It turns out that asparagus is not a new vegetable in our gardens. Before the revolution, asparagus was eaten with pleasure. Then the vegetable passed into the category of bourgeois, and therefore enemy products, and gradually disappeared from our tables and beds. Currently, this food product appears on the shelves of supermarkets, it's a pity that it's more frozen. But growing this royal vegetable in an ordinary garden is not difficult at all. You just need to have a little patience and know the rules of agricultural technology.

How to propagate asparagus

Asparagus is a healthy and tasty vegetable crop. It is incredibly popular in Europe, Asia and America. Several types of asparagus are grown there:

• green;
• purple
• white;
• legume;
• marine.

Unusual-looking vegetable - asparagus, unusually popular all over the world

Unfortunately, our gardeners have almost no interest in this crop. And how to grow this delicacy, few people know. But asparagus is the earliest vegetable plant that can support the body precisely when the vitamin range is very scarce.

Asparagus - an early vegetable that helps replenish the body's vitamin supply

There are several ways to propagate this perennial herbaceous plant, which greatly facilitates the cultivation of asparagus.

The division of the bush

This is perhaps the easiest and most affordable way even for beginners to propagate asparagus. The survival rate of segments of rhizomes with buds is very high - almost 100%. Moreover, you can engage in this breeding method in spring, summer and autumn. It is most expedient to divide the bush when transplanting. A 4 or 5 year old plant is suitable for this.

Asparagus has a very strong root system, extending more than a meter deep into the soil

1. Carefully dig the bush out of the soil, being careful not to damage the roots too much. To do this, you will have to dig a hole wide and deep, since the roots of the plant are very powerful. It is very convenient to extract the plant with a pitchfork.
2. Divide the rhizome into parts with a sharp knife so that each division has at least 1 shoot.

   Each part of the rhizome must have an escape

3. Install a piece of rhizome in the center of the planting hole or trench. Straighten the roots so that they do not twist.

   When planting, the roots need to be straightened

4. Cover the roots with a layer of soil of at least 10 cm. In this case, the apical bud should be sprinkled with a 5-cm layer.

   Sprinkle the planted parts of the rhizome with soil after watering

5. Water the planting. As the soil settles, the soil must be topped up.

If there are many divisions, you can plant them in a trench 30 cm deep and 50 cm wide. The distance between plants is 50 - 60 cm. When planting in two rows, the distance between rows should be at least 1 m.

Important information when planting asparagus

• Since asparagus is a perennial plant, nutrients must be added to the soil before planting. For 1 m² you will need
  • 15 g of ammonium sulfate;
  • 30 g of potassium sulfate;
  • 60 g of superphosphate;
• mineral fertilizers can be replaced with organic. At least 6 kg of well-rotted humus must be added per 1 m²;
• asparagus is good for growing after cereals and vegetables that require deep digging of the soil, such as potatoes.

cuttings

This method of propagation of culture is best done from March to June. Green shoots are used as cuttings.

After a month or 1.5, the cutting will take root, after which it is dived into a slightly larger pot.

Reproduction by seeds

In general, growing asparagus from seed is not difficult for an experienced gardener. But the unpopularity of this method is primarily due to poor seed germination. Well, caring for seedlings is fraught with some difficulties.

Asparagus seeds are not often found on the market, but you can collect them yourself.

Planting for seedlings

Before planting, the seeds are soaked to speed up germination. For seedlings, seed material is sown in two ways:

• sowing in seedling pots;
• sowing directly on the bed.

Pick up times vary depending on the option chosen. Seed-grown asparagus begins to yield only in the 3rd year.

seedling care

Seedlings can be grown without additional lighting, but it is advisable to put young plants on a window with maximum lighting. The temperature at which seed germination occurs is on average 25°C. Watering is moderate, the main thing is not to let the soil dry out too much. To keep conditions at a comfortable level, cover the seed box with a transparent bag or glass.

The first sprouts will not appear soon, after 1.5 months

The first dressing is applied 4 weeks after germination. Then - a week or two after picking.

picking

The picking of asparagus seedlings is carried out when the plants have become crowded in a common seedling box. Usually, seedlings that have reached 15 cm in height are subjected to the procedure. Considering that the roots of the seedlings are quite developed, the depth of the new container should correspond to the size of the root system.

The seedling has a rather long root, so the new container must have sufficient depth.

After picking, long and thin stems of seedlings can bend down to the ground. But don't worry, this is temporary.

This process allows you to get a delicious and nutritious product in winter or early spring.

1. The rhizomes of a 5 or 6 year old plant are dug out of the soil in October and placed in the basement until winter. The temperature of the storage room should not exceed 2°C.
2. In early December, asparagus is planted in a greenhouse.
3. In this case, a high planting density is allowed - at least 20 plants are planted per 1 m².
4. The seedlings are covered with rotted humus with a layer of about 20 cm and covered with plastic wrap on top.
5. In the first week, the allowable temperature should not exceed 10°C.
6. As soon as the rhizomes begin to grow, the temperature is increased to 18 ° C.

This temperature regime should be maintained throughout the entire harvest period.

Planting density of asparagus during forcing is high

Caring for asparagus outdoors

Only hardened seedlings of asparagus should be planted in open ground. In central Russia, transplantation is carried out in early June. Choose a well-lit and windless site for planting. If the soil temperature is below 10°C, then the asparagus will slow down its growth and development of underground shoots. In this case, you will need a film shelter that is easy to install and dismantle.

Considering that the asparagus grows too much, allocate places for it along the fence so that the plant does not bother anyone.

Look for a dry growing site. Groundwater should not come closer to the soil surface than 1.4 m. Before planting, cultivate the land - dig up perennial crops, fertilize well. In general, treat the preparation of the site with full responsibility, because asparagus is able to grow in one place and produce a crop for 20 years, and even a little more.

Watering

Despite the dislike of asparagus to waterlogged soils, planted seedlings need to be watered often. This is especially important in the first 2 weeks after planting, until a deep root system has formed in the asparagus. At the same time, after absorbing moisture, the soil should be loosened between the rows, but this must be done very carefully so as not to damage the roots. The soil in the beds with asparagus should be slightly moist. Insufficient watering will affect the condition of the young plant. It will become weak and painful.

So that the soil between the rows does not dry out very quickly, you can mulch it with a dense plastic film, which will also prevent weeds from growing.

Mature plants are not watered as often as young ones. But, nevertheless, soil moisture must be monitored. If the soil is dry, the shoots become bitter, fibrous and coarse. In order for the asparagus to receive the necessary amount of moisture, 6-8 liters of water per bush is enough when watering.

Asparagus loves moderate but timely watering.

top dressing

The yield of asparagus directly depends on the quality of top dressing. But there are some nuances here.

• asparagus practically does not need nitrogen, therefore the share of this element in the nutrition of the plant is very small;
• while the lack of copper and potassium will adversely affect the ability of asparagus to form succulent shoots;
• asparagus loves organics, so give priority to manure and herbal tinctures.

In order for the asparagus shoots to have greater tenderness and be white (which is especially appreciated by gourmets), you need to pour humus on the bed in the fall or in May, when the first shoots begin to appear - 1 bucket of organic matter per 1 plant.

• in spring, in addition to organics, potassium, calcium and phosphorus are included in the composition of fertilizers. If these substances are applied in a dry form, then they do it exclusively for irrigation;
• in July, to maintain the strength of the plant after harvest, you can use a solution of chicken manure. By the way, note that the indicated concentration of the solution is high - 1/10;
• at the end of October, it is advisable to use complex fertilizers. Most often, at this time, asparagus plantings are fed with superphosphate and potassium salt - 30 g of each substance per 1 m².

Without top dressing, it is impossible to get a crop of this wonderful vegetable.

Weeding and loosening

These are very important steps in caring for a plant that is unusual for our beds. As already noted, shallow loosening should be carried out after each watering - at least 8 times per season. For asparagus sprouts that are under the mound, it is extremely important to get enough oxygen for development. To improve aeration, you can use a homemade device. It consists of a wooden roller, into which nails are driven, no more than 2 cm long. Rolling with such a roller on the surface of an earthen hill, you destroy the soil crust and restore air circulation.

Always keep the aisles of asparagus plantings clean. Weeding weeds will save the royal vegetable from many troubles in the form of pests and diseases.

Weeding and loosening in asparagus beds is the key to a good harvest

Hilling

During the growth of asparagus, it is important to spud the plant in time. The procedure is carried out when the green twigs of the vegetable have reached a height of 20 cm. This process allows the growth buds to transform into succulent shoots. Hilling is especially relevant for young plants that can suffer from frost in the winter.

Features of caring for asparagus in a greenhouse

Not all varieties of asparagus are suitable for growing in a greenhouse. Early hybrids and varieties enjoy the advantage:

• Arzhentelskaya;
• Franklin;
• Cito;
• Connovers Colossal;
• Marta Washington.

Asparagus Arzhentelskaya excellent variety for greenhouse cultivation

In greenhouse conditions, asparagus is propagated in the usual ways - by dividing the rhizome and seeds. You can grow seedlings here. This is very convenient, since the plants do not need to be hardened, they are already adapted to the conditions of further growth.

Please note that during greenhouse planting in divisions, the apical bud does not deepen much - it should be in the upper layer of the greenhouse soil.

Necessary conditions for growing

The greenhouse is a special place. Here you can create ideal conditions for growing an early crop of asparagus. The peculiarity of the plant is that it does not need additional lighting. Sprouts begin to form under a layer of soil and, having made their way to the surface, are quite capable of getting by with the available light sources.

But the vegetable is more whimsical to the temperature regime. Tender sprouts begin to form in the soil at a temperature of 15°C. The maximum indicator should not exceed 25 ° C. Here in this thermal period, asparagus will show excellent yields.

Watering and feeding

Since greenhouse conditions allow you to maintain humidity inside at a higher level, watering is carried out only as needed. Top dressing is carried out with the same fertilizers as in open ground.

Growing asparagus in a greenhouse can produce great results

Is it possible to grow asparagus at home

Growing asparagus at home just like a vegetable plant is a thankless task. And the question is not even in special care. It's just that the asparagus rhizome needs too much space for normal development, both in depth and in width. It is unlikely that it will be possible to provide the plant with sufficient soil volumes in the conditions of small balconies. But keep asparagus as an ornamental plant - please. Indoor asparagus (that's what asparagus is called in Latin) will decorate any corner of the apartment with fresh herbs.

At home, asparagus can only please with an abundance of greenery.

Features of growing asparagus in different regions

You can grow asparagus in almost any region, except, perhaps, the Far North. It would seem that a heat-loving plant is able to perfectly withstand low temperatures - up to -30 ° C, even with little snow cover. Therefore, this vegetable can be grown in open ground both in the Urals and in Siberia. It’s just that in winter, the beds are covered with a thick layer of mulch, for example, with the same manure that warms the soil when it rots. True, young asparagus is very afraid of frost, even a little. Until the moment when the asparagus begins to form a crop, it is better to grow a young plant under a film cover in the cold season.

Gardeners in cold regions have one secret to growing asparagus. They leave only male plants in the beds, which perfectly tolerate low temperatures. But female plants are less cold-resistant.

In the cold season, Siberian asparagus is cozy under light cover.

For central Russia and the Moscow region, as well as for Belarus, there are a lot of varieties of asparagus suitable for open ground conditions. The most famous:

• early yellow;
• Danish white improved;
• Harvest 6.

Subject to agricultural technology, it is possible to harvest asparagus in these climatic conditions without any problems. The most popular growing method is seedling.

In the Kuban, in the Crimea and in Ukraine, asparagus seedlings are planted earlier than in central Russia. This is possible already after the second half of May. After all, the abundance of the sun allows the soil to warm up very quickly. A feature of growing asparagus in hot regions is the control over compliance with irrigation.

In the south, an abundance of heat and light benefits asparagus

Diseases and pests

Asparagus is considered a hardy plant that is rarely attacked by diseases and pests. But there are specific diseases that can quickly ruin plantings and deprive the long-awaited harvest.

Diseases and control measures

Root rot, or Fusarium. The disease affects the roots and root neck. As a result, the entire bush suffers - the branches begin to crumble and soon the plant dies. Fundazol helps in the initial stage of the disease. If the disease is running, you will have to dig up and destroy the entire bush.

The defeat of the root system leads to the death of the whole plant

Rust. In June, the affected shoots of asparagus become dark in color. The areas affected by the disease increase in size - this is the maturation of spores, which then move to healthy leaves. Rust takes over the asparagus ridge gradually. Therefore, carefully inspect the plantings, so that if the first signs are found, use fungicides to combat the fungus.

The appearance of spots on the stalks of asparagus is a sure sign of rust

Pests

Asparagus fly. From mid-May until the end of June, the fly lays eggs inside the asparagus shoots. A week later, larvae appear, which begin to eat away the core of the shoot. As a result, the stem is bent, and then breaks and dries out. To combat the fly, insecticides are used, for example, Actellik.

Asparagus fly larvae eat asparagus stalks from the inside

Asparagus ratchet. The beetle and its larva eat stems, foliage, berries. The plant first stops growing, and then completely dries out. To combat the pest, the soil in asparagus plantings is treated with Aktellik's solution. Beetles are collected by hand.

This beautiful beetle is a dangerous enemy for asparagus.

Prevention and treatment

Most often, asparagus suffers from diseases and pests as a result of improper care.

• do not plant asparagus on heavy soils;
• before planting, bring the acidity level to normal values ​​\u200b\u200b- pH 6 - 7;
• every week, inspect the plantings in order to identify the first signs of diseases and pests;
• do not leave the remains of roots and stems in the aisles;
• do not flood the asparagus, this leads to root diseases;
• if marigolds, calendula, basil or cherry tomato bushes are planted around the perimeter of the asparagus beds, the number of pests will decrease significantly;
• in autumn, all drying asparagus shoots should be cut and burned.

In autumn and early spring, asparagus beds should be treated with fungicides - Topaz, Fitosporin. Gardeners are especially fond of Bordeaux liquid.

Prevention is the best way to protect plants from diseases and pests.

Harvest and storage

The harvest of this amazing vegetable will begin only in the 3rd year after planting the seedlings. The readiness of the plant to form edible shoots will be indicated by strong and fairly dense bushes above the surface of the garden. If in due time the plant looks frail, then it is better to postpone the harvest for another year.

Shoots reach technical ripeness around mid-April. Of course, you need to focus on the precocity of the variety. Ready-to-eat shoots are at least 1–2 cm in diameter. They can grow from 15 to 20 cm in length. The main thing is to have time to cut the shoots before their heads begin to open.

It is best to cut the asparagus shoots with a special knife.

• it is recommended to cut 2-3 shoots from a young bush. But no more than 5 pieces. The yield of asparagus is growing every year. Three-year plantings from 1 m² will give 2 kg of shoots. Next year, this figure will increase to 5 kg;
• before cutting the shoot, carefully rake the soil from it. In order not to damage the rhizome, cut 2 - 3 cm above it. After that, carefully cover the stump with humus or peat compost;
• shoots are harvested every 2 days. But in the south, especially in hot weather, this happens daily, sometimes up to 2 times a day.

The shoots of this vegetable, which is not quite familiar to us, are not stored for a long time. In the refrigerator, asparagus is best preserved if it is pre-wrapped in a damp cloth and placed vertically in the compartment for vegetables and herbs. Do not wash the shoots before laying!

Asparagus shoots in the refrigerator are stored in a strictly vertical position.

On the 3rd day of storage, asparagus begins to lose its taste - juicy and soft shoots become hard and dry.

Asparagus shoots can be frozen by wrapping them in cloth, cling film or a bag. Under the influence of low temperatures, asparagus is able to retain juiciness.

The most optimal storage conditions are high humidity - 90%, and temperature from 0 to 1°C. It is this environment that allows for 3-4 weeks to preserve the taste properties of asparagus.

Good day! My name is Irina. I live in a wonderful place - the Crimea. By education - an educator. I love nature and animals very much. I have been fond of floriculture for a long time, and garden wisdom has just begun to master. My motto is live and learn.

To grow asparagus in the garden, you can choose two methods of reproduction: rhizomes and seeds. Considering that it is a cold-resistant and unpretentious plant, it is possible to grow it by choice, but it is more simple 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 effective way to fertilize 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 of 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. Yet, when properly grown 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 at room temperature for several 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, seedlings of asparagus 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.

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 the bushes are properly planted and well cared for, you can indulge in 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 create suitable conditions for rooting and provide proper care at home. Cover them with the necks of plastic bottles, remove the caps on hot days 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, a very long root will develop. 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 a very tasty and healthy plant of 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. Still, find a small area in the garden where you can plant at least 3-4 bushes, and grow a few 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 m 2 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. During autumn digging, add to 1 m 2:

• 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 m 2 are added. Holes should be spacious, 35 cm in diameter and depth. In June, you can plant bushes grown at home in a permanent place. In the hole, make a mound of fertile soil, 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 is a fairly large bush that grows 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. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the top layer well. 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 may notice that if you plant asparagus in an open area with strong winds, it grows poorly and 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 give you good harvests. The first time, cut no more than 5 stems, leave the rest for the development of a 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.

1. 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.
2. Purple asparagus was not exposed to light for long and did not have time to develop chlorophyll. Slightly bitter in taste.
3. 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 a very capricious plant, that growing asparagus from seeds in the open field and caring for it takes too much time. 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. The most convenient way is to pour a mound of earth over the plant in the fall after cutting the stems, 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.

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.

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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 the high price of 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 seed

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 are kept in warm water for 3-4 days, 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 a soil mixture of the following composition: sand 2 parts, garden soil, peat, rotted manure - one at a time parts. 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 in an apartment as an 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 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- a fungal disease that 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 with Bordeaux liquid or other fungicides - Fitosporin, Topaz, Topsin M. will help you protect asparagus from diseases.

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. The shoots are laid vertically, because when stored in a horizontal position, they are deformed.

Types and varieties of asparagus

There are three varieties of asparagus:

• green asparagus- the most common variety that was cultivated for medicinal purposes in ancient Rome;
• white asparagus, or bleached, or etiolated, or chlorophyll-free, appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. 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 yellow head and white flesh;
• Gainlim- an early foreign variety, characterized by a large number of tall shoots of excellent quality;
• Mary Washington- a mid-early variety of American selection, perfectly adapted to growing in our conditions, with thick large shoots of different shades of red and purple. 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? This is an ideal, low-calorie product for fasting 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 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 an excellent cosmetic product: its juice cleanses, nourishes and softens the skin, and also removes calluses and small warts.

Asparagus - contraindications

As much as the healing properties of asparagus are indisputable, the evidence about its harm is just as contradictory and doubtful. 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 of the gastrointestinal tract. Asparagus is not recommended for articular rheumatism, cystitis, prostatitis and individual intolerance to the product.

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