I used to have a whole bed of them, interplanted with roses....and a tree grew and the bed got too shady and I turned it over to hosta.
I let them reseed....and over time they became mostly single asters...very nice but not the powderpuff. So I would add a few bought cell pakc of the powder puff and re juvinate the mix.
Thanks for the reminder...

I used to do them by seed as a pot plant. Showy.

Only thing Pam, be sure NOT to plant them in the same place next year. SOmewhere you can find more details are to why you should change the location--something about a particular disease. I love them, but only grow them about every 5 years.

Thanks for the advice! Hmmm, I'll do some research and see what I can pull up.

The disease is asther yellows....I grew them for years in the same bed with out asther yellows. I wouldn't worry....if it occurs, then stop growing them in that bed.
Linda C

Do you mean chinese asters? If so, I love these! I started growing them from seed two years ago, and I will grow them from now on. They are so beautiful, so elegant and last a long time in arrangements. What's not to like?

:)
Dee

Love Asters! I did "Crego" last year, and "Perfection" this year, and totally love them. I did them via Winter Sowing...very easy from seed.

Yup, feels like it might be time to jump into winter sowing! I was just looking at some other varieties - gorgeous, Pavlova Dark Blue is one I'd love to try.

Dee, I looked up the latin name and, I guess I DO mean Chinese asters! Callistephus chinensis they are. Some have been in a vase for nearly three weeks now and they still look perfect.

I grew Asters for the first time and yes they are beautiful. All different colours intersperesed with Zinnias. My question is - are they perennials? Should I just leave them in the ground or do I need to regrow them from seed every year?

I line in zone 5 and have severe winters.

Many thanks

ritug, if you mean the chinese asters (callistephus chinensis) these are annuals, but they will reseed some. I found quite a few reseeded ones this spring, all over the yard. But not at all invasive or even aggressive, at least not for me.

There are, however, perennial asters. Do you know the name of the ones you grew? Have they been blooming for a few weeks now, or are they just starting to bloom?

Pam, I'm going to have to look up those Pavlova Dark Blue! I had a single this year that was a really deep reddish-purple. I don't know which seed it was! This one was almost spiky, whereas my other singles were more daisy-like. And I only had one plant this color, so I'm thinking it may have even been some kind of fluke. I hope not, because it was gorgeous!

Dee

Hi,

Thanks for help. The Asters that I grew are called "Crego Mixed". It is a beautiful mix of colourful flowers. Would they last till next year or should I pull them out in fall?

Also do you collect seeds from asters? Not sure if these are hybrids.....

Well, Crego Mixed is an annual aster, so it won't come back in your zone (although, I have to say, I have had some annuals come back for me, but that is the exception to the rule).

I don't know if they will come true from seed, although I would think they would. You can collect seed, or just let a few go to seed in the garden. As I said, I've had some nice reseeding from my asters, so even though I will sow more next year, (I buy seed; I don't usually harvest my own) I'm also leaving some in the garden to go to seed. Can't have too many of these!

:)
Dee

Hi Dee

Thanks for your help! I will try to collect some seeds and see what happens next year. I have had good luck with Zinnia and marigolds, but first year with Asters.

Ritu

You're welcome! Good luck!

:)
Dee

I started some Crego seeds for my Dad a couple years ago. They self seeded and last year he had some really nifty asters in light and dark pink, red, white, purple and mauve. Some double and some single. I asked him to collect seed from each and label them. Not knowing how well they would germinate I just freely sprinkled some of each color in cell packs.(marked of course.) Turns out they germinated very well. I must have separated about sixty aster babies tonight into individual pots or cell pack squares. Now I am wondering if THESE will reproduce true to the parent plant, being second generation from the seed pack. Should be interesting...