Symphyotrichum novi-belgii
Fall Aster
Common names: New Belgium Aster, Smooth-leaved Aster, Rough-leaved Aster
Photo: Benoit Renaud · CC BY 4.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The fall aster is the great late bloomer of the garden year. When most of the garden has faded in September and October, it covers itself with a sea of violet, pink and white star-shaped flowers. For bees and butterflies it is one of the last and most important nectar sources before winter. In farmers' gardens it traditionally belongs to border plants.
Care instructions
Plant the fall aster in fertile, evenly moist soil in a sunny spot and water from below during dry periods, because the smooth-leaved aster otherwise tends to powdery mildew. Cut the stems back by one third at the end of May (week 22) once, which makes it bushier and more sturdy. Split dense clumps every two to three years in spring, which keeps it vital and blooming.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
loamy, humus-rich, moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained
Feeding
Medium feeder
Companion planting
Good neighbors
carrot family (Apiaceae)
Calendula and Tagetes next to carrots keep the carrot fly away with their scent.
For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Rather not
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Sunflowers release substances into the soil that inhibit potato tuber growth, and they also compete for water and nutrients.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 9 more species in the catalogue
Source: basic crop-rotation rule
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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