Summer asters are suitable both for outdoor cultivation, for example in beds in the rock garden or perennial garden, and for container culture, for example on the balcony. They don't survive the winter - but why?
Summer asters are not hardy and die at the latest with the first frost
Summer asters are not hardy
In contrast to the well-known autumn asters, summer asters are not hardy. Strictly speaking, summer asters are not even asters. These plants are only closely related to asters. They also call themselves Callistephus chinensis.
An annual plant
The summer aster from China uses up all of its strength within a year. It grows up in the spring to bloom in the summer and well into the fall. She does not build up energy reserves. She only trains her seeds. These can be used for propagation next year.
For this reason, summer asters are not perennial plants like autumn asters. They are annual plants. They must be replanted or seeded every year.
After flowering, the plant dies
Regardless of how much you have nurtured and cared for your summer aster, the plant will irrevocably die in autumn. This means:
- it no longer needs fertilizer
- it needs no pruning
- it does not need winter protection
- it is torn up from the ground and discarded
Sow again after winter
Basically, the sowing of summer asters is uncomplicated. The germination time is short, so is the effort and the germination rate of the seeds is high. Therefore: If you want to see summer asters in your garden again next year, you should sow them again in the spring.
This is to be noted:
- do not sow outdoors before mid-May
- like to prefer at home from March
- Cover seeds lightly with soil and press down
- Keep substrate moderately moist
- Germination temperature 10 to 20 °C
- Germination time: 2 to 4 weeks
- prick later
tips
Summer asters should not be planted in the same spot every year. Since these plants tend to suffer from aster wilt, an annual change of location is recommended.