How to Plant a Georgia Aster

Start Georgia aster seeds indoors in the early spring five to six weeks before the date of the last frost for your area. Fill cell flat containers 3/4 full with seed-starting mix. Add water to moisten the mix. Sow the Georgia Aster seeds 1/4 inch deep. Cover them with a thin layer of fine vermiculite. Place the cell flat containers in a dimly lit place that has a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Keep the seed-starting mix moist but not soggy. The seeds will germinate in one to two weeks.

Transplant the seedlings outdoors when they are at least 1 to 2 inches high and danger of frost has past. Plant in full sun in a moist but well-drained soil. The ideal soil pH for asters is between 5.8 to 6.5. Cultivate the soil to a depth of 12 inches.

Dig a hole as deep and wide as the plant’s root ball. Set the plant in the hole so that its crown is at soil level. Fill in the hole with soil and tamp lightly to firm the soil around the base of the plant.

Space the asters 15 inches apart. Water thoroughly after planting.

Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch to the aster flowerbed. This will help to conserve soil moisture and discourage the growth of weeds.

Water the Georgia asters to so that the soil is moist, but not wet. They can tolerate dry periods, although too much drought stress may cause yellowing of the lower leaves.