General Culture
Asters are easy to grow with our detailed cultural recommendations and make an excellent companion crop for production along with garden mums. The two crops have comparable cultural practices. With asters, however, preventative sprays are needed to inhibit powdery mildew and rust.
Glossary of Terms provides key information for vigor, natural season response date and response in weeks as detailed in variety descriptions.
Keys to Success
- Plant or stick your cuttings promptly into moist root media. Never plant or stick into dry root media.
- Water the freshly planted, or stuck cuttings immediately with a fertilizer solution containing 300 to 400 ppm of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
- Keep the media moist and use constant liquid fertilization through the crop. Use a balanced fertilizer at a nitrogen rate of 200 to 300 ppm throughout the growing season, until the buds are almost ready to show color.
- Provide adequate spacing to allow proper plant development and to avoid upright plants.
- Make sure you spray to prevent powdery mildew and rust.