ASTER (Aster amellus)
Asteraceae
Varieties
Kamini, Poornima, Shashank, Violet Cushion, Phule Ganesh White, Phule Ganesh Pink, Phule Ganesh Violet, Phule Ganesh Purple.
Climate:
Prefers cooler climates with day temperature of 20-300C, night temperature of 15-170C and relative humidity of 50-60%. Bright sunlight is required for growth and flowering.
Soil:
Open sunny locations with well drained red loamy soils with pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Planting Season:
Throughout the year under mild climatic conditions (like Bangalore) |
Pink flowers |
Propagation and planting:
Propagated through seeds; seed rate is 2.5 - 3.0 kg/ha. 30-45 day old seedlings are transplanted in raised beds of 120 x 60 x 10 cm size.
Nutrition:
FYM @ 10-15 t/ha is applied during field preparation. NPK recommendation is 180:60:60 kg/ha of which 90:60:60 kg/ha is applied as basal and 90 kg/ha of N is applied as top dressing 40 days after transplanting.
Land preparation and sowing
Soil is made into fine filth and flat beds are formed. Seeds are sown either by broad casting or line sowing at 20 x 15 cm.
Irrigation
Irrigation is given once in 4-7 days according to soil moisture conditions.
Pinching:
Pinching of growing tips is done 30 days after transplanting to induce lateral shoots.
Manuring
Apply 5 t FYM/ha along with NPK 70 : 175 : 75 kg/ha as basal.
Weeding
The crop needs two hand weedings.
Plant protection
Pests
Semilooper: Spray Quinalphos @ 1.0 ml/l or Carbaryl @ 1g/l
Leaf miner: Spray Monochrotophos @ 0.5 ml/l or Imidacloprid @ 0.5ml/l
Diseases
Collar and root rot: Soil drenching with Copper oxychloride @ 2.5g/l
Wilt (Fusarium sp.): Soil drenching with Carbendazim 1g/l
Harvesting:
For cut flower : Flowers along with stalks or whole plants are harvested
For loose flower: Individual flowers are harvested with short stems attached
Yield: 18 - 20 t/ha.
Source
1. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/reiman/aster1.jpg |
