Aster Ostrich Plume Seeds

WHEN TO SOW
March to May

WHERE TO SOW
March and April sowings should be made in gentle heat at 20°C, under glass trays just covering seeds with compost. Later sowings in May can be made direct into the flowering site in small clumps or shallow drills.

WHAT TO DO NEXT
Sowings under glass should be pricked off into trays 5cm (2") apart and gradually hardened off before transplanting into flowering site 10cm (4") apart. Outside sowings should be gradually thinned to the same spacing when the seedlings are large enough to handle.

MATURITY
July to October

HANDY TIP
A variety that has a good branching habit with long strong stems ideal for cut flowers.

FLOWER SEED SOWING TECHNIQUE
Use seed trays or plastic modules and a good seedling compost, preferably using a peat substitute. For small sowings standard pots can be used.
Firm the compost lightly and moisten before sowing. Very fine seeds, like Begonia (where there are more than 60,000 seeds to a gram) should be mixed with dry horticultural sand to avoid one big clump of seed, and to help see where the seed has been sown.
As a general rule, the depth of sowing depends on the size of the seed. Aim to cover the seed with compost or vermiculite to the same depth as the size of the seed. Very fine seed need not be covered at all.
Sow thinly and cover the tray with a sheet of glass with paper on top. Wipe the glass every day and inspect the tray for signs of germination. Sowings in pots can be enclosed in a polythene bag for the same effect.
As soon as seedlings break the surface, remove the glass and paper or polythene bag. If left under glass they will become leggy and weak. Keep moist with a fine spray.
When the first set of true leaves (not the seedling leaves) have formed they should be pricked off into trays, setting the seedlings about 4-5cm (1 1/2-2") apart. Always handle by the leaves and not the stem and use a fork or knife blade to ease them out of the compost. Keep in the shade for a couple of days after pricking off.
Gradually harden the plants by increasing ventilation and moving the trays into a cold frame and finally outside for 7 days before transplanting into the flowering site.