How to grow asparagus from seeds at home?

Long before the beginning of our era, people knew such a plant as asparagus. Cultivation of it, for example, in Ancient Egypt was the work of both healers, who knew the healing properties of these green shoots, and the peasants, who appreciated their delicate taste.

The ancient Greeks preferred this plant not only for its useful properties, but also for its beauty during the period of fruit ripening - wreaths were made of them for newlyweds.

Today, asparagus is consumed by those who really watch their health and know the value of its nutrients.

Beneficial features

Unfortunately, in some countries today, Asparagus officinalis is either undeservedly forgotten, or people in charge of agricultural planning prefer crops that are more economically profitable.

This vegetable plant grows in almost all states of the world, except for the northern regions, and you can still find its wild "relatives" in the meadows. People in ancient times did not know what kind of useful substances asparagus possesses, the cultivation and distribution of which continued until the Middle Ages. It was also actively used in the form of decoctions.

This would continue in the future if the churchmen did not recognize her as a sinful escape, having the properties of an aphrodisiac. This fact for some time removed a useful vegetable from the diet of people.

Today, scientists are well aware of the chemical composition of this plant, which includes:

• asparagine, which normalizes blood pressure, kidney function and cardiovascular system;
• folic acid, especially necessary for women during pregnancy;
• proteins, carbohydrates and amino acids;
• potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, selenium and manganese;
• 15% fatty oils;
• organic acids (citric, malic);
• alkaloids and vitamins C, K, E.

Such a rich composition with an extremely low calorie content (21 kcal per 100 g) makes asparagus a favorite food for nutritionists. Today, many people prefer to engage in prevention rather than treatment of diseases, which is why this plant is present in their diet.

Growing asparagus from seeds

Many gardeners make room for a vegetable like asparagus in their garden. Growing from seeds is one way that suits those who are patient and in no hurry. Before sowing, it is recommended to soak them in warm water for a couple of days, maintaining its temperature at +30 degrees, and then dry them. So they will rise faster.

It is possible to sow in open ground in April or May, when the threat of night frosts has already passed. In order for the seeds to sprout together, it is necessary to properly prepare the soil:

• first, make the grooves;
• secondly, put a mixture of humus, ash and superphosphates on their bottom;
• thirdly, apply a second layer of manure mixed with leaves or turf;
• fourthly, thoroughly loosen everything.

In the soil prepared in this way, the hatched seeds are thrown at a depth of 4-5 cm at a distance of 3 cm from each other. The further concern of the gardener is that the sown asparagus will produce friendly shoots. Growing from seeds is a laborious process. In summer, it should be regularly watered, spud and fed with mineral and organic fertilizers.

An important point in the growth of this plant is the timely harvesting of the fruits, preventing them from falling to the soil. In the fall, there is little work to take care of it, you should remove the yellow leaves as they appear and mulch the soil with bark and leaves before the first frost to preserve the roots.

Spring care for this vegetable consists in feeding with complex fertilizers and creating an earthen rampart above the garden bed. Sown asparagus, the technology of cultivation of which from seeds is not very difficult, will give the first harvest after 3 years. In order for it to be guaranteed to be high, it is better to take care of the seedlings in advance.

Greenhouse sowing

If you worry in advance that the grown seedlings are ready for planting in the ground, there are more chances that asparagus will take root better. Growing it in a greenhouse is a great option to get strong, viable growth.

Seeds are prepared in the same way as for sowing in open ground. After they swell (3-5 days) and germinate, they are sown in separate pots or seedling cassettes. The best time for this is the end of March - early April. This method allows you to significantly save time for the sprouts to get stronger even before transplanting.

Soil in pots should consist of a mixture of soil (2 parts) and manure, sand and peat in 1 part, respectively. Seedling care involves regular watering, loosening the soil and gradual hardening. For those 60-70 days that the plant needs to be ready for open ground, you can feed it 2-3 times with slurry at the rate of 1/6 or urea in the proportion of 20 g per 10 liters of water. Although asparagus tolerates winter frosts down to -30 degrees, it can die during spring thaws at minus five. Therefore, on warm sunny days, experienced gardeners are advised to open seedlings.

Strengthened sprouts can be planted in late May - early June, although there are those who prefer to grow them in a greenhouse for a year and only transplant them into open ground next spring. Growing asparagus in a greenhouse like this allows you to increase the yield many times over.

Sowing seeds in the ground or growing seedlings in a greenhouse is not the only way to provide yourself with a healthy vegetable for a long time.

Propagation of asparagus by rhizome

For many summer residents, it has become a kind of hobby to plant asparagus on their personal plot. Growing (this photo demonstrates) a plant that begins to bear fruit only after 2-3 years requires not only patience, but also strict adherence to technology.

The most popular and fastest way to reproduce asparagus is to divide the rhizome. To do this, several pieces with a living kidney are cut from the grayish-brown roots purchased on the market. This gives almost 100% plant survival, the main thing is that the source material itself is of high quality. Before planting, parallel trenches 40-50 cm wide and the same depth must be dug.

Each piece is planted on prepared and fertilized earthen mounds 20-25 cm high and at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other. The buds will sprout new shoots, and next year the first crop can be harvested.

The best planting material is considered to be strong and healthy asparagus roots at the age of 3-5 years, which can be planted both in autumn and spring. Since it grows and bears fruit for 10 to 20 years, you should take care of the site for it in advance. This is especially true for those gardeners who plan to grow asparagus in the country on a small amount of land.

Site preparation and care

When choosing a place for planting, you should immediately take into account that this plant loves the sun and is afraid of drafts. Asparagus can be given a place on the south side along the fence, although it will also grow in the shade, only the crop will have to be harvested 2 weeks later.

This plant is unpretentious in care, giving higher yields as it "matures", loves fertilized and fertile soil very much. The ideal option is a raised bed of sandy loam soil on the sunny side of the site.

Growing asparagus in the country requires only three regular actions from the gardener - loosening, watering and weeding. In the first year of its growth, it is extremely sensitive to weeds, since it cannot compete with them in terms of growth rate. It also does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so the soil should dry out well after watering.

With the first spring loosening and after harvesting, it is recommended to apply mineral and organic fertilizers. Growing conditions for asparagus in cold areas with harsh winters require mulching the soil using peat, foliage or tree bark.

If it's a dry summer, remember that with a lack of moisture, this vegetable acquires a bitter taste. Watering should be frequent, but water stagnation should not be allowed, otherwise the root system will begin to rot, and excess moisture will become a breeding ground for fungi and mold.

As the plants grow, they spud it in the spring to protect the delicate shoots from the sun, and in the fall to protect it from frost. For example, near biennial asparagus, it is recommended to raise the ground by 30-40 cm, and in subsequent years - up to 50 cm.

There is also a need to cut off an adult plant in the fall, leaving a stem up to 10 cm long. It will gratefully respond next year with a good harvest, and it is easier to cover the shortened asparagus for the winter with a 10-centimeter layer of peat. In winter, it will protect from frost, and in spring it will become an excellent fertilizer, dissolved by melted snow.

Asparagus varieties

Asparagus has also attracted the attention of modern breeders. Growing this vegetable at home has become very popular, which is why hybrid species appeared, consisting exclusively of male plants. But traditional varieties are also popular with summer residents:

• Argentinean asparagus. Growing this species is preferable due to its early maturation. This plant grows 1.5-2 meters in height, has a powerful root, giving 40-50 buds, from which juicy shoots up to 2 cm in thickness grow by the beginning of May. High yield (up to 2 kg per 1 m2) makes it very popular with gardeners. You need to harvest on time, since this species grows up to 3 cm per day and quickly loses moisture. It is recommended to immediately put the collected shoots in plastic bags so that the juicy asparagus is better preserved.
• Growing at home the Tsarsky variety is also very popular. Its distinctive qualities are tasty white pulp and high yield - up to 3 kg per 1 m2. Delicate shoots are good both boiled and fried.
• Depending on the quality of the soil, Connovers Colossal is popular on sandy areas, and Giant mammoth asparagus is popular on heavy ones. Growing and caring for them does not require additional effort, except for the application of fertilizers. Otherwise, caring for these varieties is the same as caring for the rest. Both species are distinguished by large shoots with excellent taste.
• Hybrid species, such as Franklin, are represented only by male plants that produce high early yields with thick, fleshy shoots. They are suitable not only for cooking, but also for freezing, in which all the nutrients are preserved as much as possible.

Almost all breeding varieties are represented by male plants with high yields. If you choose the cultivation of asparagus as a business, then it is recommended to plant them, but with a different ripening period.Each harvest takes 6 to 8 weeks, so you can get this vegetable to market without interruption.

When dealing with hybrid varieties, it should be remembered that they reproduce exclusively by dividing the rhizome, not like Argentelle asparagus. Growing non-selective plants from seeds requires the use of greenhouses to increase the yield. But, regardless of the variety, both of them give a harvest in the second year.

Diseases and pests

Although asparagus, the cultivation of which has become popular among summer residents, is an unpretentious plant, but it can also develop diseases, the plant is often exposed to an invasion of pests.

For example, the larvae of the asparagus rattle, feeding on the plant, can destroy the entire plantation, if the rescue spraying with malofos or similar means is not carried out in time.

Of the diseases, rust is considered the most common - a fungus that infects its stems. It all starts with a few small red spots on the leaves, and by the end of summer all the leaves will turn yellow from infection. Even if the plant does not die, the yield and quality of the product will be significantly reduced. You can get rid of this fungus or prevent it with diligence and hard work. It is enough to raise the ridges, loosen the soil and make sure that the water does not stagnate.

Another unpleasant disease is root rot, as a result of which the neck of the plant acquires a purple color. To avoid it, it is recommended to change the place of the garden bed every 5-7 years and be careful when planting. If the root has been damaged, then there is a threat of disease. Having transplanted healthy plants, it is recommended to spray them with 1% of Bordeaux liquid, and lime the infected soil.

The asparagus fly, known to many gardeners, lays eggs in this vegetable, which can destroy the entire crop. The larva loves the juicy flesh of the asparagus and gnaws through the tunnels from the tunnels in the shoot. The only way to get rid of them is to dig up and burn the damaged plants. As a preventive measure, deep digging of row spacings in the fall helps well.

Other asparagus lovers are slugs, which prefer young sprouts. To prevent their appearance, special granules should be poured around the site in advance.

Harvesting and storage

Many entrepreneurs are beginning to realize that industrial asparagus farming is a profitable business. It does not make a profit immediately, since the harvest has to wait 2-3 years, but if you follow the technology of planting and caring for this vegetable, then it will bear fruit for 15-20 years.

Asparagus is in great demand in the restaurant business and among healthy food producers, so its cost is quite high per kilogram. In addition to selling fresh shoots, the collection of which lasts only 2 months - from May to the end of June, you can earn money in another way - freeze and preserve them, selling the finished product afterwards.

This plant is quite unpretentious, but you need to harvest correctly, otherwise the next year you can be left with nothing.

• First, you should not miss the start of the harvest. The vegetable itself will notify about it. When the ground in the garden begins to crack and rise, it means that it is ripe. In order for the shoots to remain light and not turn green, you need to spud the plant in late April - early May. If there is no time for this, then it is enough to cover it with a black film on sunny days. This will not only "whiten" the vegetable, but also accelerate its ripening.
• Secondly, the length of the shoot ready for cutting should be 15-20 cm with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm.
• Thirdly, it is necessary to carefully excavate and cut off the stems with a special knife or break them off, after which the root is again covered with earth.

Asparagus shoots in well-fertilized soil and with regular watering grow from 3 cm per day, so the crop is harvested on average every 2 days if it is cloudy, and every day if it is sunny. Much depends on the climate. For example, in the southern regions, asparagus is cut twice a day.Growing in the suburbs, where the climate is cooler, makes it possible to harvest every day. In areas with short, cool summers, shoots ripen more slowly, so even 2-3 days can pass between cutting.

It is important to remember that asparagus loses its medicinal and vitamin properties within a few hours, so its use or marketing should be established. This vegetable is well stored, retaining all its nutritional qualities when frozen or canned. As it begins to be in more and more demand, it will be easy to find customers for this product.

Permaculture system

In the 21st century, a new direction has appeared in the farming system - permoculture, which is based on "communities" of plants grown in a single space. At the same time, preference is not given to any one culture, as is usually the case, but there is a combination of garden, vegetable and meadow plants throughout the entire plot.

The main conditions for conducting such agriculture are a large area of ​​land, no less than a hectare, and climate change within it. So, in the southern regions it should be made more humid, for which a stepped system of artificial ponds is created. Water evaporation provides the required level of moisture, and these reservoirs are also used for irrigation and fish farming.

To prevent the banks of the ponds from being washed away, a mixture of cereals and legumes is planted on them. At some distance from them, you can plant fruit trees and shrubs, which protect the site from the winds and create additional shade.

In the northern regions, it is necessary to raise the air temperature, for which stones of different sizes are placed around the perimeter and along the site itself. They protect plants from cold winds, and heated by the sun, give them their warmth.

Sowing on prepared land is carried out in April, for which seed plants are planted in a strip on the ridges - beans, corn, peas, pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon, asparagus. Growing from seeds (permaculture involves staggered planting) goes on one tier, on the other you can plant potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and other vegetables.

Such a multi-tiered planting allows you to collect large harvests in your own time on each of the ridges. This innovation is especially interesting for those who prefer to spend their time on a variety of crops - from medicinal herbs and vegetables to cereals, berries and fruits.

A seedless way to grow asparagus

For gardeners who do not have a lot of time, the most "lazy" - the natural way of planting this vegetable is suitable. It turns out that if in the fall you collect and bury asparagus fruits in a selected and prepared area in advance, they will sprout perfectly on their own. At the same time, the summer resident will be concerned about the usual weeding, loosening the soil and watering.

Asparagus planted in this way gives a harvest in the second year, if the region is southern. Additional fertilization is desirable, especially if the soil is poor or depleted. The natural method, as shown by the example of some summer residents, allows each autumn to collect asparagus and sow new areas with them. Considering that this vegetable is not only useful, but also expensive, it is beneficial to do it both for the sake of profit and for your own consumption and savings.

Asparagus is a perennial plant that provides valuable vitamin products in early spring, along with sorrel and rhubarb. In stores, its juicy shoots are either not sold or are expensive. More often you can find soy asparagus, which has nothing to do with the real one. This ancient and forgotten culture in Europe was called the royal vegetable. There are many more reasons why gardeners grow asparagus, but the main one is the pleasant taste of its shoots and the high content of nutrients in them.

The benefits of asparagus

Asparagus is not a novelty, but a forgotten and revived plant. In the gardens laid down in Soviet times, you can find low, openwork bushes with leaves like Christmas trees and red round fruits.This is asparagus. It has been growing in one place for 20 years or more. Few people knew about its beneficial nutritional properties, so it was grown exclusively because of its high decorative effect. Lush twigs decorated with scarlet beads were generously added to the background bouquets.

By the end of summer - beginning of autumn, asparagus turns into an ornamental bush with lush twigs and bright fruits

Grocery stores and supermarkets sell a product called asparagus or asparagus salad. Read the composition carefully, if indicated. In most cases, this is fuju, a film removed from boiling soy milk. Naturally, such a product has nothing to do with real asparagus.

Fuzhu is a soy product that is mistakenly called asparagus

Today, asparagus is grown as a vegetable plant. The seeds are sold in the store, and in a large assortment: green, white Argentel, purple, Royal, Pleasure, etc. The color in this case indicates the color of young and juicy shoots that appear in spring. They are also eaten. They taste like green peas.

Asparagus grown from seed gives its first crop at the age of three years, when it develops into a powerful bush. But then for decades you will receive spring products rich in vitamins and minerals.

Different varieties of asparagus taste different from each other - from neutral to bitter.

Asparagus contains vitamins PP, A, C, E, group B, as well as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, zinc, proteins and carbohydrates. Each substance has its own beneficial effect on the body: blood vessels expand, pressure decreases, ammonia is removed, and the activity of the gastrointestinal tract improves. Asparagus has a weak diuretic property, promotes bone tissue regeneration, and helps to cope with stress. The juice is used externally for cosmetic purposes.

Video: Harvesting Asparagus

How to grow asparagus from seeds

If you already have an old asparagus bush, you can propagate it by dividing the rhizome. But it is better to buy the seeds of a vegetable variety bred specifically for large and tasty shoots. There is one peculiarity in growing asparagus from seeds - for many gardeners, it germinates slowly or does not germinate at all. Moreover, a negative result is observed with different sowing methods: in autumn in open ground, in spring in a greenhouse, in early spring in pots for seedlings. But success can be achieved by drawing on the experience of those who have managed to get small sprouts of asparagus.

Asparagus seeds are about the size of radish or radish seeds

Germinating seeds in the sand

This method allows both seeds to germinate and seedlings to be obtained. Start sowing in early March. You will need:

• seeds;
• plastic disposable container with a lid;
• river sand of any fraction, you can not take construction with clay.

If the sand is damp, with a moldy or rotten smell, bake it in the oven or on the grill. When steam comes out of the sand, it means that it has heated up to 100 ⁰C, disinfection was successful. Let this soil cool down and start sowing.

To plant asparagus seeds, you will need: an empty plastic container, sand and seeds

Stages of planting asparagus in the sand:

1. Pour dry sand into a plastic container in a layer of 5–7 mm.

   Dry sand is poured into an empty container with a layer of 5-7 mm

2. Water so that the sand is moist but not flooded. If overflowed, add dry sand.

   Dry sand is watered, but not abundantly

3. Spread the asparagus seeds on the surface 1–2 cm apart.

   Spread the seeds superficially at a short distance from each other

4. Submerge the seeds halfway in the sand, but do not fully submerge them.

   Slightly sink the seeds into wet sand with a spoon

5. Place a lid on the container or place it in a plastic bag. Place anywhere in the room, no light is needed to sprout asparagus.

   Cover the seed container with a lid and leave at room temperature

6. If the sand dries up for some reason, moisten it.
7. The first shoots appear in about a week. Open the container and transfer it to a sunny windowsill.

   The seeds will begin to germinate in a week, and in two they will be ready for picking.

The traditional method involves sowing in the ground with burial. As a result of watering, the seeds go to different depths, so the seedlings do not appear together. The first to germinate are those that are closer to the surface. The latter may appear in a month or even die, because as a result of the picking of already grown asparagus, you may not notice and damage the seeds that hatch later.

Benefits of shallow seeding:

1. All seeds are in equal conditions, at the same depth, so they germinate almost simultaneously.
2. The whole process of germination takes place before your eyes: swelling of seeds, the appearance of rudiments of roots and shoots, shoots, their growth.
3. Even if some plants are ahead of others in development, you can carefully transplant them without damaging the rest of the seeds, since they are clearly visible on the surface.

Video: planting seeds without prior germination

Picking

It is necessary to dive asparagus shoots when they close and begin to press and shade each other. Can be transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 5–6 cm or into a common seedling box so that each plant receives a nutritional area of ​​5x5 cm. Asparagus loves loose and fertile soil. Make a mixture of garden soil with peat and humus in equal proportions. You can buy ready-made universal soil for seedlings in the store.

Carry out the pick in the usual way: gently pry with a spoon or fork, remove the spine along with a lump of earth, make a hole in a new container and plant. The sprouts can be buried a little.

The roots of asparagus seedlings are large and strong, often reaching the same length as the aerial part, therefore, the cups for picking need deep

Don't worry if the seedlings stretch out and lie on the ground. This is the peculiarity of asparagus, its branches are long and thin. Once transplanted into open ground, the plants will quickly grow into small, lush bushes.

Seedling care at home

Asparagus shoots appear in mid-March, and they can be planted in open ground in the middle lane when the threat of frost has passed, that is, in late May - early June. This means that the seedlings will be on the windowsill for 70–80 days. This is a rather long period, so indoor plants will need full care.

1. Watering should be done sparingly, after the topsoil dries out. Asparagus does not need constant soil moisture, its leaves are like needles, which minimizes moisture evaporation. The root is long, capable of pumping water from the very depth of the pot.
2. Give the first feeding 1-2 weeks after the pick and repeat every 10 days. Fertika Lux complex fertilizer is ideal for seedlings (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water). Remember: it is better to underfeed any plant than to overfeed, do not exceed the dosage, it is better to take less fertilizer.
3. Asparagus loves sunlight, but it grows well in partial shade or in places where the sun shines brightly only part of the day. Therefore, no backlight is needed. On the windowsill, turn it with different sides to the window glass every day. With the onset of warm days, take seedlings to the balcony or open windows. Be sure to keep the plants warm at night.

After planting in open ground, continue caring for the asparagus: fill the soil with humus, water, weed out. After 2-3 years, you will be able to enjoy the first sweet shoots. Asparagus is fried like potatoes, boiled and eaten raw.

Video: a delicious and simple asparagus dish

Asparagus is a very interesting plant, in spring you can eat its shoots, in summer and autumn - decorate bouquets with them.The culture is unpretentious in care, it is very easy to get seeds. Therefore, gardeners have no barriers to growing this royal vegetable.

My hobbies: plant growing, healthy lifestyle, Tibetan medicine, home winemaking. Merchandise expert by education.

This plant, whose scientific name is asparagus, is a very popular vegetable and has more than two hundred varieties. It can be grass, shrub and vegetable, which is one of the healthiest and most delicious foods.

How does asparagus grow?

Most often on sale there are white, purple and green vegetable asparagus... Moreover, the way it is grown completely affects the taste and color of the product.

To obtain white shoots, they are constantly spud and protected from sunlight. If the sprouts are covered with earth gradually, leaving them in the sun, then the tops of the plant acquire a bright purple hue. Green asparagus is grown outdoors without hilling.

The shoots of this plant contain folic, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, choline, copper, thiamine, iron, niacin, potassium, manganese, magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus and selenium, trace elements vital to the human body.

The most common cultivation in Russia is the Argentel asparagus. This plant has many attractive characteristics. It contains a large amount of useful amino acids and vitamins, essential elements in the diet. Argentel asparagus is able to bear fruit for almost two decades, has male and female stems. The main disadvantage of this variety is this is the minimum thickness of the shoots.

Same

Gallery: asparagus vegetable (25 photos)

What does asparagus look like?

This is a perennial herb, up to 1.5 m high, which grows calmly in one place, forming more than 50 shoots.

Young shoots of asparagus are eatenthat just emerged from the ground. If buds begin to bloom on the shoot, the asparagus becomes tough and unusable. One plant produces 9 - 12 shoots per season, which explains the high cost of this vegetable.

Where does asparagus grow?

Asparagus is a dioecious, unpretentious and cold-resistant plant. It grows well throughout Europe, in Asia, Africa and even Siberia.

In the home gardens of our country, a plant asparagus is a rare guest, but growing it in our climate is quite simple. She prefers sunny locations and fertile weed-free soil.

How to grow asparagus from seeds

Growing asparagus from seeds in the open field takes a long time, so it is preferable to germinate the seedlings first.

Before planting asparagus seeds needs to be soaked in warm water about 3-4 days, while changing the water twice a day. Then the swollen seeds must be laid out on a damp cloth and wait until borings hatch from them.

The seedling soil should consist of two parts of sand, one part of fertile land, peat and manure. Seeds with bores up to 3 mm are planted in prepared boxes to a depth of 1.5 - 2 cm and six centimeters apart. The boxes are left in a well-lit place at temperatures up to 25 C. Plants require daily watering.

Compliance with these conditions guarantees the emergence of seedlings 7-10 days after planting. The sprouts that have appeared should be sprinkled with peat a little, and after two weeks they should be fed with complex mineral fertilizer.

When the sprouts reach 15 cm, they need to be transplanted into a large box at a distance of 10 cm from each other. When picking, you need to shorten the asparagus root a little and feed the plants 3 to 4 days after the procedure. After a week, you need to start hardening activities and only after that the asparagus can remain outdoors.

How to grow asparagus outdoors?

In open ground the plant must be planted in early June, preferably closer to the wall of the house or fence. She does not tolerate waterlogging, so you need to carefully choose a place for her planting.

It is better to prepare the area for planting asparagus in the fall. Thoroughly clear it of weeds, dig up and add compost. In the spring, after the snow melts, the site must be harrowed and 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 60 g of wood ash should be added for each m2.

Before planting, in a clean, dug and loose earth, make holes 30 cm deep and 40 cm wide at a distance of one meter from each other. The bottom of the hole must be loosened and filled to the edge with soil. On the formed mound, you need to install a seedling, shorten its root to 3-4 cm, compact and water.

Care and cultivation of asparagus

Asparagus is not a very capricious plant to care for... It is enough to water, loosen, weed and feed it on time. It is important not to harm the root system of the plant when loosening and weeding.

The first ten days after planting, the asparagus is watered abundantly daily. Then the amount of water is gradually reduced, while the soil should always remain slightly moist so that the shoots do not become bitter.

To accelerate the growth of shoots, after the first weeding, you need to water the plant with a manure solution (1: 6). After 20 days, it can be fed with a solution of bird droppings (1:10). Before the first frost, the last dressing is applied, which consists of a complex mineral fertilizer.

How to grow asparagus in the garden - diseases and pests

This plant is quite resistant to diseases, therefore it becomes popular in the gardens of our country, but also its from time to time amaze:

• Root rot (fusarium) is the most harmful disease affecting numerous plant species. It appears on asparagus, for the same reasons as rust.
• Rust is a common fungal disease that inhibits plant development. The disease usually affects a vegetable growing in areas with poorly absorbing soil moisture, in places where groundwater is high and during the season of frequent rains.
• Rhizoctonia is often a root vegetable disease that rarely affects asparagus.

Asparagus growing, in a private garden is rarely exposed to an invasion of pests, but it still has a couple of enemies:

• The asparagus leaf beetle, which was brought from Western Europe along with this plant. It is a dark blue beetle with a red border along the back, which feeds on berries, flowers and vegetable tops.
• The asparagus fly is a small brown insect with yellow limbs, actively eating asparagus shoots and making moves in them, thereby destroying the plant.

Rid this culture of disease spring and autumn preventive spraying with Bordeaux liquid and other fungicides - Fitosporin, Topaz, Topsin M.

In the fight against insects, an excellent effect is obtained by treating the plant with Karbofos (a low-toxic, odorless preparation). They process asparagus with it at the first appearance of pests, and when egg-laying is found, they need to be removed and burned. Weeds should not be allowed to appear in the place where asparagus grows, and dead parts of the shoots of the plant itself should be destroyed.

Harvesting

The first 3-5 years from a plot of asparagus can be harvested up to 2 kg per square meter of land, in subsequent years this figure will grow to 5 kg. The yield will increase if you apply organic fertilizers to the soil annually and increase the amount of land during hilling.

The first shoots are cut only in the third year of growing the vegetable in one place. Previously, you should not do this so that the rhizome can get stronger. Shoots from the tilled soil up to 20 cm in height begin to be cut in May, for which the earth is carefully raked off and small stumps are left. After cutting, the rhizome should be covered with humus or peat compost.

When harvesting asparagus it is important to cut off the shoots before their heads open.Harvesting takes place about one and a half months, in the morning or in the evening after one or two days. In the first year allowed for collection, no more than 5 shoots must be removed from one bush, and as the plants mature, their number will increase to 30.

Storage

This vegetable cannot be stored for a long time. The shoots are wrapped in a damp cloth and left in the refrigerator. Asparagus perfectly absorbs foreign odors, so it should not be kept next to strong-smelling foods. The shoots must be laid strictly vertically, in a different position they are strongly curved.

Reproduction

To do this, in early spring, the rhizome of the plant is dug up not older than three years and cut into several parts so that each division has five to six developed buds.

The most valuable are small but resilient thick roots with a well-developed horizontal structure. Delenki are immediately planted in a permanent place and then grown as seedlings after transplantation.

Distillation

In winter, asparagus is obtained by forcing shoots from rhizomes. For this purpose, plants over five years old are dug up before the onset of frost and stored at a temperature of 0 to 2 degrees. The plant is planted in boxes or a greenhouse tightly to each other (15-20 roots per square meter) and a layer of humus is poured on top.

Forcing begins in November-December. The boxes must be covered with black foil and the temperature regime must be maintained no higher than 10 degrees for 8-10 days. After the formation of roots, you need to raise the temperature to 18 degrees.

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The genus of plants Asparagus or Asparagus belongs to the asparagus family and has more than 300 species. In the wild, Asparagus can be found in the European part of Russia and the Caucasus, most often in arid regions. The plant is cultivated in Western Europe, Japan, India, USA, China. There was a time when asparagus belonged to the lily family, but now it has its own asparagus family.

Asparagus is a perennial plant. Outwardly, it is branched grasses and shrubs, and sometimes lianas. Asparagus has a very developed root system.

Description

Asparagus has highly branched stems that can grow to one and a half meters high. Most plants lack green leaves, and those that do have them tend to grow underdeveloped and very small.

At their base, the leaves form hard spurs. There are very small flowers, which are usually concentrated in the axils of the leaves. Flowers grow in thyroid or racemose inflorescences.

Asparagus flowers can be either unisexual or bisexual. The flowers have six petals arranged in two rows.

In indoor conditions, it is most often found Common asparagus... In vegetable gardens, they are also planted in the form of a vegetable, and are also often used in drawing up bouquets of flowers. This species was discovered over 2000 years ago.

In the days of Ancient Egypt, asparagus was grown as a vegetable, used for medicinal purposes, or just as an ornamental plant. The roots of Asparagus vulgaris are very rich in nutrientsincluding vitamin C.

Now let's take a closer look at how to grow Asparagus at home and outdoors.

Growing asparagus: how to grow asparagus from seeds, planting and care

The easiest way to plant Asparagus is planting seeds... These seeds can be purchased at any specialty store. Asparagus seeds are large enough, and sowing them will not cause any difficulties.

Asparagus is planted in early spring. The seeds are sown in light moist soil. The substrate should consist of equal parts of fertile soil and sand. The seeds are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. Then the container is covered from above with glass or transparent film. The container with the seeded Asparagus is removed to a room with room temperature and sufficient light.If excess condensation appears on the glass, then the glass must be removed for a short time. The first shoots of Asparagus will be visible in a month.

Location and lighting at home

Asparagus - very light-loving plant, so he prefers a fairly lit place. However, it is worth avoiding direct sunlight on the plant. In particular, this applies to the summer period, when the day is especially long.

A pot of Asparagus will do well on the east and west side. If the plant is placed on the south side, then it necessary shade and create diffused lighting to avoid direct sunlight. In summer, Asparagus can be taken out into the open air, also placed in partial shade.

Pot size

Pot size for Asparagus directly depends on the type of plant. If the plant was purchased in a store, then it is better to immediately transplant it into a new pot. But so that it does not differ much in size from the previous one, so you should not pick up a pot for Asparagus with a margin.

Otherwise, it can lead to acidification of the soil and death of the plant. The shape of the pot is also irrelevant. This most often depends on where the Asparagus will be located or on decorative preferences. Some types of Asparagus look very attractive in:

• hanging pots;
• miniature pots on windowsills;
• large pots standing on the floor.

Growing soil

Asparagus is very unpretentious in terms of soil. Part of the land can be taken from a vegetable garden or garden, add a part of deciduous soil, which can be taken in a forest or park. A little coarse sand can be added to the mixture, which will give the substrate fragmentation.

This soil mix provides Asparagus with all necessary nutrients, and promotes moisture and air to circulate freely. It will be very nice if you put a thin layer of pieces on the bottom of the pot charcoal... This will prevent the process of rotting in the soil and the development of fungal diseases. Thus, adherence to the composition of the soil will significantly affect the health of the plant.

Transplant and care after it

Before proceeding with the transplant, necessary prepare a new pot and soil in advance. Then the Asparagus is carefully removed from the container without damaging the root system. You can knock on the sides of the pot, turn it over and carefully remove the earthen lump.

If, after such a procedure, the plant is still difficult to remove, then it is necessary to water the soil so that it becomes very wet. A small stone or expanded clay is poured into the bottom of the new pot as drainage, which will allow the water to drain freely in the water and not stagnate in the pot.

Next, a layer of substrate is poured into the pot. At Asparagus carefully the root system is examined, I remove the damaged roots. The old soil is shaken off from the roots. The plant is then placed in a new pot, gently spreading out the root system. Soil is gradually poured from above. You cannot accept the soil, but you should not leave air voids. The final stage of the transplant will be watering Asparagus warm infused water. After transplanting, the plant must be placed in a shaded place for a couple of days.

Fertilizers and top dressing are the key to successful cultivation

Care and cultivation of asparagus also requires regular feeding... During the intensive growth of Asparagus during irrigation in water, it is necessary to add concentrated fertilizers. The frequency with which it is worth feeding the plant depends on the time of year and the state of Asparagus itself.

Plants usually start feed in early spring, and finish feeding in late autumn. In winter, when the dormant period for Asparagus comes, it is not recommended to feed the plant, and the watering itself should be reduced. In the summer, when Asparagus is outside, it can be fed with organic fertilizers.Chicken droppings work well.

It is also worth remembering that you should not feed Asparagus for the first two months after transplantation. During feeding it is necessary strictly observe the concentration, following the instructions on the package, otherwise you can burn the root system of the plant.

The main pest of Asparaguslike most houseplants, the spider mite is. If you do not start fighting the parasite in time, then it can destroy the plant. This pest multiplies quite quickly. To do this, he needs a high temperature. The spider mite feeds on the sap of the plant. It mostly hides on the back of the leaves.

The first sign of presence spider mite will change the color of the leaves of Asparagus. They will turn yellow and dry out a little. A small cobweb can be seen between the leaves. Small white cotton spots also appear on the leaves of the plant.

When attacked by a pest, the leaves of Asparagus must be wiped soapy water... If this method no longer helps, then you can turn to insecticides for help. But it is worth remembering that Asparagus does not tolerate chemical treatment well, therefore it is best to avoid contamination of the plant with a spider mite, observing the conditions of the temperature regime.

Growing asparagus outdoors

But what about planting and growing Asparagus outdoors?

• When to plant outdoors? Planting asparagus outdoors should be done in early June. In the open field, the plant will feel great in well-lit and calm places, it is advisable to plant it near walls or a fence.
• Since asparagus does not like waterlogging of the soil, it should not be planted in places where groundwater is high. The choice of a place for planting asparagus in open ground must be approached as responsibly as possible, since this culture can grow in one place for up to 25 years.
• How to choose a soil? The optimal soil for asparagus is a mixture of rich and fertile sandy loam soil. The area for planting asparagus in the open field must be prepared in the fall. First of all, the site must be cleared of weeds and dug to a depth of 50 cm with the introduction of compost, superphosphate and potassium sulfate. In the spring, when the snow melts, this area must be harrowed with the simultaneous introduction of ammonium nitrate and wood ash per square meter.
• How to plant asparagus outdoors? Before planting asparagus in the open ground in the prepared area, it is necessary to make holes on it with a depth of 30 cm and a width of 40 cm. The holes should be at a distance of 1 m from each other. The soil in the groove is loosened to a depth of 20 cm.
• After that, a pile of loose soil can be poured onto the bottom of the hole so high that it reaches the edges of the hole. An asparagus seedling is planted on the resulting mound, but it is necessary to first shorten its root to 3 cm, then fill the hole with soil, compact it well, then water it. When the water is absorbed into the soil, the hole must be mulched with dry soil.

Bloom

Whatever the care and maintenance, at home it is very hard achieve flowering of Asparagus, even if all the necessary conditions are met. But if it is possible to achieve the flowering of the plant, then the flowers look rather inconspicuous.

Outwardly, these are very small white flowersthat are formed on the upper segment of the shoots. After some time, after artificial pollination, the flowers are formed into small red fruits, with a scent reminiscent of an orange. It is worth avoiding getting these berries into the hands of young children, because the fruits of Asparagus are poisonous.

Reproduction

There are three main ways to breed asparagus:

• Division of the bush. This method is best used in the spring when transplanting the plant.Depending on the size of the Asparagus, it can be divided into several parts, each of which must be planted in a separate pot. Dividing the bush is less traumatic for the entire plant as a whole.
• Cuttings. Propagation by cuttings must be done in early spring. The cuttings must be at least 10 cm long. River sand is used to root the shoot. The container in which the cutting is planted must be covered with plastic wrap in order to retain as much moisture as possible. Then the plant is placed in a room with a temperature of at least 20 degrees. With this method, asparagus takes root in a month, after which it is transplanted into a separate pot.
• Asparagus fruits produce seeds. Seed collection must be done between January and March. Sowing seeds is necessary immediately after harvesting. The seeds are sown into the soil from peat and river sand. The container with the sown seeds is covered with a transparent film and placed in a room with a temperature of at least 22 degrees. A month later, new seedlings appear, which must be transplanted into a separate pot in June.

Dormant period

The dormant period for Asparagus is from November to early March. At this time, the plant must be provided with sufficient air humidity, as well as reduce watering. Feed the plant during the dormant period no need.

Plant toxicity / beneficial properties

Asparagus berries are poisonous, so the plant should be placed farther or higher so that its fruits are not available to young children.

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