Posted by Sue on September 20, 2011, 7:26 pm
I almost gave up trying to grow any late flowering asters, my light
free-draining soil leaving them suffering with drought and mildew even
with extra watering and occasional spraying with fungicide. But I've
found the frikartii types are mildew free and seem more able to cope
with drier soil, with A x f. 'Jungfrau' doing especially well in a
difficult spot.
She's amazed me by not only surviving but positively thriving in a bed
made that's backed by large shrubs and conifers next door, so shaded
at least half the day. It also used to be an area overhung by a now
thankfully ex sycamore and the soil is so depleted there, it's
practically nothing but stony dust with garden compost added, yet
Jungfrau has taken it all in her stride. I'm attempting to root a few
cuttings to try in another position.
A shorter one that's also doing well, flowering freely in a different
bed with sun only part of the afternoon is Aster peduncularis. That's a
similar shade of lavender blue but has broader foliage. It was
recommended to me by a local nurseryman as a good doer for dryish soil
and he seems to have been spot on; I've been pleased with that one as
well. Aster f. Monch is another I have that's planted in sunnier area.
I'd like to find others in different colours if possible, as these are
all pretty much the same lavender blue, so I was wondering if anyone
could suggest any varieties that would grow in a light soil that are a
red, pink or deeper purpley colour?
Posted by Janet on September 21, 2011, 6:30 am
sue@allegedly-spamless.plus.com says...
>
> I almost gave up trying to grow any late flowering asters, my light
> free-draining soil leaving them suffering with drought and mildew even
> with extra watering and occasional spraying with fungicide. But I've
> found the frikartii types are mildew free and seem more able to cope
> with drier soil, with A x f. 'Jungfrau' doing especially well in a
> difficult spot.
>
> She's amazed me by not only surviving but positively thriving in a bed
> made that's backed by large shrubs and conifers next door, so shaded
> at least half the day. It also used to be an area overhung by a now
> thankfully ex sycamore and the soil is so depleted there, it's
> practically nothing but stony dust with garden compost added, yet
> Jungfrau has taken it all in her stride. I'm attempting to root a few
> cuttings to try in another position.
>
> A shorter one that's also doing well, flowering freely in a different
> bed with sun only part of the afternoon is Aster peduncularis. That's a
> similar shade of lavender blue but has broader foliage. It was
> recommended to me by a local nurseryman as a good doer for dryish soil
> and he seems to have been spot on; I've been pleased with that one as
> well. Aster f. Monch is another I have that's planted in sunnier area.
>
> I'd like to find others in different colours if possible, as these are
> all pretty much the same lavender blue, so I was wondering if anyone
> could suggest any varieties that would grow in a light soil that are a
> red, pink or deeper purpley colour?
I don't have names for any of mine; I've found the best way to get
strong reliable asters is to beg a slip from plants doing well round about
for gardening friends. As it's windy here, and I don't stake anything, I
only want short sturdy self supporting ones. But I agree they seem to
thrive on deprivation. We have a narrow dry roadside verge which is
gradually filling in with tough self-sown aster seedlings. None of them
get mildew , possibly because there's so much salt in the rain here.
Janet
Posted by Sue on September 21, 2011, 12:11 pm
> I don't have names for any of mine; I've found the best way to get
> strong reliable asters is to beg a slip from plants doing well round
> about for gardening friends. As it's windy here, and I don't stake
> anything, I only want short sturdy self supporting ones. But I agree
> they seem to thrive on deprivation. We have a narrow dry roadside
> verge which is gradually filling in with tough self-sown aster
> seedlings. None of them get mildew, possibly because there's so much
> salt in the rain
> here.
Good idea. I shall have to do a tour of the neighbourhood and peer over
a few garden fences to see what I can beg, I can always offer a swap of
cuttings.
I'd certainly prefer shorter or middling range ones that don't need too
much staking, if I can find any. 'Jungfrau' seems reasonably upright and
sturdy - not as lax as 'Monch', I'd say.
Posted by Sacha on September 21, 2011, 6:32 am
> I almost gave up trying to grow any late flowering asters, my light
> free-draining soil leaving them suffering with drought and mildew even
> with extra watering and occasional spraying with fungicide. But I've
> found the frikartii types are mildew free and seem more able to cope
> with drier soil, with A x f. 'Jungfrau' doing especially well in a
> difficult spot.
>
> She's amazed me by not only surviving but positively thriving in a bed
> made that's backed by large shrubs and conifers next door, so shaded
> at least half the day. It also used to be an area overhung by a now
> thankfully ex sycamore and the soil is so depleted there, it's
> practically nothing but stony dust with garden compost added, yet
> Jungfrau has taken it all in her stride. I'm attempting to root a few
> cuttings to try in another position.
>
> A shorter one that's also doing well, flowering freely in a different
> bed with sun only part of the afternoon is Aster peduncularis. That's a
> similar shade of lavender blue but has broader foliage. It was
> recommended to me by a local nurseryman as a good doer for dryish soil
> and he seems to have been spot on; I've been pleased with that one as
> well. Aster f. Monch is another I have that's planted in sunnier area.
>
> I'd like to find others in different colours if possible, as these are
> all pretty much the same lavender blue, so I was wondering if anyone
> could suggest any varieties that would grow in a light soil that are a
> red, pink or deeper purpley colour?
A.f. Monch is one of my husband's highly favoured michaelmas daisies
precisely because
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Posted by Sacha on September 21, 2011, 6:39 am
> I almost gave up trying to grow any late flowering asters, my light
> free-draining soil leaving them suffering with drought and mildew even
> with extra watering and occasional spraying with fungicide. But I've
> found the frikartii types are mildew free and seem more able to cope
> with drier soil, with A x f. 'Jungfrau' doing especially well in a
> difficult spot.
>
> She's amazed me by not only surviving but positively thriving in a bed
> made that's backed by large shrubs and conifers next door, so shaded
> at least half the day. It also used to be an area overhung by a now
> thankfully ex sycamore and the soil is so depleted there, it's
> practically nothing but stony dust with garden compost added, yet
> Jungfrau has taken it all in her stride. I'm attempting to root a few
> cuttings to try in another position.
>
> A shorter one that's also doing well, flowering freely in a different
> bed with sun only part of the afternoon is Aster peduncularis. That's a
> similar shade of lavender blue but has broader foliage. It was
> recommended to me by a local nurseryman as a good doer for dryish soil
> and he seems to have been spot on; I've been pleased with that one as
> well. Aster f. Monch is another I have that's planted in sunnier area.
>
> I'd like to find others in different colours if possible, as these are
> all pretty much the same lavender blue, so I was wondering if anyone
> could suggest any varieties that would grow in a light soil that are a
> red, pink or deeper purpley colour?
I really *hate* my new Trackpad - it's always doing something I don't
want, like sending emails and posts before I'm ready!! AIUI the Aster
novae-angliae Harrington Pink will stand light soils if a mulch is
applied to keep the soil moist. It's also said to be mildew resistant
like A.f. Monch.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
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> I almost gave up trying to grow any late flowering asters, my light
> free-draining soil leaving them suffering with drought and mildew even
> with extra watering and occasional spraying with fungicide. But I've
> found the frikartii types are mildew free and seem more able to cope
> with drier soil, with A x f. 'Jungfrau' doing especially well in a
> difficult spot.
>
> She's amazed me by not only surviving but positively thriving in a bed
> made that's backed by large shrubs and conifers next door, so shaded
> at least half the day. It also used to be an area overhung by a now
> thankfully ex sycamore and the soil is so depleted there, it's
> practically nothing but stony dust with garden compost added, yet
> Jungfrau has taken it all in her stride. I'm attempting to root a few
> cuttings to try in another position.
>
> A shorter one that's also doing well, flowering freely in a different
> bed with sun only part of the afternoon is Aster peduncularis. That's a
> similar shade of lavender blue but has broader foliage. It was
> recommended to me by a local nurseryman as a good doer for dryish soil
> and he seems to have been spot on; I've been pleased with that one as
> well. Aster f. Monch is another I have that's planted in sunnier area.
>
> I'd like to find others in different colours if possible, as these are
> all pretty much the same lavender blue, so I was wondering if anyone
> could suggest any varieties that would grow in a light soil that are a
> red, pink or deeper purpley colour?