China asters

[digitS']

I'd actually like to comment on one of the flowerstore topics but don't want to encourage a machine. You know, the more that the machine spreads that copied text around, the more likely a search engine will put that webpage on when someone searches for "annual flowers" or something. The more people who visit the website, the more money the website owners get from the advertisers.

Here is what I can say about Callistephus chinensis, the China aster: Why don't more people grow them?

I think I know the answer, the bloom season is relatively brief but that is true with other annuals. More important -- the plant does not flower early in the garden center. If a customer sees it, it is just green . . . sitting there in its pony pack.

The China aster is just green until the blooms open. Here, that will be in August/September. Then for about 3 weeks, the annual aster is covered with colorful flowers!

Many varieties have quite large flowers but there are small border plants, also.

If you want China asters around later in the growing season, they can be started from seed right in the garden. Or, you can start them in containers several weeks after the first sowing and set them out later. I had those plants survive the early September frost and they bloomed later in the month.

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

Not only that Digit, but the wholesale nurseries that the smaller retail nurseries get a lot of their plants from really seem to push the Gerbera, (Gerber), daisies. These have big blooms on them when they are still smallish, and are flashy and colorful.

:happy_flower <<< That one always looks like a not very warm sun to me.

 

[digitS']

Gerber daisies . .

. look artificial, .

. to me .

Steve

 

[annageckos]

I love asters and plant some of the China asters every year. I think they are beautiful.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

you're right about the Gerber's looking artificial. i'm not fond of those either. i got some seeds this year for the aster but i'm still deciding where to put them next year. should i just pot them or put them in the ground somewhere. i have an over abundance of wild growing New England aster in purple and white that was still blooming up till a few days ago. i would prefer to plant the China asters somewhere else though.

 

[digitS']

Chickie'sMoma, they will bloom many, many weeks before the New England asters . .

. if you, start the China aster plants, indoors.

Even if you direct seed into the garden . .

. they will still beat the New England asters by weeks.



Steve