WHERE TO PLANT ASTERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 49, 20 November 1937, Page 11

WHERE TO PLANT ASTERS

The best soil for astei- culture is a well worked fertile sandy . loam ; the heavy soils require to' be brokcn down somewhat either. with plenty of stable manure, sand or ashes. Before planting out the seedlings have the ..land well broken up and dug over, work in a liberal quantity of 'well decayed manure. At thig stage a dressing of bone meal comes in very handy. | A handful to the square yard will be j found sufficient. The beds where the asters are to gfow should be sheltered from the winds as much as possible,but should be situated that as much sunlight as -possible can reach them. The plants should be set out jn the beds some nine to twelve mches apart. j If it is intended to grow asters in.an ; ordinary iiower bedder, they should j be planted in clumps, one in the cen- | tre, and five around it, each distant j from th^ other about 12 inches. j When in full growth an occasional | application of liquid cow manure or | ah ouhee of the followjng mixture in j two gallons of water; one part super- ] phosphate of potash, and two parts of sulphate of ammoma. These fertilisers can be applied once a week, after watering remember, so as not to burn the roots. Among the many varieties of asters offered by seed trades, the following types are worth the amateur gardeners' attention. The best for the purpose is the Tasmanian giant branching aster. A very hardy type and a very vigorous grower, attaining a height of some 24 inches and canying innumerable flowers. It is by far the best type to grow for the main crop.