Astra pomponia "Prevoskhodny Raklie" is a compact and branching plant up to 50 cm tall, which will become a bright accent in any garden. The bushes differ in strong, sturdy shoots with numerous inflorescences, on each of which up to 30 large double flowers with a diameter of 5-7 cm bloom. The flowers have a flat-round or spherical shape and a unique two-colored coloring - light blue or purple-blue petals with a white center, creating an effective contrast and decorating the flower bed from July to August, and in some cases until September. Thanks to abundant and prolonged flowering, the plant is perfect for group planting, rabats, as well as for cutting, as flowers retain freshness in a vase for a long time.
For successful cultivation of "Prevoskhodny Raklie" it is recommended to choose sunny or semi-shaded areas with light and fertile soil. The plant tolerates drought and adverse weather conditions well, while preferring moderate watering as the soil dries out. It is important to avoid the introduction of organic fertilizers in the year of planting, preferring regular top dressing with complex mineral fertilizers to maintain abundant flowering and bush health.
Sowing seeds is carried out from late February to April, burying them 0.5-1 cm deep. At a soil temperature of about +15 °C, seedlings appear in 7-14 days. After the appearance of the first true leaves, seedlings are pricked out and grown at a temperature of +12-18 °C. Seedlings are planted in open ground in the second half of May at a distance of 20-30 cm between plants. In regions with a warm climate, direct sowing of seeds into the soil in late April or October with subsequent mulching is possible. Thanks to its unpretentiousness and decorativeness, the astra "Prevoskhodny Raklie" will become a wonderful decoration of any garden landscape, balcony or flower bed.
