Up for sale is one pack of 100 Duchess Apricot Peony Aster seeds. Perfect for summer blooms these aster seeds create large 4" peony type blooms on 30" stems.
We offer flat rate combined shipping on all orders, no limit on the amount or type of seed packets.
CULTURE
Soil temperature: 70 - 75 degrees fahrenheit
Germination lighting: Light
Germination days: 8-10 days
Weeks indoor: 8 weeks
Seed Depth: 1/8"
Seed Spacing: 12"
Plant spread: 12"
Plant height: 30''
Plant type: Annual
Maturation days: 100 days
A staple for many gardens Asters come in numerous varieties and we consider these tender perennials for zones 3-8 and are not recommended for extreme heat or zones 9-13. It's best to start in pots early and then transplant after your last frost in the spring. While they can be transplanted their roots prefer to not be disturbed when transplanted so it's best to use a compostable peat pot, or peat pellets, when starting early in pots and plant the whole pot instead of removing the seedling when transplanting. Sow your seeds on the surface and gently press your seed to make good contact with your pre-moistened potting mix. Do not cover or let anything else (like plastic wrap) make contact with the seeds while they are germinating. Keep your seeds moist by watering from below (do not water from above) and expose your pots to light. Aster seeds will not germinate and grow in hot temperatures.
If you live in a very mild zone you can try direct seeding these in spring after your last frost. Sow on the surface of your garden bed and lightly dust with screened peat to disguise your seeds from the birds. If direct sowing we suggest you don't try and transplant your seedlings but thin to 12" spacing.
Asters are sensitive to heat and mildew so we like to plant them in a area that has good air flow and that gets late afternoon shade.
A quick note about Asters and a fungus called Fusarium. In the same manner how Hollyhock are very susceptible to Rust, Asters are susceptible to a natural soil born fungus called Fusarium. We recommend you dust your Aster garden area in the spring (after tilling your soil), prior to sowing your seedlings, with dustable sulfur which you can get at any home improvement or garden center. In zone 7 we dust them again around the first of July just to make sure we don't have any problems with Fusarium during the summer. Sulfur raises the PH of the surface of soil, which does not kill Fusarium, but makes it difficult for it to replicate and spread.