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Many ornamental gardeners love late-blooming perennials that add variety to a dull fall landscape of a withering garden. Among such plants, one can sometimes see large herbaceous bushes, densely covered with asterisk flowers. Among the people, they are known under the name of September or October, although their correct name is New Belgian aster.
Description of the September flower
It is known that the New Belgian aster first came to the territory of modern Europe in the 19th century, it was brought from China to France. Gradually, the cultivation of these flowers began in other countries, including in Our Country, where they were called September or Oktyabrinks for late flowering. Another name is also found among the people – Mikhailov’s chamomile, since these plants bloom on Mikhailov’s Day (September XNUMX).
Queen of the autumn garden – New Belgian aster
The main characteristics of the New Belgian aster are presented in the table:
Parameter | Value |
Type of plant | perennial herbaceous shrub |
Shoots | Smooth, depending on the variety, naked or fleecy, straight or slightly curved, form a bush of an obverse pyramidal shape up to 1,5 m high |
Leaves | Sessile, alternate, lanceolate, green, rather small |
foliage | Strong, especially at the top of the shoots |
Root system | fibrous rhizome |
Flowers | Bisexual, tubular in the central part, reed along the periphery, collected in numerous inflorescences-baskets, the color depends on the variety |
Flowering time | September-October, some varieties bloom earlier |
When and how does the New Belgian aster bloom?
As a rule, the flowering of the New Belgian aster begins in the last ten days of September and ends in early October. These terms are typical for the Moscow region. In other regions, they may differ slightly in one direction or another. Some varieties and hybrids bloom much earlier, the first inflorescences may appear on them as early as July.
Up to 200 inflorescences can bloom on a New Belgian aster bush
At the same time, up to 200 flowers can bloom on the New Belgian aster, which can occupy up to 50% of the surface area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe bush. At such a time, the plant looks especially impressive.
What color are september flowers
The native color of the petals of the New Belgian aster is lilac. It is he who most often occurs on wild and semi-wild plants, found in abundance in areas close to housing. Among the many varieties of September flowers, there are species with reed flowers of various shades of blue, blue, purple, pink, red, yellow. The central part is most often painted in yellow or light green.
The best varieties of New Belgian aster
Currently, a large number of varieties and hybrids of the New Belgian aster have been bred, differing in the color of the inflorescences, flowering time, and size. The most popular of them are described below.
Patricia Ballard
New Belgian aster Patricia Ballard grows as a compact, medium-spreading hemispherical bush 0,8-1 m high. The inflorescences are large, semi-double, the central part is bright yellow, with a small amount of green in the center. Petal flowers have a pink-lavender color. The plant has good frost resistance, unpretentious care, but it grows better in fertile, well-lit and protected from cold wind areas. Blooms in September-October.
Astra New Belgian Patricia Ballard is often used to decorate alpine slides
Chrismon Brocade
The variety is distinguished by purple-red semi-double inflorescences with a yellow central part. The average height of a sprawling, densely leafy bush of the New Belgian aster Crimson Brocade is 0,8 m. Flowering is friendly, begins in September and lasts 1,5-2 weeks.
Crismon Brocade belongs to the medium-sized varieties of New Belgian asters
Cassie
The bush of this aster variety of Dutch selection can grow up to 0,8 m in height. Cassy inflorescences are numerous, small, with white petaled flowers and a greenish-yellow central part.
Cassie inflorescences are very reminiscent of chamomile flowers
Henry Blue
This variety of New Belgian aster is distinguished by double violet-blue inflorescences. Henry Blue bushes are round, compact, undersized, their height does not exceed 0,35 m. Flowering begins in August and continues until the end of September.
Henry Blue is grown by many flower growers as potted plants due to their small size.
Amethyst
The plant forms a fairly tall dense rounded shrub that can reach 1 m in height. Ametist inflorescences are semi-double, 3-3,5 cm in diameter, consist of dark purple petals arranged in 5-6 rows and a light yellow center. Blooms in late August or September.
Aster New Belgian Amethyst blooms 30-35 days
Dick Ballard
The plant can reach a height of 1 m, while forming a beautiful voluminous bush. At the end of summer, numerous pink inflorescences with a yellow center appear on it. Flowering Dick Ballard long, up to 1 month.
Dick Ballard is distinguished by thin rose petals
Marie Ballard
One of the most long-flowering varieties of the New Belgian aster, large, up to 5 cm in diameter, inflorescences appear on the bushes in August, and disappear only after 2 months. The plant is quite tall, formed by a dense compact bush up to 1 m high. The petal flowers of Marie Ballard are lilac-bluish, the tubular central part is light, yellow-orange, remotely resembling an egg yolk.
Marie Ballard is distinguished by large, up to 5 cm in diameter, inflorescences
Magic Purple
This variety of the New Belgian aster grows in small hemispherical bushes no more than 0,5 m high. Magic Purple stems are straight, highly branched, pubescent. From mid-August, small, 2-5 cm in diameter, basket inflorescences with purple-violet petals and a yellow middle part begin to appear on them.
Magic Purple grows no higher than 0,5 m
Sunset
The bush of this variety of the New Belgian aster is sprawling and not very tall, it can grow up to 0,6 m. Inflorescences up to 3 cm in diameter, semi-double, with raspberry petals and a yellow-green central part. Sunset flowering begins in August and lasts about 1 month.
Sunset – a variety with semi-double inflorescences
Royal Ruby
New Belgian Astra Royal Ruby grows as a dense, highly branched bush 0,8-0,9 m high. The inflorescences are semi-double, up to 3 cm in diameter, red with a raspberry tint, bright, the central part is yellow, completely open. This is one of the longest flowering New Belgian aster varieties. Flowers on Royal Ruby bushes appear in August, and disappear only in October.
Royal Ruby is the record holder for the duration of flowering
White Ladies
The thin snow-white petals of this variety of the New Belgian aster look very impressive in the autumn garden. Numerous inflorescences of White Ladies with a yellow center up to 3 cm in diameter literally stick around a powerful and sprawling bush, which can grow up to 1,1 m in summer. White Lady blooms for 30-35 days, from September to October.
Dense White Lady bushes are perfect for hedges
Elta
The plant forms a tall dense bush, powerful and highly branched shoots grow up to 1,1 m. Elta inflorescences are lilac-crimson, semi-double, with thin petals and a yellow central part. Flowering is abundant and long, occurs in September-October.
New Belgian aster variety Elta can grow above 1 m
Fellowship
The bushes of this variety of the New Belgian aster grow strongly, gradually taking on a hemispherical shape. Their height reaches 1,1 m. Terry inflorescences, about 3 cm in diameter. Fellowship petals are pale lilac in color. The flowering of this variety of New Belgian aster begins in August and continues until October.
Fallowship – a variety with double inflorescences
Septembers in landscape design
New Belgian asters are indispensable as border plants. They make out garden paths, alleys. Low hedges are made from such plants, they are used both in group and in single plantings. Low varieties of septembers are planted in flowerpots and bowls.
September flowers look great as border plants.
Flowers of various shades are perfectly combined with each other, you can make a beautiful multi-colored flower bed from them. Some species are used to decorate alpine slides and rockeries.
How to propagate septembers
It is not difficult to propagate New Belgian asters on your own. To do this, you need to collect seeds or use a vegetative method, such as cuttings or dividing a bush.
Propagation of septembers by cuttings
It is not difficult to cut the New Belgian aster. This can be done in May, as well as in any summer month. The cuttings are cut from the top of the stem, their size should be from 5 to 8 cm. After cutting the tops of the shoots, they are planted in a nutrient substrate consisting of soddy soil, sand and peat. You can root cuttings of the New Belgian aster both in open ground and in special containers. After planting, they need to be watered and covered with a film. Every day, shelters need to be ventilated, and also make sure that the soil does not dry out, and moisten it in a timely manner. After about a month, the cuttings will form their own root system, after which they can be transplanted to a permanent place.
By dividing the bush
Dividing the bush is the most popular way to propagate the New Belgian aster. Approximately 1 time in 3-4 years, plants must be replanted, since they quickly grow in one place. As a rule, it is at such a time that they are separated, and this is not only a method of reproduction, but also a rejuvenating procedure. Spend it in early spring.
Dividing the aster bush rejuvenates the plant and is one of the ways to propagate it.
The rhizomes of the New Belgian aster are cut with a knife or a shovel so that each part contains at least 5 shoots that have their own roots. After that, the delenki are planted in pre-prepared planting holes.
Seeds
The seed method of reproduction of the New Belgian aster is rarely used, since it is laborious and time consuming. In addition, varietal characteristics are not preserved when using this method, so the result may not be quite the same as the grower expects.
You can plant seeds immediately in open ground or first germinate them at home by growing seedlings. In the first case, all work is carried out in late autumn, before the onset of frost. The seeds of the New Belgian aster are sown in shallow grooves, then they are watered with warm water and sprinkled with a layer of soil. In the spring, the resulting seedlings must be dived. This year, the New Belgian aster will not bloom, this will happen only in the 2nd, or even in the 3rd year after planting. You can speed up the process if you use the seedling method. To do this, the seeds are stratified and then sown in containers with soil. Before the emergence of seedlings, the container for seedlings is covered with a film and kept at a temperature of + 20-25 ° C.
New Belgian asters can be propagated from seeds, but this is not the best way.
After seed germination, the containers are transferred to the windowsill. In the short daylight hours, the seedlings of the New Belgian aster need to be illuminated; for this, artificial lighting devices are mounted above the seedlings. Plants will be ready for transplanting into open ground in 2 months.
Planting the New Belgian aster
Before planting the New Belgian aster, it is necessary to choose the right place and prepare the soil. Depending on the purpose of the flowers, you need to choose seedlings of a suitable variety, make sure that they are healthy. The very process of planting septembers in open ground is very simple and will not cause much trouble even for beginner flower growers.
When to plant septembers
Seedlings obtained by dividing the bush are best planted in open ground immediately. Since the New Belgian asters are divided in early spring, when the earth thaws, the plantings are carried out at the same time. Rooted cuttings are planted during the summer or in September. Later dates are undesirable, since the seedling may not have time to take root in a new place and freeze. Seeds are sown before winter, in October or November, and seedlings are transplanted in the spring, after at least 2 full-fledged leaves appear on them.
Site selection and preparation of soil
For planting New Belgian aster, you need to choose well-lit areas closed from the wind. In the shade, the stems of the bushes are strongly stretched and become brittle, flowering is significantly reduced. Waterlogged soils, as well as those places where water stagnates, are not suitable for growing these plants. The soil under the New Belgian asters should be loose and fertile, in addition, it should not be acidic. This indicator is regulated by adding dolomite flour.
How to plant september flowers
Before planting, it is advisable to dig the site in advance, it is better to do this in the fall, while simultaneously introducing humus. In the spring, you need to loosen the soil again, it is advisable to add superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
The area needs to be dug up in advance
As a rule, New Belgian asters are planted in shallow grooves, while observing certain intervals:
- Low-growing varieties – 0,2 m between adjacent plants and 0,3 m between rows.
- Medium-sized species – 0,3 and 0,5 m, respectively.
- Tall asters – 0,5 and 0,8 m.
The container with the seedling of the New Belgian aster must be poured with plenty of water in advance, this will facilitate its extraction. It is important to carefully pull out the plant along with an earthen clod on the roots and put it in a groove, then sprinkle it with earth, compacting it. The planting procedure ends with abundant watering of young plants.
When and how to transplant septembers
It is necessary to transplant adult New Belgian asters every 3-4 years. If this is not done, then the plants will grow, grind and lose their decorative effect. Usually this procedure is combined with the division of the bush and is carried out in early spring, after the earth has completely thawed. If necessary, plants can be transplanted in summer and autumn, while it is imperative to leave an earthen ball on the roots.
Transplantation is carried out only with a clod of earth on the roots.
In summer, it is best to transplant in cloudy weather or in the evening. The bush is dug in from all sides, carefully removed from the ground and, without shaking off, transferred to a new place, where it is dug in and watered abundantly.
How to grow septembers
New Belgian asters are unpretentious and undemanding in care. For good growth and abundant flowering, they need a sufficient amount of moisture and periodic top dressing. And also be sure to take care of the root zone so that plants, especially young ones, do not clog weeds.
Watering and top dressing
Usually New Belgian asters have enough atmospheric moisture and do not need additional watering, especially if the root zone is mulched. It is only necessary to moisten the soil during dry periods, but it should be remembered that excess water is harmful for flowers. For irrigation, it is better to use pre-collected water that has warmed up during the day, and carry out the work itself in the evening, after the sun goes down and the heat subsides.
New Belgian aster does not require enhanced watering
Abundant flowering requires a large amount of nutrients in the soil, so it is imperative to feed New Belgian asters. In spring and autumn, humus is used for this, scattering it on the root zone. In early spring, you can feed the plants with ammonium nitrate. In the bud formation phase and at the beginning of flowering, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used to fertilize the soil.
When and how to cut September trees for the winter
Before wintering, all stems of the New Belgian aster are cut to stumps 2-3 cm high. This can be done immediately after flowering or after the first frost. For work, you can use a sharp knife or garden pruner.
How to cover a september for the winter
New Belgian asters do not need additional shelter for the winter. Mature plants are quite hardy and easily tolerate a drop in temperature to -34 ° C.
For the winter, young asters are covered with a layer of fallen leaves or spruce branches.
Only first-year seedlings should be insulated, especially if they were planted in the fall. In this case, the root zone is additionally mulched with dry leaves, covered with a layer of spruce branches, and after the arrival of winter they are covered with a thick layer of snow.
Why September flowers do not bloom and what to do
New Belgian aster may not bloom for several reasons. Most often this happens due to an incorrectly chosen meta for planting, when the plant is in the shade all day and it simply does not have enough sunlight. In this case, only transplanting the bush to a new place will help solve the problem. Another common reason for the lack of flowering on the New Belgian aster is overfeeding the plant with nitrates. An excess of nitrogen fertilizers leads to an uncontrolled growth of green mass and a complete absence of flowers at the same time.
Pests and diseases
New Belgian asters get sick quite often, especially in adverse weather conditions and with violations in care, such as excessive watering. Some of the diseases found on these plants are:
- Fusarium wilt. The causative agent of this fungal disease enters the plant from the soil through cracks in the roots. The disease can be recognized by longitudinal brown spots on the stem, especially in its lower part. The developing fungus completely clogs the vascular system of the aster, it withers and dies. Treatment and prevention of fusarium consists in the timely rejection and destruction of diseased plants, spraying neighboring plantings with preparations containing copper. The soil in the area intended for planting the New Belgian aster must be limed and spilled with boiling water in a timely manner. If Fusarium has been identified, then the place where the infected plants grew is sprinkled with quicklime.
A plant that has become ill with Fusarium must be dug up and burned.
- Blackleg. This disease is also caused by a soil fungus and primarily affects asters seedlings. When infected, the stem at the base turns black and simply rots, the plant dies. As preventive measures, early picking of seedlings, disinfection of planting containers, spilling the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate are recommended.
The black leg is especially dangerous for seedlings.
Black leg on asters. How to save seedlings. Site “Garden World”
- Rust. This fungal disease appears on the leaves as rounded yellow spots, which are spore pads. Infected leaves must be cut off and burned, and plants should be periodically treated with Bordeaux liquid.
Spore pads on leaves – a sign of rust
Of the insects, earwigs that feed on various parts of the plant are considered the most dangerous pests of New Belgian asters. When they are detected, landings must be treated with Fundazol.
Earwig nibbles young shoots and buds of asters
Conclusion
New Belgian aster is the real queen of autumn. This versatile, beautiful and unpretentious plant is loved and appreciated by many flower growers. The New Belgian aster is used not only in landscape design, this plant is often used by florists to make various bouquets and flower arrangements, it is excellent for cutting, keeping freshness and beauty for up to 2 weeks.