Features of growing delicious homemade asparagus
To grow asparagus in the garden, you can choose two methods of reproduction: rhizomes and seeds. Considering that it is cold-resistant and unpretentious plant, then you can grow it by choice, but it’s easier to propagate it with rhizomes.
Asparagus prefers fertile soil, is not afraid of spring frosts (temperatures up to -5 degrees are not terrible for it) and can grow up to a height of 1.5 m. The plant is also able to survive severe frosts, up to -30 degrees. After winter, asparagus wakes up when the soil warms up to 10 degrees Celsius, and by mid-summer the stems can already bear fruit.
It will not take much time for care, because the main criteria for care are fertilizer, watering and loosening the soil.
Asparagus, the cultivation and care of which to a greater extent consists in the timely watering of the plant, is very afraid of waterlogging. From a lack of moisture, the asparagus will dry out, but it is not necessary to oversaturate the soil with moisture - this will negatively affect the entire root system of the plant. 
Timely loosening of the soil is no less important, it must be carried out immediately after watering, when the water has been absorbed into the soil layer. Do not forget to monitor the cleanliness of the soil, timely cleaning it from weeds. But the most in an efficient way fertilizer is still a mullein cake, diluted with water (proportion 1:5). It is necessary to make this mixture after the asparagus is three weeks old. After 20 days, you need to carry out another top dressing, but this time it is better to use bird droppings diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. The last seasonal top dressing of asparagus is a complex fertilizer, which is best applied before the first frost. 
During the second season, asparagus requires the same care as in the previous period - it needs to be watered, the bed cleaned of weeds, fertilized and the soil loosened in a timely manner.
Reproduction of a plant by rhizomes
Planting asparagus rhizomes is recommended in winter. You can buy them in the market. But it should be borne in mind that asparagus rhizomes are similar to the roots of other plants and it is problematic for an inexperienced gardener to determine them. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is better to look at the pictures what the asparagus root looks like.
The survival rate of rhizomes is high if the soil is properly prepared for planting. The soil where the planting is planned must not only be cleaned of weeds and debris, but also loosened and fertilizers added. For one square meter soil, you can use the following mixture: 15 g of ammonium sulfate, 60 g of superphosphate, but not more, and 30 g of potassium sulfate. If the planting of asparagus rhizomes is planned in the spring, then it is enough to fertilize the earth with humus - 10 kg per dug up meter. 
It is worth being careful about fertilizers for asparagus and apply them immediately before planting.
During the spring planting, the rhizomes are lowered into the trench, covered with earth so that it is convenient to water - for this, the inner level of the trench should be about 5 cm less than the lower edge.
When planting asparagus in winter, they form a small mound in which they hide the rhizomes - this will protect them from the upcoming cold weather.
Growing from seeds
Growing asparagus at home is usually done by seed, although not many sensors choose this method due to poor plant germination rates. Nevertheless, at proper cultivation from seed, surviving plants will be strong and tall.
You need to start in April, after preparing the seeds. They are dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate room temperature for a few hours. Further, the germination regime is as follows: normal daylight hours, temperature about 25 degrees, moderate humidity. You can carry out the germination process in sawdust moistened for nutritional value, or use special peat tablets. Asparagus seeds cannot be germinated in a damp cloth or gauze - weak roots become tangled and often damaged when removed. 
As soon as shoots appear, the seeds are transplanted into peat cups (100-200 ml) with a prepared garden mixture mixed with sand and peat 2: 1. Plant the seeds to a depth of 2 centimeters. After 10 days, you can observe the shoot of the plant itself.
IN open ground asparagus seedlings are transferred in the first month of summer or in its middle to any place in the country. The following year, the rhizomes can be transplanted anywhere. Further care is no different from asparagus planted by rhizomes.
Asparagus diseases
Like any other plant, asparagus can be affected by diseases, although this happens quite rarely. The most dangerous fungus for asparagus is Helicobasidium purpureum, which can destroy all plantings in just a day or two. Infection begins with the root collars, subsequently the branches fall off. Fundazol can help get rid of the disease, which must be used strictly according to the instructions. 
Also, asparagus leaves can be eaten by pests. To combat them, you need to prepare special preparations like Fitoverm, Aktelik, Fufanon. At the request of the gardener, you can choose other means of dealing with asparagus leaf beetles. It should be remembered that if for some reason the plants died, then it is not recommended to plant asparagus in this place for 10 years.
Plant asparagus (lat. Asparagus), or asparagus, belongs to the genus of plants of the Asparagus family, with about 200 species growing in dry climates around the world. The most common type of asparagus is officinalis. Asparagus can be a herb or subshrub with a developed rhizome and branched, often creeping stems. Delicious are the upper parts of the sprouts of some types of asparagus - medicinal, whorled and short-leaved. Asparagus is one of the healthiest, tastiest and most expensive crops.
Listen to article
Planting and caring for asparagus (in a nutshell)
- Landing: sowing seeds for seedlings - in mid-April, planting seedlings in the garden - in early June.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- The soil: rich, fertile, sandy.
- Watering: the first one and a half weeks after planting - frequent and plentiful, during the dry period - daily, the rest of the time - as needed: the soil on the site should be slightly moist all the time.
- Top dressing: a week and a half after planting, a solution of slurry is introduced into the soil, three weeks after that - a solution of bird droppings (1:10), before the onset of frost - a complete mineral fertilizer.
- Reproduction: seed.
- Pests: asparagus flies, aphids, asparagus leaf beetles, scale insects, asparagus rattlesnakes, greenhouse thrips.
- Diseases: root and gray rot, rust, phomosis, cercosporosis.
Read more about growing asparagus below.
Asparagus plant - description
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable plant. Her rhizome is powerful, developed, the stems are branched. Numerous needle-like twigs are collected in bunches on the branches, growing from the axils of small, underdeveloped spiny or scaly leaves, at the base of which hard spurs are formed. Small flowers of asparagus, single or collected in racemose or thyroid inflorescences, are also mostly found in the axils of the leaves. The fruit of asparagus is a berry with one or more seeds, dressed in a thick dark peel.
Young shoots of asparagus that have just emerged from the ground are eaten. If leaf buds have already begun to bloom on the shoot, it becomes hard and no longer suitable for food. Asparagus at its peak produces 9 to 12 shoots per season - that's just two full servings of a side dish. It is this modest yield that explains high price for this vegetable. In our gardens, where from year to year we grow such familiar and healthy vegetable crops as carrots, beets, peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and pumpkins, asparagus is still a rare guest. For those who decide to grow this healthy and tasty vegetable on their plot, we suggest using the information collected in our article on how to grow asparagus from seeds, how to plant asparagus in open ground, what are the conditions for growing asparagus and whether it is possible to grow asparagus at home. conditions.
Growing asparagus from seeds
Sowing seeds of asparagus
Since asparagus seeds germinate for a very long time in the open field, we suggest that you first grow seedlings from them. Before planting asparagus seeds for 3-4 days kept in warm water by changing the water twice a day. Then the swollen seeds are laid out on a damp cloth and wait until sprouts hatch from them. In mid-April, hatched seeds with sprouts 1-3 mm long are planted in boxes at a distance of 6 cm from each other or in pots with a capacity of 100-200 ml with soil mixture of this composition: sand 2 parts, garden soil, peat, rotted manure - one part each. Close up the seeds to a depth of 1.5-2 mm and place the containers in a well-lit place. The room temperature must be maintained within 25 ºC. The soil needs daily moisture. If these conditions are met, after 7-10 days you will already be able to see the first shoots. The emerging sprouts are lightly sprinkled with peat. Two weeks later, the seedlings are fed with a complex mineral fertilizer in a low concentration.
Asparagus pick
Seedling picking is required only if you grow it in a common box. When it reaches a height of 15 cm, transplant the seedlings into a large container, keeping a distance of 10 cm between them and slightly shortening the asparagus root during transplantation. Seedlings are fed only a few days after picking. After another week, hardening procedures begin to be carried out, and as soon as the asparagus can be in the fresh air for a whole day, it is planted in open ground.
Growing asparagus at home
You can grow at home only seedlings of asparagus, which are then transplanted into open ground. It is very inconvenient to keep an edible plant with such a long and powerful root in the house. Asparagus can be grown indoors ornamental plant, and vegetables have a place in the garden.
Planting asparagus in open ground
When to plant asparagus outdoors
Planting asparagus in open ground is carried out in early June. Where does asparagus grow best? In well-lit, calm places, preferably close to a wall or fence. Since asparagus does not tolerate waterlogged soil, do not plant it in places where groundwater is high. Take responsibility for choosing a site for asparagus, because this crop can grow in one place for 20-25 years.
soil for asparagus
The optimal soil composition for asparagus is rich, fertile sandy loamy soil. The plot for asparagus begins to be prepared in the fall: it is cleared of weeds and dug up to a depth of 40-50 cm with the addition of 15-20 kg of compost, 70 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate per 1 m². After the snow melts, the plot is harrowed with the simultaneous application of 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 60 g of wood ash for each m².
How to plant asparagus outdoors
Before planting, holes are made on the site with a depth of 30 and a width of 40 cm at a distance of a meter from each other. The bottom in the furrow is loosened to a depth of 15-20 cm. Then a hill of loose soil is poured onto the bottom of such a height that it reaches the edge of the hole. A seedling is installed on the mound, after shortening its root to 3-4 cm, the hole is covered with soil, compacted and watered. After the water is absorbed, the hole is mulched with dry earth.
How to grow asparagus
Asparagus Care
Asparagus plant is not capricious. Caring for it consists of procedures familiar to any gardener: watering, loosening the soil around the plants and in the aisles, weeding, fertilizing. Loosening is carried out to a depth of 6-8 cm, trying not to damage the roots of the plant. And in the aisles for the first two years, it is desirable to grow green crops.
Watering the asparagus
The first one and a half to two weeks after planting, asparagus is watered frequently and abundantly, later the amount of water is reduced, and watering is started less frequently. In dry weather, daily watering of the site may be necessary - the soil should be slightly damp all the time, otherwise the shoots will become fibrous and bitterness will appear in their taste.
Asparagus nutrition
To accelerate the growth of shoots, after the first weeding, add a solution of slurry to the soil in the area - 1 part of slurry to 6 parts of water. After three weeks, asparagus is fed with a solution of bird droppings - 1 part droppings to 10 parts water. The last dressing is applied before the start of frost, and it consists of a complex mineral fertilizer. If you fertilized the site before planting asparagus, fertilizing begins only in the second year of growth.
Diseases and pests of asparagus
Diseases of asparagus
Asparagus is quite resistant to diseases, but sometimes there are problems with it. The most commonly affected asparagus is:
Rust – fungal disease, which develops on asparagus in four stages. As a result, the affected specimens lag behind in development and almost do not shoot, and at the end of summer they turn yellow prematurely and stop growing before they form the root system and lay buds at the base of the stems, which will definitely reduce the next year's crop. Usually the disease affects asparagus growing in areas with impervious soil and close groundwater. Contribute to the development of the disease and frequent rains;
Rhizoctonia- a disease that usually occurs on root crops, especially on carrots. Asparagus is affected by rhizoctonia infrequently, but there have been such cases;
root rot, or fusarium- a harmful disease that affects many plants. It occurs on asparagus under the same conditions as rust - when the soil moisture is too high.
Asparagus pests
Asparagus in the garden is not attacked by pests, but it has two enemies in the world of insects:
asparagus leaf beetle, imported from Western Europe along with asparagus. This is a dark blue beetle with a red border on the back, feeding on berries, flowers and asparagus tops. It appears in spring, but the maximum number of beetles can be observed from mid-summer;
asparagus fly- a small brown insect with yellow limbs, a head and antennae, feeding on asparagus shoots and making moves in them. As a result, the shoots are bent, wither and die.
Asparagus processing
Spring and autumn preventive spraying of plants will help you protect asparagus from diseases. Bordeaux liquid or other fungicides - Fitosporin, Topaz, Topsin M.
In the fight against insects, reliable results are obtained by treating asparagus with Karbofos, a low-toxic, odorless drug or some other product from this series that can be purchased in stores. Treat the asparagus as soon as you notice the appearance of pests. However, this is not enough: it is necessary to regularly inspect the beds and, if egg-laying is found, remove and burn them. Keep weeds out of the area and destroy the dead parts of the asparagus.
Collection and storage of asparagus
You can cut the shoots only from the third year of growing asparagus - it will take two years to let the root system get stronger. Edible shoots are cut in May, before their heads open, carefully raking the ground from them in the place where a crack has formed in the soil, and leaving 1-2 cm high stumps in place. Do this in the morning or evening, every other day or every day. It is not recommended to remove more than 5 shoots from one plant in the first year of cutting, as this can weaken the bush. As the asparagus bushes mature, it will be possible to remove up to 30 shoots from each annually.
Store asparagus wrapped in a damp cloth in the refrigerator for two weeks to four months, depending on the variety and storage conditions. Do not keep foods with a strong smell in the refrigerator at this time, otherwise the asparagus will quickly absorb them. Shoots are laid vertically, because when stored in horizontal position they are deformed.
Types and varieties of asparagus
There are three varieties of asparagus:
- green asparagus is the most common variety, which medicinal purposes cultivated in ancient Rome;
- white asparagus, or bleached, or etiolated, or chlorophyll-free, appeared in early XIX centuries. At that time, Moscow was considered the center for forcing and growing white asparagus;
- purple or red asparagus- the rarest variety with an unusual, slightly bitter taste. When cooked, this asparagus turns green.
Varieties of asparagus also differ in terms of ripening. We offer you a choice of several varieties that you could plant in your garden, if only to see how the asparagus grows:
- early yellow- productive and disease-resistant early-ripening variety of Russian selection with tender shoots with a dense head yellow color and white pulp;
- Gainlim- an early foreign variety, characterized by a large number of tall shoots of excellent quality;
- Mary Washington- mid-early variety of American selection, perfectly adapted to growing in our conditions, with thick large shoots different shades red and purple flowers. In bright light, the color of the heads may turn green;
- Arzhentelskaya- a foreign mid-early variety, modified by domestic breeders, with white-pink shoots that acquire a greenish-purple hue in color. The pulp is yellowish-white, juicy and tender;
- Royal- winter-hardy, drought-resistant, almost not affected by diseases and pests, mid-season variety with needle-like green shoots;
- Glory of Braunschweig- a late variety, characterized by a large number of shoots with juicy white pulp, intended mainly for canning.
Properties of asparagus - harm and benefit
Asparagus in the country is not only a delicacy product, but also a source of vitamins K, A, C, E, PP, group B, as well as folic acid, dietary fiber, copper, sodium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, potassium, manganese and other elements.
What is the benefit of asparagus? It is an ideal, low calorie product for unloading days. The substances contained in asparagus form connective tissue, strengthen bones, take part in the hematopoietic process, and help the kidneys, liver and heart. Due to the content of folic acid in asparagus, it becomes an indispensable product for pregnant women. Patients who have had a heart attack are recommended an asparagus diet, since asparagine, which is part of the product, dilates blood vessels, stimulates the work of the heart muscle and lowers blood pressure. The benefits of asparagus are also in the coumarins contained in it, which stimulate cardiac activity, purify the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots in the vessels.
The beneficial properties of asparagus stimulate processes that free the body from toxins and toxins - phosphates, chlorides and urea. They have a tonic effect on the bladder, kidneys and the entire excretory system.
Asparagus is great cosmetic: its juice cleanses, nourishes and softens the skin, and also removes calluses and small warts.
Asparagus - contraindications
How indisputable healing properties asparagus, just as contradictory and questionable evidence of its harm. It is claimed that with prolonged use of asparagus, oxalic acid salts accumulate in the body, and this, allegedly, can, if there is a genetic predisposition to this, provoke urolithiasis. Other experts believe that asparagus, being a diuretic, prevents urolithiasis. In addition, saponin found in asparagus can irritate the gastric and intestinal mucosa in patients with exacerbation of diseases. gastrointestinal tract. Asparagus is not recommended for articular rheumatism, cystitis, prostatitis and individual intolerance to the product.
Incredibly popular
vegetable crop. What's the secret? Why is it so actively grown and called a miracle plant and a royal vegetable? This is what we will try to figure out.
This nutritional representative asparagus family remarkable not so much for its excellent taste, but for its unique composition. Its shoots contain beta-carotene and choline, thiamine and niacin, folic and ascorbic acids, potassium and iron, magnesium and calcium, sodium, phosphorus, copper, manganese and selenium necessary for the human body.
Asparagus (translated from Greek, this word means “escape”), or asparagus (Asparagus) is unpretentious and cold-resistant. She feels great in the wild: her thickets can be found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and even Siberia. The secret is that it easily tolerates severe frosts, down to -30 ° C. Although it may suffer from small (about -5 ° C) spring frosts. This perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 1.5 m. In one place it can grow for about 20 years, forming more than 50 shoots during this time.
Asparagus - dioecious plant . Her flowers on female specimens first form ovaries, and then small inedible red berries. The males produce pollen. In berries, a bit like mountain ash, there are a maximum of two seeds that remain viable for up to 5 years.
The asparagus bush is a tall, green, highly branched stalk that divides into many small stalks. The youngest are collected in whorls and are similar in shape to coniferous branches. And large edible shoots grow from multiple buds located on powerful dark gray rhizomes.
planting asparagus
Asparagus prefers sunny places and fertile soils cleared of weeds, but also grows well on sandy loam.
spring planting
Asparagus should be planted in early spring before her buds start to grow. soil at spring planting fertilize with ordinary humus, spending per 1 sq. m of soil about 10 kg of humus. Rhizomes must be carefully laid in a previously dug trench about 30 cm deep and covered with a layer of earth in such a way that the plant itself is planted, as it were, in a recess: this will make watering it much easier.
Immediately after planting, asparagus should be watered abundantly. The distance between the trenches is left at least 60 cm, because over time, the bushes will grow. The gaps between plants in a row (for their normal development and growth) should be at least 30 cm, that is, try to place no more than 3-4 plants per 1 sq.m.
autumn planting
The site for autumn planting should dig well and fertilize, adding to the soil per 1 sq.m:
- 60 gr superphosphate,
- about 30 grams of potassium sulfate
- and 20 grams of ammonium sulphate.
When planting asparagus before winter, they do not bury it, but on the contrary, they form a low mound above it. This way you can protect the roots from winter cold. The distance between the plants themselves is the same as during spring planting.
Here is a video on how to plant asparagus:
Please note: if you want to get asparagus seeds, you will have to plant at least 2 plants, and even more is better. This is related to the fact that one specimen develops only male or only female flowers.
Growing asparagus from seeds
This method is not very popular with most gardeners. This is due to poor germination, although with the right approach, growing asparagus from seed is not difficult.
Around the beginning of April, you need to soak the seeds for two days in warm water with the addition of a growth stimulator. Prepared seeds are sown in light soil, consisting from two parts of garden land and one part of sand, manure and peat. Sprinkle lightly (about 1 cm) with earth and periodically moisten from a spray bottle, preventing drying. If you don’t have time to watch the crops, cover the container with ordinary glass: this way they definitely won’t dry out.
Optimum temperature for germination seed is about + 25…+27° С, remember this. In order for crops under glass to feel normal, they must be aired daily, turning and wiping the glass each time.
Asparagus seeds germinate for a long time - up to 6 weeks, so be patient. It will take a maximum of a month and a half after sowing, and if you did everything right, small charming bushes will appear above the ground - asparagus seedlings.
You can transplant them to a permanent place no earlier than mid-June. And when they mature, they can be transplanted both in spring and autumn.
Reproduction of asparagus by dividing the bush
Asparagus is most easily propagated by dividing the bush; You can do this not only in spring, but also in autumn, and even in summer. It is best to divide the bush during transplantation: young plants must be transplanted every year, and adults - every 10 years. When propagating asparagus by dividing the bush, remember: each division must have at least one shoot.
Reproduction by cuttings
You can also propagate asparagus with green shoots, using them as cuttings. For this March to June from last year's shoots of an adult plant, cuttings are cut, which are planted for rooting in moistened sand. Planted cuttings are covered from above with a cap (for example, half a plastic bottle).
Cuttings should be regularly sprayed and ventilated, removing the bottle for several hours a day. They will take root in about a month and a half. After this happens, they must be dived into pots of the appropriate size.
Forcing asparagus in winter
This universal vegetable crop is successfully cultivated not only in summer, but also in winter (in greenhouses) and in spring (in greenhouses). So let's talk about growing asparagus in the winter-spring period in more detail.
You can get asparagus in winter and early spring by forcing shoots from the rhizomes of adult 5-6 year old plants. To do this, in October, the rhizomes of plants must be dug up and removed to the basement until December, the temperature in which is maintained at from 0 to +2 °С.
Approximately in the beginning of December asparagus rhizomes plant in a greenhouse, in small containers, tightly pressing against each other, trying to place on 1 sq. m at least 18-20 rhizomes. From above they are covered with a fairly dense layer of humus (about 20 cm), and the containers themselves are additionally covered with a black film.
During the first week in the greenhouse, you need to maintain a temperature of about +10 ° C, but as soon as the roots start to grow, the temperature must be raised to about + 18 ° C. Support temperature regime it takes about 2 months - all the time until the harvest will last.
And here, in addition to the usual, an old way of growing asparagus - steam is described.
Asparagus Care
Asparagus, like most of the crops that we grow in greenhouses and in the garden, needs care, consisting of timely watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil.
water the asparagus necessary in small portions, systematically. The main thing - try to prevent stagnation of water, asparagus can not stand it. However, the slightest drying of the soil will also not benefit her. Loosening the soil should be done immediately after watering and weeding, but at least 7-8 times per season.
The yield of asparagus directly depends on fertilizers, which is why top dressing should begin even before planting and continue throughout the life of the plant:
- During spring planting we introduce ordinary into the soil humus(spending about 10 kg of humus per 1 sq.m of soil).
- During autumn planting we bring in per 1 sq.m 60 g of superphosphate, about 30 g of potassium sulfate and 20 g of ammonium sulfate.
- One month after planting must be applied to the soil mullein diluted with water(in a ratio of 1:5). Every year after you have harvested asparagus (somewhere by the end of June), the plants need to be fed (we spend 30 g of superphosphate, potassium salt and urea per 1 sq. M) and unravel and level the ridges. Thanks to such measures, we will give asparagus the opportunity to develop stems and build up mass so that a sufficient amount of nutrients.
- At the time of flowering need to be carried out periodically preventive spraying systemic insecticide. This simple procedure will help repel pests.
- By July when the asparagus begins to grow again, it needs to be fed again - with mineral or organic fertilizers. For example, bird droppings diluted in water will be an excellent top dressing: for this, dilute 1 part of the droppings with 10 parts of water.
- fourth and last season top dressing need to be carried out in a special complex fertilizer around the end of October before the first frost. So, in order to stop the growth of asparagus, superphosphate and potassium salt can be added to the soil (spending 30 g per 1 sq.m).
autumn, before the onset of frost all old stems must be removed(this applies to both young and old bushes), and spud and cover the lower part of the plants with peat (1.5 buckets per 1 sq. M) or compost, completely covering the lower part of the stem with a slide about 5 cm in height - this way you will save the plants from freezing.
spring, in the second and third years of life asparagus is also needed feed - complete mineral fertilizer: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, spending about 30 grams of each per 1 sq.m.
Harvesting
For the first time, food shoots appear on asparagus only in the fourth year of life. And it is necessary to break them out only when they begin to lift the crust of the soil. As a rule, harvesting begins in May. But if the winter turned out to be warm, and the spring is early, then asparagus can be harvested from the first decade of April.
Carefully rake the ground where the cracks have appeared, and, having found a seedling, cut it off at the base, being careful not to damage the young shoots and rhizomes. Cut off all seedlings: this will only contribute to the growth of new ones. Holes formed after cutting should be covered with earth again.
In the first year of fruiting cleaning should not be extended for more than a month, so as not to once again weaken the young rhizomes. Collection of seedlings from old plants should be completed by the end of June. The warmer it gets outside, the faster the asparagus starts to grow. But as soon as its shoots appear on the surface of the earth, the plant heads begin to crumble, and the shoots themselves lose their taste, turning dark pink and sometimes purple. To prevent this harvest in time- twice a day: early in the morning and late in the evening. At a temperature of about +15 ° C, asparagus should be harvested every 2-3 days.
After harvesting the asparagus, the ridges of the earth must be unraveled, and the surface of the soil must be carefully leveled. Plants, if manure was not applied under them, it is necessary feed using slurry or ammonium nitrate for this.
Carving beautiful openwork greens of asparagus for arranging bouquets, do not cut all the branches from one bush: this can be detrimental to the plant. And collect the seeds only when the berries become a rich red color.
How to properly store asparagus
That, it would seem, is all: the asparagus shoots are collected, the plants themselves are securely covered, and they are no longer afraid of frost. But not everyone knows how to properly store asparagus. Certainly, experienced gardener it will not be difficult to save the crop. And those who grow this crop for the first year often complain that the shoots quickly wither and darken. How to avoid it?
Store asparagus shoots in a dark cool place- on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Only in this way they will not lose their taste for quite a long time - about 3 months. Asparagus is perfectly preserved in an ordinary wooden box, placed in a cool, well-ventilated cellar. And so that the shoots do not fade, sprinkle them with sand.
Varieties of asparagus
There is not just a large, but a huge number of asparagus species - over 300, among which there are vegetable, medicinal and decorative.
In this article we will not talk about each type and, as you already understood, we will only talk about the most common vegetable asparagus and its most common varieties. And what is the difference between green, white and purple asparagus, we have already discussed.
snow head
One of the most popular varieties of vegetable asparagus is the mid-early variety Snezhnaya head. Medium-sized shoots are distinguished by a pointed greenish-cream relatively loose head. The flesh is very tender, tastes like green peas.
Glory of Braunschweig
No less popular late variety, one of the few whose juicy white fruits are intended mainly for canning.
The peculiarity of the Slava Braunschweig variety lies not only in the highest taste qualities of fruits resistant to greening, but also in their large number.
Argenteuil late
This variety of asparagus has fairly large, low-fiber white shoots with slightly splayed head scales.
Differs in the long period of receipt of fruits suitable both for preservation, and for fresh use.
Diseases and pests of asparagus
Despite the fact that asparagus is an extremely disease-resistant plant, it may be affected dangerous fungus Helicobasidium purpureum, which is able to destroy asparagus in just a couple of days. The first sign of damage to asparagus by this dangerous fungus is the shedding of branches. The reason is the death of the root neck. You can get rid of such a dangerous disease with the help of the drug "Fundazol".
The most dangerous enemy of asparagus are asparagus leaf beetles- small black bugs, the larvae of which devour the foliage, as a result of which the plants quickly die. For effective fight insecticides are used with asparagus leaf beetles - Fitoverm, Fufanon, etc.
In the spring, asparagus plants often attack asparagus flies, whose larvae gnaw small holes in the shoots, due to which the growth of the shoots stops and, unfortunately, they are no longer suitable for food. In the fight against asparagus fly, ordinary chlorophos is excellent. Remove all damaged shoots, and treat young plants with the preparation.
It is difficult to imagine such a bouquet that could not be decorated with a sprig of asparagus. In fashionable compositions, arrangers widely use heat-loving species, which give needle-like greens of various shapes and density, but species growing in open ground are still popular.
Description of asparagus (asparagus)
In addition, asparagus is great for stage plantings, creating a graceful veil of openwork branches, behind which you can hide the fence, compost heap or utility yard. Asparagus is especially beautiful in autumn, when bright scarlet berries ripen on a yellowing bush. We add that in Europe young shoots of asparagus are used for food. Since the time of the Roman Empire, asparagus has been considered an exquisite aristocratic vegetable.
Varieties and types of asparagus (asparagus)
Only a few types of asparagus, or, scientifically speaking, asparagus, are suitable for open ground. The most traditional medicinal asparagus (A. officinalis) is a 1.5-2-meter plant.
The whorled asparagus (A. verticillatus) is more graceful, producing thicker greens that are ready for use in bouquets earlier than the previous species.
If your garden does not have room for such large plants, you can recommend Shober asparagus (A. schoeberioides) native to Far East. Its bushes are more compact and reach a little over 1 m in height.
Reproduction of asparagus (asparagus)
Propagate asparagus in the spring by sowing seeds in the ground. They remain viable for 4-5 years. Buy seeds in stores. With abundant fertilizer in the first year, you can get good quality seedlings.
They are transplanted to a permanent place in early spring (until the buds start growing) or in autumn (September). Asparagus prefers open, sunny locations and is wind tolerant.
Planting asparagus (asparagus)
For planting, dig holes or trenches 30 × 30 cm in size, lay organic fertilizers (compost or manure) on the bottom with a layer of up to 10 cm, cover it with a thin layer of earth and plant seedlings.
As an adult, asparagus does not tolerate transplants well and hardly restores roots. It can be propagated by dividing the bush, but after that the plants get sick for a long time.
In early spring, thick shoots with numerous scaly leaves appear from the soil. Until they become tough, they can be cut and eaten as a vegetable. If you want to get bleached asparagus, then in the fall you need to pour a layer of sand or light soil (15-25 cm) over the plant. As soon as the tips of the shoots are on the surface, the soil is raked and bleached shoots are cut out at the base.
It should be remembered that harvesting asparagus weakens the plant, and it must be allowed to photosynthesise. Therefore, at the end of May, the layer of sprinkled soil is removed, the plants are fertilized with a solution of mullein or complex mineral fertilizers, and the bushes are allowed to develop lush greenery.
Remember that you can cut shoots only from well-developed plants, it is better not to disturb newly planted and young specimens.
Spring shoots are unstable to frost, but it is not necessary to make a special shelter for them: dead shoots are easily replaced by new ones growing from dormant rhizome buds.
Closer to the top of the shoots, the scale-like leaves become smaller, but flattened lateral branches appear, which perform the function of photosynthesis. In addition, small yellowish-green flowers can be found on the branches.
Asparagus has a peculiarity: on one plant, either female or male flowers. So if you want to get your own seeds, you need at least two plants: a male and a female.
Caring for asparagus (asparagus)
At the time of flowering, carry out preventive spraying with a systemic insecticide. If this is not done, flowers and future berries will become prey for beetles. Usually this does not affect the decorativeness of the branches, but it will be more difficult to propagate asparagus.
In the middle of summer (July), the second wave of growth begins in asparagus, which is especially noticeable on young plants. During this period, asparagus should be fed with organic or mineral fertilizers.
Openwork greens for arranging can be cut all season, but do not cut all the branches from one bush at once.
The seeds are harvested when the berries turn red.
After the first autumn frosts (at the end of October), the asparagus branches die. They are cut off, leaving only stumps (10 cm) and composted. Then you can pour a bed for spring bleaching of shoots. If asparagus serves purely decorative purposes, it does not need special shelter for the winter. However, it is useful to add soil regularly, as the rhizome grows upwards and may eventually come to the surface.
Source: V.V. Chub, Yu.V. Maleeva "Modern Garden"
Often, the owners of summer cottages pay very little attention to growing asparagus. In some flower beds, a green "herringbone" decorates a flower bed, does not require special care, its branches are added to bouquets - that's all the use of a useful plant. And if you plant bushes correctly and organize good care behind them, you can treat yourself to a vegetable delicacy that in many countries only people with high incomes can afford. Your main task is to choose the right place in the country for asparagus - that's what they call asparagus in a different way - and it will give a tasty harvest for more than a dozen years.
Planting material preparation
The easiest way to get planting material is to buy a root in a specialized center. There you will be explained the features of each variety, they will tell you what kind of soil and care it needs.
The following varieties of asparagus are popular with gardeners:
- "Early yellow" - valued for productivity and disease resistance;
- "Arzhentelskaya" - has excellent taste;
- "Royal" - received recognition from gardeners for resistance to frost and drought;
- "Gainlim" - gives a lot of sprouts.
You can independently obtain material from an adult bush. The first way: divide the rhizome into parts, take several fragments for growing and plant them in the country. The second option: cut cuttings from one-year-old shoots, dip the lower parts in a growth stimulator and stick them in the sand. Seedlings need to be created suitable conditions for rooting and provide proper care at home. Cover them with their necks plastic bottles, on hot days, remove the covers and moisten the soil in a timely manner. When the plants take root well, transplant them to a permanent place.
Growing from seeds is a very laborious task; it is impossible to plant them immediately in the garden. Grains should be soaked in water and kept in a warm place at +30⁰ for 2 days. When the seeds swell, you need to grow strong seedlings and only then plant them in open ground. Most often, grains are planted in a greenhouse, for this you need to carefully prepare the place. Make furrows, put black soil at the bottom, to which superphosphate and ash are added. The top layer is garden soil with fallen leaves and manure. The planting depth should be about 2-4 cm, the distance between plants should be at least 3 cm.
Growing asparagus at home
Those who do not have a dacha sometimes wonder if it is possible to grow edible shoots from seeds on a balcony or on a windowsill. At home, you can grow only seedlings or indoor flower asparagus. To get the first harvest, the plant must be 3 years old. During this time, very long root. Of course, you can put a large tub in the room and plant 1 bush, but the harvest will be so insignificant that it makes no sense to do such work.
If you want to buy a delicacy in the store, remember that green beans and soy asparagus have nothing to do with asparagus. The first of them is also very tasty and useful plant the legume family. Under the second name is a semi-finished product made from soy.
If you want to grow seedlings from seeds, plant the seeds in separate deep cups. Fill them with a mixture of equal parts garden soil, peat moss, sand and rotted manure. Seedlings require careful care. The plant does not tolerate dryness, moisten the soil daily. 2 weeks after germination, feed with complex fertilizer.
When the seedlings grow to 15 cm, start hardening off the seedlings. Take it out to fresh air or ventilate the greenhouse first 1-2 hours during the warmest time. Gradually increase your time outside. When the seedlings can stand in the air constantly without any changes for the worse, you can plant them in open ground in the country.
Site preparation
Asparagus is not in vain very expensive. It takes up a lot of space, it takes a lot of time from sowing seeds to harvest, and the number of shoots is small. For those who are trying to collect a large amount of vegetables from a small garden, it is better to abandon this crop. And yet find in the garden small plot, where you can plant at least 3-4 bushes, and grow several seedlings at home. When after 3 years you taste the juicy shoots, your attitude towards asparagus will change.
In the country, soil for asparagus should be prepared in the fall. Please note that each bush will need 0.25 m2 of empty space. The site should be sunny, protected from the wind. The plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture; with a high occurrence of groundwater, good drainage or bulk beds are required. Most of all, asparagus likes fertile sandy loam. At autumn digging add per 1 m2:
- Compost - 20 kg;
- Superphosphate - 70 g;
- Potassium sulfate - 40 g.
If you dug up the bed well in the fall, you can only loosen it in the spring. When harrowing, 60 g of ash and 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 m2 are applied. Holes should be spacious, 35 cm in diameter and depth. In June, you can plant bushes grown at home in a permanent place. Make a mound in the hole fertile land, shorten the root of the seedling to 4 cm and place the plant on the embankment. Bury the hole, compact and water the soil well. In the future, young bushes will need proper care, then they will grow thick and strong.
After planting, mulch the bed with sawdust or leaf compost. This procedure will keep the soil loose, prevent weeds from breaking through, and protect the roots from freezing during the winter months. In the early years, while the bushes are still small, use the space between them to grow spices and herbs from seeds.
Proper care - a good harvest
Asparagus - Enough large bush growing in one place for many years. It needs a lot of nutrients to develop properly, and the soil depletes over time. If you want to get good yields up to 25 years old, fertilize the plot with manure every autumn, and apply compost in the spring. In order for the shoots to grow faster and the harvest to become richer, do not spare organic matter, water the beds with slurry every 3 weeks.
The soil should not be allowed to dry out; on dry days, water the garden bed every day, especially during the growth of edible shoots. If the sprouts do not get enough moisture, they will become bitter and tough. Excessive humidity or stagnant air is also dangerous: plants can be affected by a fungal infection. Loosen well after each watering. upper layer. If you want to make it easier to care for plants, mulch the bed with peat or compost when planting. With a layer thickness of more than 5 cm, not a single weed will appear on the bed.
You can see that if you plant asparagus on open area with strong winds, it grows poorly, often gets sick. This happens not from the cold, but from the fact that the roots of the plant are sensitive to any movement of the aerial part. A strong air flow shakes the stems, while small underground root shoots come off, and the whole system begins to rot. To prevent this from happening in your garden, be sure to install a strong stake and tie shoots to it. So that the scattered seeds do not germinate and do not make it difficult to care for the garden, remove the fruits that appear on the branches.
If you want to collect asparagus seeds, do not cut the shoots, let the bush develop. Please note that both male and female specimens must grow in the area to obtain germinating seeds.
The rhizome of asparagus each year grows upwards and gradually emerges from the ground. Inspect the plantings several times a season and spud them. This will allow the underground part of the plant to develop normally. At the end of summer, cut off the yellowed shoots, and before the onset of cold weather, cut off all the stems and cover the ground with peat or sawdust with a layer thickness of at least 5 cm. The rhizomes of adult plants will not die even in severe frosts, and spring frosts are dangerous for young shoots.
Diseases and pests of green bushes
Asparagus is very rarely sick, but sometimes it can be affected by fungal infections. Basically, such problems arise if the care of the plant is done incorrectly. The cause of diseases is excessive moisture in the soil or air. Bushes do not like strong winds, but they need fresh air. Do not arrange a bed in a completely enclosed space, allow a light breeze to penetrate there. For prevention, you can spray plantings with fungicides in spring and autumn.
Among insects, asparagus has 2 enemies.
- Asparagus fly. Brown midge with yellow legs and head. Its appearance can be determined by twisted and withering shoots.
- Asparagus leaf beetle. A beetle with blue wings and a red stripe. Eats all parts of the plant. Especially active in the second half of summer.
How to properly harvest and preserve the crop
The gardener can't wait to try the young sprouts. Take your time: until the plant is 3 years old, you can not cut the shoots. Wait until the bush has accumulated enough strength, then in the next years it will bestow you good harvests. The first time cut no more than 5 stems, leave the rest for development. strong bush. From good adult specimens, a gardener can collect up to 30 sprouts per season. Never remove all shoots: if not a single branch remains, the bush may die.
Sprouts that have reached 20 cm in height, on which leaf buds have not yet bloomed, are suitable for food. As soon as the first needles begin to form, the stems will become stiff and unsuitable for food. Open the soil and break off with your hands or cut off the shoots at the very rhizome with a knife, just be careful not to disturb or injure the root system. You can harvest all summer, but the richest spring months.
- White asparagus is the most valuable species. These shoots were dug out of the ground, not exposed to sunlight and retained the maximum concentration of nutrients.
- Purple asparagus was not exposed to light for long and did not have time to develop chlorophyll. Slightly bitter in taste.
- Green asparagus grew in the sun, accumulated a lot of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, but lost some of the vitamins. The taste is bitter.
Everyone has different preferences, some gourmets consider white asparagus to be the most delicious and tender, others argue that green shoots have a richer and richer taste. If you want to taste white sprouts, protect them from light. In autumn, after cutting the stems, make an earthen mound about 20 cm high above the roots. In the spring, watch the soil surface. When you notice elevations or small cracks, carefully dig the soil down to the root. Cut off the shoots that have reached the desired height, and again restore the mound. After a few days, the next sprouts will start to make their way to the surface, dig the ground again and harvest.
If you didn’t make mounds in the fall, in the spring you can cover the ground with boxes or make a shelter from a material that does not let light through: black film, roofing felt.
Fresh shoots should be immediately eaten or used for cooking, preparations for the winter. If you need to use the asparagus later, place it in a jar of water like a bouquet and refrigerate. Remember that if there are products with a pungent odor on the shelves, the shoots will absorb foreign odors. Sprouts can be frozen, but at the same time they will lose some of their taste and useful qualities.
Conclusion
Do not believe the rumors that asparagus is very capricious plant that growing and caring for asparagus from seeds outdoors is too time-consuming. All the most difficult happens in the first year, when growing seedlings at home or in a greenhouse, and when the bushes take root and begin to develop well, they will not require much attention from you. It is necessary to cultivate the soil once and properly plant asparagus in the country, and then it will grow in one place for many years.
To make the shoots white and tender in taste, they need to be protected from light. Most convenient way- in the fall, after cutting the stems, pour a mound of earth over the plant, and dig up the soil when harvesting. When cutting, do not be greedy, do not completely remove all the stems, leave something for the development of the bush. The faster you put the product into processing, the tastier and healthier the dish will turn out. Use asparagus for salads, soups, vegetable side dishes, and feel like a millionaire who has access to expensive delicacies.
Asparagus (asparagus) is one of the most delicious, healthy and expensive vegetable crops. The first sprouts of asparagus, which are white, green, pinkish green, or purple, are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The color of the sprouts depends on the method of cultivation and the time of collection. Green asparagus grows like a regular vegetable in the garden; sprouts of white asparagus spud so that they do not get light; and purple sprouts become after " sunbathing"- it is not spudded immediately, allowing the tender shoots to soak up the sun.
Young, tender shoots can be eaten raw or quickly steamed, in water, in the oven, or grilled. Asparagus is one of the most early vegetables new season: harvest young shoots begin in April-May.
Seed preparation
Planting asparagus requires a lot of space, it cannot be done at home, except that seedlings can be grown at home. Seeds are characterized by poor and slow germination, so many summer residents prefer to sow them in a greenhouse or at home, and then plant ready-made seedlings in open ground. In the south of Russia, you can sow them in the spring right on the garden, but you need to remember that for germination they will need an air temperature that has reached +25 degrees, and soil that has warmed up to + 15.
Seeds must first be prepared at home: soak for 2 days with warm water, it is advisable to maintain the temperature at + 30 degrees, then they need to be dried. Some vegetable growers insist on the use of a growth stimulator. Only after such care are they ready for sowing.
Planting seedlings of asparagus
Before planting, the plot is marked and plowed with furrows 30 cm wide and deep. They should be straight: if asparagus is planted in uneven rows, then when the ridges are mechanized, the rhizomes will not be located strictly along the midline. (It is not recommended to plow furrows in advance, as the soil quickly dries and crumbles, the furrow becomes uneven, and seedlings will not appear at the same time).
The rotted manure is introduced into the finished furrows (3.0-3.5 kg per linear meter). Then they cover it with a layer of soil of 4-8 cm, after which plants are planted on top, which are again covered with a layer of 5-8 cm. a jet of water.
Container seedlings can be planted within growing season from the beginning of July. After applying the main fertilizer and plowing, taking into account the row spacing, furrows are prepared with a depth of 30-32 cm. Manure is scattered on the bottom of the furrow, covered with a layer of soil 2-3 cm, after which plants are planted on top in peat pots(or together with soil from ceramic pots). Then the furrow is filled up to the level of the roots.
Plantation care until the first harvest
Consider the types of work on the plantation of asparagus before the first harvest (it is received only in the third year after planting).
First year of growing asparagus
Young plants almost do not form shade, so weeds grow rapidly on the plantation, especially in the first years after planting. Autumn planting asparagus is weeded after germination, in early spring, while the weeds are not yet strong (3-5 weedings must be carried out during the entire growing season).
Simultaneously with weeding, they begin to gradually fall asleep furrows so that the thickness of the soil layer poured over the plants immediately after planting the seedlings at a depth of 14-18 cm does not exceed 8-10 cm. During the summer, the furrows are periodically sprinkled with soil; by autumn, the surface of the plantation should be flat. This work is done by cultivators.
To accelerate the growth of young plants, fertilizing is carried out at the end of June and July. In small areas, an effective way is to apply fertilizer solutions: a 1% solution is prepared from a nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizer, and a 0.5-0.6% solution is prepared from complex fertilizers (at the rate of 5 liters per linear meter). On a large area, when it is not possible to apply liquid top dressing, nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers are scattered twice on the soil surface (at the rate of 100 kg / ha) and, using a cultivator, they are embedded in the soil.
Watering is carried out in such a way that the soil is moistened to a depth of 40-50 cm. In the dry season or on sandy soils, it is recommended to water the asparagus plantation twice.
Before the asparagus enters the fruiting season, it is necessary to constantly plant new plants in place of the fallen ones (it is better to do this in the fall, when you can accurately determine the places of attacks). It is recommended to use plants grown in a container way: they take root well, they can be planted during the entire growing season.
The final type of work on the asparagus plantation is the removal of stems. The stems are cut off at the very surface of the soil, leaving no stumps. The cut stems are harvested and burned to keep pests (particularly the asparagus beetle) from breeding.
By the autumn of the first year, the height of the stems of young asparagus can reach 80-120 cm, well-developed plants form 6-8 stems.
Second year of growing asparagus
Care is basically the same as in the first year (weeding, watering, planting new plants, removing stems), but now there is no need to fill in the furrows. Continue feeding. If the plants develop satisfactorily, a nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizer is applied twice to the soil at the rate of 10 kg/1000 m³ (2×100 kg of calcium and ammonium nitrate/ha). With unsatisfactory development, the dose is increased to 20 kg/ha.
To increase the nutrient content in the soil, organic fertilizer is applied - manure. It is scattered on the bottom of a furrow 25-30 cm deep, dug between rows (at the rate of 40-50 tons of manure or 100 m³ of high-quality compost per 1 ha). After that, mineral fertilizers are applied (0.6 tons of superphosphate and 0.8 tons of 40% potassium nitrate per 1 ha). In the second year, well-developed plants already form 10-12 stems 140-160 cm high.
Third year of growing asparagus
They also carry out weeding, watering, and removing the stems. Replenishment of lunges remains a necessary measure. It is necessary to strive to ensure that there are no unplanted areas on the plantation by the time the harvest begins.
It happens that due to insufficient nutrient content in the soil, plants develop unevenly. To correct the situation, fertilizing is carried out - manure is introduced, the amount of which is determined on the basis of a chemical analysis of the soil. If analysis is not possible, then it is advisable to apply the same amount of manure as in the second year.
Caring for a fruitful asparagus plantation
Spring tillage includes disking (which is an effective way to control weeds) and ridge formation. Before this, the dry remains of the stems are removed, otherwise the young shoots growing through them will acquire a brown color, which reduces the commercial value of the product by 30-50%.
The height of the ridges is set in accordance with the standard dimensions of the collected shoots - 22 cm (top width - 25-30 cm, height - 25-30 cm from the rhizome). Over the years, the width of the ridges is increased to 40-50 cm, as the asparagus rhizomes grow over time.
You should not pour too high ridges, otherwise the shoots will reach a length of 30-40 cm or more. Only their upper part, 22 cm long, has commercial value;
The ridges are formed in two steps, since it is not recommended to take the soil near the rows (asparagus roots are located almost horizontally, and when plowing a deep furrow, they can be damaged). For this, an ordinary plow is used, which rolls the soil to a row of plants on both sides. The surface of the ridges should be smooth so that you can see when the grown asparagus shoots begin to lift the soil.
After the formation of ridges until the end of the collection of shoots, plants are not cared for. Upon completion of the collection, after leveling the ridges, during the growing season, 2-3 row-spacings are weeded. (Asparagus grows in one place for 12-15 years, so weed control remains an important task all the time).
Feed regularly. In the spring, before disking the soil, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied (400 kg per 1 ha). At the end of the collection of asparagus shoots (mid-June), the ridges are not leveled until the rows turn green. 10-14 days after the completion of harvesting, the row-spacing is deepened and manure is applied (30-40 tons per 1 ha), after which it is covered with a layer of soil of 4-8 cm. It is advisable to fertilize a fruit-bearing asparagus plantation with manure 1 time in 3 years.
During the growing season, asparagus' water requirement is constantly increasing, so Special attention need to be watered. To obtain a larger yield after a winter poor in precipitation, 2-3 irrigations are carried out before the onset of the harvest period or during harvesting (20-25 mm of water per 1 irrigation). In arid summer period asparagus is watered abundantly in July and August (50-60 mm per 1 watering).
On large plantations, sprinkling is carried out, on heavier soils - watering with an overlap along the furrows.
Asparagus harvest
It is started in the third or fourth year after planting the crop. In the third year, only 3-8 shoots can be collected from each rhizome, while ridges must be poured over the entire plantation, and the collection time should not exceed 3-4 weeks. The implementation of these works requires a significant amount of labor for a short period of time, so the economic feasibility of harvesting in the third year for large farms should be carefully weighed.
Asparagus is harvested from early May to mid-June, highest fees are in mid-May - early June. From mid-June, collections are reduced, as new shoots develop only from dormant buds, which leads to a weakening of the rhizomes, and if the cutting of the shoots is not stopped, the rhizome may die.
The average daily collection for the entire season is 6-8 kg/1000 m². (With a sufficient degree of probability, the yield value can also be determined in advance, as early as early October, by the state of the rhizomes).
Collection of etiolated asparagus. Asparagus is harvested early in the morning or in the evening. Shoots are recommended to break out manually. Knives, scrapers and shovels should not be used, as the cut shoot will dry out or rot, and rot can spread to the entire rhizome. It is better to dig up the soil with a wooden spoon: with its help, you can easily find a tender shoot without damaging it. Excavated and clearly visible shoots are broken out as follows: index finger reach the very rhizome, the shoot is deflected to the side and pulled towards itself.
Under favorable conditions, the shoots develop quickly, so at the beginning of the harvesting season they are collected 1 time, and subsequently - at least 2 times a day. Shoots that have reached the surface of the ridges should be collected within the next 1-2 hours - this is the only way to maintain their quality. Two or three inspections of the plantation per day are justified: shoots that in the morning could be called "first-rate" by evening or morning next day are already acquiring color and can only be sold as broken lines, the price of which is only 20-25% of the prices for grade I asparagus.
The collected shoots are placed in a basket lined with a damp cloth and covered from light (this helps to protect them from wilting, weight loss and staining). Packaging and packaging of shoots is carried out in a darkened room, and then transferred to a refrigerator for several hours.
Collection of green asparagus. Green asparagus is harvested when the shoots reach a length of 15-20 cm or are somewhat shorter, but sufficiently developed, as evidenced by the opened scaly leaves.
At a depth of 1-2 cm below the soil level, the shoots are either broken out or cut off (very carefully so as not to damage the young shoots). It is necessary to collect all the shoots, including those unsuitable for sale (sick, damaged, too thin). If this is not done, then pests of asparagus breed on the plantation.
Under optimal conditions, green asparagus grows very vigorously, so it is harvested daily. You should not be late with the collection of marketable products, since the shoot heads open quickly and their value drops.
Preparation for sale and storage of asparagus
Freshly picked asparagus shoots contain a lot of water (93-94%). On the etiolated shoots, a protective layer is not formed that protects them from evaporation, therefore, the harvested asparagus loses moisture very quickly and coarsens.
Collected shoots can be stored in a shaded place on the edge of the field for no more than 2 hours. Before processing, they should be stored in a cool cellar or in cold store. At low temperatures (0, 2…3°С) and high relative air humidity (90-95%), asparagus can remain fresh for 20-28 days.
Preparation of asparagus for sale consists of washing, sorting, sorting and removing unnecessary parts of the shoots. All these works must be performed by the manufacturer.
Packaging and preparation for transportation is the final production operation, which should ensure the safety of shoots during transportation and intermediate storage.
The well-known delicacy is asparagus, you can grow it yourself. There are more than a hundred varieties of asparagus, but only about twenty of them are edible. It is enriched with many vitamins, and has pleasant taste. That is why they like to add it to gourmet dishes. What to do to grow asparagus - this is a miracle of nature, in your country house?
First year. Planting and caring for asparagus
First, you need to be patient, because by planting asparagus, the harvest can be obtained in at least four years. Asparagus should be planted in the soil, after removing the weeds and the remaining root systems. You need to start preparing the soil in the fall, fertilizing it with manure. In the spring, it is necessary to dig up beds for asparagus again. The root system of asparagus is very close to the surface, so better fertilizer apply from above and do not dig deep.
Secondly, pre-prepare the sprouts for planting. Asparagus propagates best by seedlings; you can use the method of dividing the rhizomes. You can also plant asparagus in the country with seeds. To do this, asparagus seeds should be soaked in warm water and wait three days, after which the seeds should be placed in sand for about a week. In late spring, sow seeds in warm soil. Cover crops with earth and fertilize. 
After the appearance of the first shoots of asparagus, you need to thin out the plants so that fifteen centimeters remain between them. During the summer, top dressing should be carried out at least twice. Before winter, it is necessary to cut off all the stems and leave only the roots, which should be covered with foliage or humus to preserve them in frosts.
Second year. Growing asparagus
The following year, the asparagus is transplanted. Asparagus beds should be selected in advance, as this plant needs long time for growth. For fifteen years, the beds cannot be used for sowing other plants.
For planting, the soil with mineral fertilizers should be prepared and humus introduced. Then carefully transfer the plants without damaging the root system. The roots should be at a distance of ten centimeters from the surface. Next, you should water the plants abundantly. 
Third and fourth year. Asparagus Care
In these two years, caring for asparagus is not difficult: you need to feed it with mineral fertilizers and water it in time, remove weeds from the beds. With the onset of autumn, you need to cut the stalks of asparagus, but you can’t eat them yet.
Feed a few next summer. In the fall, you will again have to cut and destroy the asparagus stalks. Only in the fifth year, you can finally taste this magnificent vegetable.
Diseases and pests of asparagus
A small bug that can completely destroy your crop is the asparagus leaf beetle. It usually appears in July on fairly tall stems. It is small in size, yellow or black in color. To destroy the asparagus leaf beetle, various insecticides are used, for example, Fufanon.
Asparagus can get sick with a fungus. It affects the root system, first the stems die, then the roots die. At the first signs of the disease, treat the affected areas with "Fundazol". With a severe asparagus disease, you will have to completely remove the plant and breed new seedlings. 
cooking asparagus
Asparagus is added to various dishes or served as a side dish. It is extremely beneficial and nutritious. To cook it. It is necessary to take stems no more than twenty centimeters high, clean them from the top layer, and tie them into a bundle.
Boil the asparagus in salted water for about fifteen minutes. It becomes soft and takes on a yellowish color. Asparagus is best eaten fresh or canned.
It goes well with vegetables. Best served with sauce or spices. Korean-style carrots are also often served with it.
Alina Sokolova, especially for
With full copying or partial use of the material, an active link to www.!
Asparagus can often be seen in the gardens of summer residents and owners of household plots. But many are engaged in its cultivation only for decorative purposes, not knowing that the young shoots of this plant are edible. This vegetable crop has a unique composition and has a great taste, and there are enough varieties of asparagus. In addition, caring for it does not cause any particular difficulties, and planting a plant is possible with seeds immediately in open ground.
Description of culture: varieties and varieties
Asparagus is a perennial crop that has received enough wide use in many regions. She does well in the wild too. Often this herbaceous plant can also be found in vegetable gardens, because asparagus is quite unpretentious in growing and easy to care for. It is resistant to frost and can grow without a transplant in one place for a long time. Planting a crop is possible with seeds in open ground, there are other ways to propagate it on the site. It has good taste properties and excellent decorative qualities, as you can see if you look at the photos of different varieties of this plant.
There are over 300 species of this plant. Among this diversity, the following varieties of culture can be distinguished:
- vegetable;
- decorative;
- medicinal.
Asparagus in the open field
Vegetable asparagus is quite common in vegetable gardens, because it is not only suitable for use in food, but also very decorative. And this can be fully assessed from the photo of various vegetable varieties of this crop. The most popular varieties include the following:
- Snow head is one of the most popular vegetable varieties of medium early ripening with tender and tasty pulp.
- Glory of Braunschweig - with juicy white shoots, late dates ripening, often used for canning.
- Late Argenteuil - characterized by large-sized shoots that are suitable both for fresh consumption and for cooking various dishes and canning.
Planting a plant with seeds
This culture prefers well-lit areas with fertile soil cleared of weeds. Sandy soils are excellent. The plant, with appropriate shelter, winters well in autumn, withstanding even severe frosts. But young seedlings do not tolerate a decrease in temperature. Therefore, planting asparagus in open ground is best done at a time when the threat of frost in the spring has already passed.
For planting a plant, you can use different methods of its reproduction. But to grow a new variety, a crop can be planted with seeds immediately in open ground. Before planting, it is better to soak dry asparagus seeds in water with the addition of a growth stimulator for two days before planting. Then sow them in a pre-prepared bed. The soil should be light, well fertilized. Seeds are planted to a depth of no more than 1-2 cm, keeping a distance of about 5-7 cm between them. The distance between rows should be at least 25-30 cm.
asparagus seeds
Asparagus germinates for a long time, up to 1-1.5 months. When the sprouts appear, they will need to be thinned out, leaving only the strongest ones with a distance between seedlings of 10-15 cm. In the year of planting, young seedlings are left on the same bed, not forgetting about appropriate care for them, as well as regular fertilizing and fertilizers. Asparagus can be transplanted to a permanent place after one or two seasons.
culture care
Asparagus is a fairly easy-to-care plant. Of course, she still needs some care, and it consists of:
- timely watering;
- application of fertilizing and fertilizers;
- removal of weeds;
- loosening the soil after watering, rain or weeding.
Particular attention should be paid to watering plants. It must be systematic. It is undesirable to allow the drying of the earth. This can adversely affect the growth and development of the plant. It is better to water little by little and with subsequent loosening of the earth near the seedlings.
Attention! The culture does not tolerate stagnant water very well. This should be taken into account when choosing a site for planting asparagus and further caring for it.
In autumn, asparagus shoots are best cut near the ground without damaging the rhizome. To protect the roots of the plant from freezing, they can be covered for the winter with straw, foliage, peat or manure.
asparagus sprouts
Fertilizer and top dressing of asparagus
The growth, development and yield of asparagus directly depend on the fertility of the soil in which it is planted, and on timely fertilizers applied to the ground. Feeding is done several times per season and throughout the life of the plant. In the spring, before planting, humus is introduced. Then, during the season, it will still be necessary to make top dressing, using both organic matter and mineral fertilizers. The last time to feed the plant is better with complex fertilizer in the fall before the cold weather.
Plant propagation
There are several different ways to propagate this plant:
- seed - asparagus is a dioecious plant, on female specimens, ovaries are first formed, and then - small red berries that cannot be eaten. Male plants produce pollen;
- cuttings - for this, green shoots are taken from an adult plant. In order for them to take root, they need to be planted in moistened sand;
- dividing the bush is the easiest and most popular way for gardeners to propagate this plant. It is most convenient to divide the bush during transplantation.
Diseases and pests of culture
Asparagus is a fairly disease-resistant crop. But it can be affected by such a dangerous plant disease as Helicobasidium purpureum. This fungus causes red root rot and death. And after the death of the roots, the aerial part of the plant also dies off. When this fungus appears, "Fundazol" is used, and in case of severe lesions, the plant is completely destroyed.
Asparagus fruits are not to be eaten.
This culture also has insect pests. The most dangerous asparagus leaf beetle. Other pests can cause damage to plants: asparagus flies, bears, wireworms, slugs.
Advice. Spraying the plant during flowering with a systemic insecticide as a preventive measure helps to deter many pests from asparagus.
The combination of asparagus with other plants
For successful cultivation of a crop, it is necessary to take into account the proximity of other plants next to it. Favorable for asparagus, its combination in the garden with dill or strawberries. Coreopsis, kosmeya, marshmallow - also enough good combination for asparagus when planting in one area. Compatible also with tomatoes, basil, parsley.
Young shoots of asparagus are tasty and very healthy. Therefore, it is worth thinking about growing this crop in your garden, especially since caring for it is quite simple and usually does not cause any particular difficulties.
How to grow asparagus: video
Growing asparagus: photo
