Id-Code: AB 032
Family: Asteraceae, Compositae
Origin: Alps, Pyrenees
Special Features: Mostly double (65%), flowering seed strain of this popular rock garden aster
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEEDS in 1992
Colour: Dark to light violet, blue shades, various pink tones and white
Natural Flowering Period: May - June
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-7
Growth Habit: Spreading tufts
Foliage: Mostly oblong to lanceolate basal leaves
Height with Flower: 30 cm (12'')
Spacing between Plants: 30 cm (12'')
Soil Requirement: Well-drained soils, pH 5.5 - 6.8
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant together with Alchemilla mollis 'Select', Euphorbia polychroma, Tradescantia andersonianas 'Blue' and 'Carmine Red'
Specialities: Great for the rock garden or front of the border
Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 1,429
Seeds per Gram: 700
Seeding Recommendation: 3 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 128, 288
Germination: Rapidly germinating (2 to 3 weeks), keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about +20°C (68°F). Seeds must be covered thinly. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. The germination might be slower and more irregular. This poses no problems.
Scheduling:
Growing On:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact
Container Size(s): 1 plug per 8/9 cm (3 1/2''); 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2'')
Vernalization: A prudent recommendation would be to provide 6-12 weeks at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)
