Seeds Flower - 3 g

China Aster (Callistephus chinensis, also listed as the synonym Aster chinensis) is a charming annual prized as a cut flower and bedding plant. Each plant carries showy, star-shaped blooms 7-12 cm across in white, red, purple-blue and violet, bringing rich late-season colour to borders and bouquets. Cut stems offer a vase life of about 7-10 days, making this a favourite for fresh arrangements.

Planting

Sow seed shallowly, about 3 mm deep, lightly covered. Start indoors in cell trays 6-8 weeks before transplanting, where seed germinates in 10-14 days at a soil temperature of 21-22°C. Grow in full sun (six or more hours daily), though it tolerates partial shade. Space plants about 15-30 cm apart, with roughly 23-30 cm for general beds; tall cut-flower types need wider spacing and support. Plants mature in roughly 90-120 days and bloom from summer into autumn.

Fertilizing

Use a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Begin feeding once the soil warms and buds emerge, then repeat every 3-4 weeks; liquid feeds suit frequent application. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas, which push leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Reduce or stop feeding as bloom production declines.

Care

Keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged, watering deeply once or twice a week when the top 2-5 cm is dry. To limit damping-off in seedlings, water from below and provide good ventilation. Thin or pot on seedlings at 2-3 sets of true leaves, then harden off. Watch for aphids, leafhoppers and spider mites; use insect netting, keep air moving, and rotate planting sites yearly.