbendazim wettable powder 500-fold, drenching 0.25 kg per plant, once every 5-7 days, for 2-3 consecutive times. You can also use 40% carbendazim suspension concentrate 400-fold solution, or 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 400-fold solution, or 10% shuangxiaoling aqueous solution 200-300-fold solution, or 25.9% kangkuening 500-fold solution; root drenching with potassium permanganate 800-1500-fold solution also works.
3. Rust: when pine plants, the alternate hosts, are nearby China aster, the disease is likely to occur and spread. Chlorotic spots appear on the upper surface of the leaves, and on the corresponding lower surface round pale yellow powdery spore piles can be seen. In the early stage of the disease, spray 15% triadimefon (fenxiuning) wettable powder 1500-fold solution or 12.5% subaoli 3000-fold.
4. Brown spot: choose a well-drained site for planting, keep the planting density appropriate, select disease-resistant varieties, immediately remove diseased leaves when found, and in late autumn collect diseased fallen leaves and diseased residues and destroy them in a centralized manner. Spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder 1000-fold solution, or 80% zineb wettable powder 500-700-fold solution, or 1% Bordeaux mixture, or 755 chlorothalonil 500-fold solution for control, spraying once every 7-10 days.