Aster 'Meteor Carmine Red'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 1998
Good Qualities:
Nice large heads (2); Interesting hot pink color (2); Upright habit, strong stems (2); Good vaselife; Nice strong plant; Cold resistant; Vigorous; 10 cm flower, yellow center - great cut flower; Tolerant to heat; Nice show; Nice leaves & stems too; Easy to deal with
Problems:
Stems a little weak (2) - not as sturdy as Matsamoto Aster; Poor germination; Some of the blossom did not fully open, may have been because of hot, dry weather; Some Aster yellows; Blooms too late (too close to frost time) when direct seeded (comment from Zone 3/4); Bugs & Aster yellows got them first.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 6.4 | 21.3 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
PanAmerican Seed
P.O. Box 438
West Chicago, IL 60186
Comments:
Similar to Matsumoto Aster (2); I direct seeded the asters because I have had problems with Aster yellows on plugs/transplants in the past. May try plugs again though so I can get the flowers sooner. Did better on a south slope plot than in a flat field; Cool weather this summer, grew very nicely.