Growing China Asters from seed

The China aster is lovely and striking in a bouquet, with its large flowers. The China aster can also be grown from seed in Finland. There are various colours available, including white, pink, blue, lilac, and champagne. The China aster blooms later in the autumn, as its growing period is slightly longer than many other cut flowers in Finland. Here are some tips for growing China aster from seed.

The pre-cultivation of China aster seeds starts in March-April. The seeds are sown by scattering them in a box filled with sowing and seedling soil. During germination, the sowing should be kept in a warm place. Once the seeds have germinated, the China asters are moved to a brighter and cooler location, around 15-18 degrees Celsius, which promotes the development of strong plants.

Start growing indoors in April. Sow the seeds in sowing soil, either in a soil blocker, seedling pots or other sowing containers. Lightly cover the seeds with vermiculite – light speeds up germination. Keep the sowing evenly moist.

Once the seeds have started to germinate, move the seedlings to light under a grow light, preferably in a slightly cooler place if possible. It is good to have a grow light during pre-cultivation in Finland to increase light, so that the seedlings do not become too long and weak. I use Nelson Garden’s grow light + stand. If you choose the Nelson Garden LED grow light strip, you need one adapter, which is included in a few packages. If you need more LED light strips, you can connect them to the same adapter, so choose the next one without an adapter.

After a couple of weeks, you can start giving the seedlings seedling fertiliser, but be careful not to over-fertilise. If the growing space for the seedlings becomes too cramped, transplant the China asters into larger pots.

The seeds can also be sown directly into the ground once the soil has thawed. However, note that direct sowing may delay the flowering of the plants. Initially protect the seeds and small seedlings with a fleece and ensure they receive enough watering. The fleece reduces moisture and heat evaporation and protects the plants from damage caused by birds and other small animals.

China aster can be pinched, but it is not necessary. Pinch the China aster when it is 10 cm tall. Pinching can delay flowering but can help the plant produce more flower yield. You can also grow China aster without pinching.

Invest in good garden scissors to make pinching smooth. For this purpose, Fiskars’ classic orange garden scissors work well. Even better are smaller snippers like Fiskars Solid snip micro-tip snippers. Florist pruning shears are best when it’s time to gather a bouquet for a vase, which makes it easy to cut the stems to the right size without damaging the absorption surface unnecessarily. Check out other Fiskars garden scissors.

Harden off the seedlings before planting them outside by gradually acclimatising them to light and outdoor conditions. Once the night frosts are over, plant the seedlings in their growing spot. China aster benefits from support. You can use, for example, jute twine or a plant net for support. A small trowel is also a good tool when it’s time to move the seedlings outside. Check out all Fiskars trowels.

China aster thrives best in a sunny growing place. The sun helps the plant grow strong and promotes abundant flowering. A bright and sunny location is key to the successful cultivation of China aster.

There are many different species and colours of China aster. This year I grew four different varieties: China aster Syringa Champagne, China aster Balloon Apricot, China aster Chrisantella Lotos Flower, and China aster Lady Coral® Lavender.

China aster is a beautiful and easy-care cut flower that can be grown from seed. By carefully following the sowing instructions and ensuring regular watering and fertilisation, you can enjoy the beautiful, striking blooms of China aster at the end of summer. Read more cut flower growing tips and the most common cut flowers for cultivation here.