Aster, powderpuff mix
Round pompom flowers in purple, pink, blush and white on straight stems. Flowers late in the season. One good cut per plant, so sow a short row every couple of weeks.
Growing
- annual
- Full sun
- After last frost
- 6 to 8 weeks before last frost
- 3 mm (1/8 in)
- 10 to 14 days at 21 to 22°C (70 to 72°F)
- 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in)
- 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 in)
- 30 to 46 cm (12 to 18 in)
- Benefits from support
- 91 to 105 days
- 7 to 10 days
China aster, in a mix of lilac, violet, strong pink, blush and white. Dense, fluffy flowers on straight stems that bloom late in the season. Each plant gives one good cut, so sow a short row every couple of weeks. This seed was saved from my own plants, and a mix stays a mix.
Sowing and starting
Start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before planting out, 3 mm (1/8 in) deep. It comes up in 10 to 14 days at 21 to 22°C (70 to 72°F). Or sow outside once the soil reaches 18 to 21°C (65 to 70°F). Either way, sow a short row every 2 or 3 weeks, since each plant gives one cut.
Easy at the seedling stage. Harden it off well before planting out.
Care
Full sun, 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) apart. Don't pinch it, since that won't give you more stems. It flowers late in the season. Aster yellows, spread by leafhoppers, is the main problem. Fine insect netting over the row is the best way to keep it out.
When to cut
Cut as the outer petals begin to open. Take the whole stem, since there won't be a second flush.
In the vase
Left to open fully on the plant, they also dry well.
When cutting a bouquet, strip any leaves that would sit under water. They turn the water murky fast. Change the water every few days for the longest lasting bouquet. As flowers fade, you can remove them and rearrange the remaining flowers.
Saving the seed
Let a few heads go fluffy and brown on the plant, then pull them apart over a bowl. The seed is at the base of the fluff. Seed from a mixed row comes back as a mix.