A suitable variety of Callistephus 'Light Blue' for borders with cool or pastel colour schemes. Flowers throughout the summer and into the autumn when other plants have started to look a little tired. Makes an excellent cut flower with a long vase life, so suitable for cutting gardens as well as sunny flower borders.
The time it takes for chrysanthemums to flower from seeding depends on the variety and growing conditions. Generally, it might take around 8 to 12 weeks from sowing chrysanthemum seeds to seeing them bloom, but the exact timeline can vary. Here's an approximate timeline for some common chrysanthemum varieties:
Early Spring Sowing (Sowing in April-June): Typically, they start flowering in late summer to early fall.
Late Spring/Early Summer Sowing (Sowing in April-July): They might flower in autumn or early winter.
Summer Sowing (Sowing in May-July): Flowering can occur in autumn or winter.
Fall Sowing (Sowing in August-September): Usually, they'll flower in winter or the following spring.
Plant outdoors after the last frost of the season or start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date.
Plant in moist, nutrient dense, well draining soils that are exposed to full sun (6-8 hours of sun per day) to partial shade (4-6 hours of sun per day). Do not plant Asters in areas where the soil readily dries out.
When sowing outdoors, spread the seeds across the surface of moistened soil. Repeat this several times every 10-14 days and keep the soil moistened to ensure an extended blooming season. When grown indoors, transplant into the garden 6-8 inches apart.
Asters are easy to maintain. Do not allow soils to dry out. Mulching around each plant can both keep weeds down as well as aid in moisture retention. Taller flower stalks may need to be staked to keep them from falling over. Keep from crowding asters together wherever possible to allow for better airflow between plants. Plant in different locations each year to reduce the risk of spreading potential pests or diseases.
