New England Aster Seeds

Cold stratification is required. Prior to springtime planting, combine your New England Aster flower seeds with fine sand in a sealed container and store in the refrigerator for 8 weeks. After that, surface sow your seeds in trays or beds, gently pressing into the medium but leaving them mostly exposed to light. Keep the temperature of 65-70°F and don't forget to moisture it. Aromatic Aster seeds sprout in 14-20 days. Alternatively, you can direct sow outdoors in late fall and allow winter to do the stratification naturally.  

Full sun will provide you with the most blooms and the strongest stems. Part shade is acceptable, although the stems will stretch towards the sun and flop without staking. Soil type is not as important as drainage. New England Aster tolerates clay and sand equally well, provided there is no waterlogging at the roots. Water well during the first year as the roots are developing. Once established, the plants do not complain if you forget to water occasionally.

Pinch the stems of perennial Aster seeds back by one-third in late May or early June, to encourage bushy growth with more flowering stems rather than a single tall stem that flops over. Deadheading will extend the flowering period, but leaving spent flowers on the plant feeds goldfinches in late fall and ensures reseeding. Divide the clumps every 2-3 years in the spring, removing the woody center and replanting the vigorous outer parts. Monthly feeding with a balanced slow-release fertilizer keeps the colonies dense and floriferous.