Content
- 1 Description of the saintbrink flower
- 2 The best varieties of New Belgian asters
- 3 Sentinels in landscape design
- 4 How to propagate saintbrinks
- 5 Landing of the New Belgian aster
- 6 When and how to transplant saintbrinks
- 7 How to grow saintbrinks
- 8 Why Sentbrinks don't bloom and what to do
- 9 Pests and diseases
- 10 Conclusion
Many ornamental gardeners love the late-flowering perennials that add variety to the dull autumn landscape of a withering garden. Among such plants, you can sometimes see large herbaceous bushes, densely covered with star flowers. They are popularly known under the name of Sentbrinka or Octybrinka, although their correct name is Novobelgian aster.
Description of the saintbrink flower
It is known that the New Belgian aster first came to the territory of modern Europe in the 17th century, it was brought from China to France. Gradually, the cultivation of these flowers began in other countries, including in Russia, where they were called santbrinks or octobrinks for late flowering. Another name is also found among the people - Mikhailov chamomile, since these plants bloom on Mikhailov Day (September 19).
Queen of the autumn garden - New Belgian aster
The main characteristics of the New Belgian aster are presented in the table:
Parameter | Value |
Plant type | Perennial herbaceous shrub |
Escapes | Smooth, depending on the variety, glabrous or fleecy, straight or slightly curved, form a bush of reverse pyramidal shape up to 1.5 m high |
Leaves | Sedentary, 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, ligulate on the periphery, collected in numerous inflorescences-baskets, the color depends on the variety |
Flowering time | September-October, some varieties bloom earlier |
When and how the New Belgian aster blooms
As a rule, the flowering of the New Belgian aster begins in the last decade 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 on them may appear as early as July.
Up to 200 inflorescences can bloom on the bush of the New Belgian aster
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 the bush. At this time, the plant looks especially impressive.
What color are the flowers of the saintbrinka
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 dwelling. Among the many varieties of saintbrinks, there are species with reed flowers of various shades of blue, blue, purple, pink, red, yellow. The central part is most often colored yellow or light green.
The best varieties of New Belgian asters
Currently, a large number of varieties and hybrids of the New Belgian aster have been bred, differing in the color of the inflorescences, the timing of flowering, and the size. The most popular ones are described below.
Patricia Ballard
Aster New Belgian Patricia Ballard grows into a compact, medium-sprawling 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. The petal flowers are pink-lavender in color. The plant has good frost resistance, unpretentious care, but grows better in fertile, well-lit and protected from the cold wind areas. Blooms in September-October.
Astra New Belgian Patricia Ballard is often used to decorate alpine slides
Crismon Brocade
The variety is distinguished by purple-red semi-double inflorescences with a yellow central part. The average height of a spreading, densely leafy bush of the New Belgian aster Crimson Brocade is 0.8 m. Flowering is amicable, begins in September and lasts 1.5-2 weeks.
Crismon Brocade belongs to medium-sized varieties of New Belgian asters.
Cassie
The bush of this Dutch aster variety can grow up to 0.8 m in height. Cassy inflorescences are numerous, small, with white petal flowers and a greenish-yellow central part.
Cassie's inflorescences are very reminiscent of chamomile flowers.
Henry Blue
This variety of the New Belgian aster is distinguished by its double purple-blue inflorescences. Henry Blue bushes are round, compact, low-growing, their height does not exceed 0.35 m. Flowering begins in August and lasts until the end of September.
Henry Blue is grown as potted by many growers due to its small size.
Amethyst
The plant forms a rather tall, dense, rounded bush that can reach 1 m in height. Ametist inflorescences are semi-double, 3-3.5 cm in diameter, composed of dark purple petals arranged in 5-6 rows, and a light yellow middle. Blooms in late August or September.
Aster New Belgian Amethyst blooms for 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 middle appear on it. Dick Ballard bloom is long, up to 1 month.
Dick Ballard features delicate pink petals
Marie Ballard
One of the longest-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, vaguely resembling egg yolk.
Marie Ballard is distinguished by large, up to 5 cm in diameter, inflorescences
Magic Purple
This variety of 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, inflorescences-baskets with lilac-purple petals and a yellow middle part begin to appear on them.
Magic Purple grows no taller than 0.5 m
Sunset
The bush of this variety of New Belgian aster is spreading and not very tall, it can grow up to 0.6 m. Inflorescences are up to 3 cm in diameter, semi-double, with crimson petals and a yellow-green central part. Sunset bloom begins in August and lasts about 1 month.
Sunset - a variety with semi-double inflorescences
Royal Ruby
Astra New Belgian Royal Ruby grows into a dense, highly branched bush 0.8-0.9 m high.Inflorescences are semi-double, up to 3 cm in diameter, red with a raspberry tinge, bright, the central part is yellow, completely open. It is one of the longest flowering varieties of the New Belgian aster. Flowers on the Royal Ruby bushes appear in August and disappear only in October.
Royal Ruby holds the record for longest flowering
White Ladys
Thin snow-white petals of this variety of New Belgian aster look very impressive in an autumn garden. Numerous inflorescences of White Ladies with a yellow center up to 3 cm in diameter literally stick around a powerful and spreading bush, which can grow up to 1.1 m over the summer. White Ladies blooms for 30-35 days, from September to October.
Dense White Ladies 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 purple-crimson, semi-double, with thin petals and a yellow central part. Abundant and long-lasting flowering occurs in September-October.
New Belgian aster of the Elta variety can grow above 1 m
Fallowship
The bushes of this variety of New Belgian asters grow strongly, gradually taking on a hemispherical shape. Their height reaches 1.1 m. The inflorescences are terry, about 3 cm in diameter. The Fellowship petals have a delicate lilac color. The flowering of this variety of New Belgian aster begins in August and lasts until October.
Fallowship - a variety with double inflorescences
Sentinels in landscape design
New Belgian asters are irreplaceable as curb plants. They decorate garden paths, alleys. Low hedges are made of such plants, they are used both in group and in single plantings. Low varieties of Sentbrinks are planted in flowerpots and bowls.
Senthels look great as curb plants
Flowers of various shades are perfectly combined with each other, you can make a wonderful multi-colored flower bed from them. Some types are used to decorate alpine slides and rockeries.
How to propagate saintbrinks
It is not difficult to propagate New Belgian asters on your own. To do this, you need to collect the seeds or use a vegetative method such as grafting or dividing the bush.
Propagation of saintbrinks by cuttings
It is not difficult to cut the New Belgian aster. This can be done in May as well as any summer month. 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 are planted in a nutritious substrate consisting of turf, sand and peat. Cuttings of the New Belgian aster can be rooted both in the open field and in special containers. After planting, they need to be watered and covered with foil. Every day, shelters need to be ventilated, as well as to ensure that the soil does not dry out, and to 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 breeding method for the New Belgian aster. About 1 time in 3-4 years, the plants need to be transplanted, 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. It is held in early spring.
Dividing the aster bush rejuvenates the plant and is one of the ways of its reproduction.
The rhizomes of the New Belgian aster are cut with a knife or shovel in such a way that on each part there are at least 5 shoots that have their own roots. After that, the delenki are planted in pre-prepared planting holes.
Seeds
The seed propagation method 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 what the grower expects.
You can plant seeds directly 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 into shallow grooves, then watered with warm water and sprinkled with a layer of soil. In the spring, the seedlings received must be dived. This year, the New Belgian aster will not bloom, this will happen only in the 2nd, or even the 3rd year after planting. You can speed up the process if you use the seedling method. For this, the seeds are stratified and then sown in containers with soil. Before the emergence of seedlings, the container for seedlings is covered with foil and kept at a temperature of + 20-25 ° C.
New Belgian asters can be propagated by seed, but this is not the best way.
After seed germination, the containers are transferred to the windowsill. In the mode of short daylight hours, the seedlings of the New Belgian aster need to be supplemented, for this, artificial lighting devices are mounted above the seedlings. Plants will be ready for transplanting into open ground in 2 months.
Landing of the New Belgian aster
Before planting a New Belgian aster, you must choose the right place, prepare the ground. Depending on the purpose of the flowers, it is necessary to choose the seedlings of the appropriate variety, to make sure that they are healthy. The very process of planting saintbrinks in open ground is very simple and will not cause much trouble even for novice growers.
When to plant saintbrinks
Saplings obtained by dividing a bush are best planted in open ground immediately. Since New Belgian asters are divided in early spring, when the earth thaws, then planting is carried out at the same time. Rooted cuttings are planted during the summer or September. Later dates are undesirable, since the seedling may not have time to take root in a new place and will 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 soil preparation
To plant a New Belgian aster, you need to choose areas that are closed from the wind, well-lit areas. In the shade, the stems of the bushes are strongly elongated and become brittle, flowering is significantly reduced. Swampy 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 sour. This indicator is regulated by adding dolomite flour.
How to plant santbrinka flowers
Before planting, it is advisable to dig up the site in advance, it is better to do this in the fall, while adding humus. In the spring, you need to re-loosen the soil, it is advisable to add superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
The site 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 spilled with plenty of water in advance, this will facilitate its removal. It is important to carefully pull the plant out together with the earthy lump on the roots and put it in the groove, then sprinkle it with earth, compacting it. The planting procedure ends with abundant watering of young plants.
When and how to transplant saintbrinks
It is necessary to replant 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 dividing the bush and is carried out in early spring, after the ground has completely thawed out. If necessary, you can transplant plants in summer and autumn, while an earthen lump must be left on the roots.
The transplant is carried out only with a lump 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 it off, is transferred to a new place, where it is dripped and watered abundantly.
How to grow saintbrinks
New Belgian asters are unpretentious and undemanding to care for. For good growth and abundant flowering, they require a sufficient amount of moisture and periodic feeding. And also it is imperative to take care of the root zone so that plants, especially young ones, do not clog the weeds.
Watering and feeding
Usually, New Belgian asters have enough atmospheric moisture and do not need additional watering, especially if the root zone is mulched. It is necessary to moisten the soil only during dry periods, but it should be remembered that excess water for flowers is harmful. For watering, it is better to use pre-collected water that has warmed up during the day, and the work itself should be carried out in the evening, after the sun goes down and the heat subsides.
New Belgian aster does not require intensive watering
Abundant flowering requires a large amount of nutrients in the soil, so it is imperative to feed the 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 phase of bud formation and at the beginning of flowering, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used to fertilize the soil.
When and how to cut saintbrinks for the winter
Before wintering, all stems of the New Belgian aster are cut to hemp 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 saintbrink for the winter
New Belgian asters do not need additional shelter for the winter. Adult plants are quite frost-hardy and can easily tolerate temperatures as low as -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, it is covered with a thick layer of snow.
Why Sentbrinks don't bloom and what to do
New Belgian aster may not bloom for several reasons. Most often this happens due to the wrongly 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 to solve the problem. Another common reason for the lack of flowering on the New Belgian aster is the overfeeding of 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 in case of disturbances in care, such as excessive watering. Some diseases found on these plants:
- Fusarium. The causative agent of this fungal disease enters the plant from the soil through cracks in the roots. The disease can be recognized by the longitudinal brown spots on the stem, especially in the lower part of it. The developing fungus completely clogs the vascular system of the aster, it withers and dies. Treatment and prevention of fusarium disease consists in the timely culling and destruction of diseased plants, spraying neighboring plantings with preparations containing copper. The soil on the site intended for planting the New Belgian aster must be limed in time and spilled with boiling water. If fusarium has been identified, then the place where the infected plants grew is sprinkled with quicklime.
A plant with fusarium disease must be dug up and burned
- Blackleg. This disease is also caused by soil fungus and primarily affects aster seedlings. When infected, the stem at the base turns black and simply rotted, the plant dies.As preventive measures, early picking of seedlings, disinfection of planting containers, spilling of soil with a solution of potassium permanganate are recommended.
Black leg is especially dangerous for seedlings
- Rust. This fungal disease manifests itself on the leaves in the form of rounded yellow specks, which are spore pads. Infected leaves must be cut off and burned, and the plants must be periodically treated with Bordeaux liquid.
Spore pads on the leaves are 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. If they are found, the planting must be treated with Fundazol.
Earwig gnaws young shoots and buds of asters
Conclusion
New Belgian Astra is a real queen of autumn. This versatile, beautiful and unpretentious plant is loved and appreciated by many flower growers. New Belgian aster is used not only in landscape design, this plant is often used by florists to compose various bouquets and flower arrangements, it stands perfectly in cut, keeping freshness and beauty for up to 2 weeks.
