In what month is asparagus sown. Proper care - a good harvest

Every spring, when weeding the asparagus plantation from the gouts impudently climbing there, I find thick, fat young shoots of asparagus in these thickets. I break them out to use in the kitchen, but they don’t reach the pan, because I eat them here
same. Juicy, sweet, tender - in early spring nothing tastes better.

I remembered my attempt to buy a bunch of skinny shoots of asparagus at the supermarket. They arrived there from abroad. The cost is exorbitant. I had to cancel my purchase.

The beauty of its asparagus is that it appears in the garden immediately after winter, at a time when we are hungry for vitamins, and there is nothing in the garden yet. Unless the onion begins to turn green - a batun or a multi-tiered one.

Now it seems surprising that in our country asparagus was grown only to decorate bouquets. Only before the revolution, it was sometimes served at the master's table. Meanwhile, it is the most useful dietary vegetable. It contains many vitamins, especially group B, minerals, the essential amino acid asparagine, and many other useful things for the body. Lowers blood pressure, normalizes the work of the heart, dilates peripheral vessels, improves liver function. It is useful for diseases of the kidneys, liver, gout, diabetes, etc. Abroad, all this has long been studied and now asparagus is intensively bred in Europe and the USA.

Asparagus can be successfully grown here as well. Asparagus plants are perennial, can grow in one place for more than 20 years. I have bushes in my garden for more than 25 years, every year they “blow out” up to 2 m. I never covered them with anything, I didn’t always cut them off even for the winter. And nothing - they grow, and our frosts are not terrible for them. Bushes hibernated even in winters with little snow.

What does asparagus love?

The methods of growing asparagus for bouquets and for food are somewhat different. Bouquets are easy. They planted it where it will look beautiful - and it grows. And so that you can feast on tender shoots, and so that there are many of them, you need to create conditions for the plants. And these conditions are:

1. Loose nutritious, preferably sandy, soil. On poor soil, the shoots will turn out to be rough and skinny.
2. Invalid acidic soil, asparagus does not like even a little acidity.
3. Good soil moisture, otherwise the shoots will be bitter and hard.

For planting, you need to choose a sunny place, but a slight shadow is acceptable. Close groundwater is excluded. When planting, you need to consider that the asparagus root system is very well developed and mostly lies in the soil close to the surface, but individual roots can go very deep. The rhizome annually grows from above and dies from below, as a result of which, over time, the bush and the root system rise up to the soil surface. That is why asparagus bushes must be mulched annually.

Growing asparagus from seed

Asparagus is usually grown from seed. Seeds can be sown on seedlings at home in March-April or in a warm place specially allocated in the garden. In this case best term sowing in Leningrad region- the first decade of June. To speed up the emergence of seedlings before sowing, the seeds are soaked for 2-3 days, changing the water daily, then placed on a damp cloth on a saucer for 7-8 days until the seeds hatch. Then the hatched seeds are sown in a prepared place to a depth of 3 cm in rows with a distance of 20 cm between them, and between plants in a row - 5 cm. If you sow at home, then each seed must be planted in its own pot. Immediately after the emergence of seedlings in the garden, they are thinned out, leaving a distance of 15-20 cm. You should not leave the thinning procedure for later, because the roots of the plants grow strongly, and it will be very difficult to pull them out of the ground without disturbing neighboring plants.

Seedling care is weeding, fertilizing, loosening the soil. In dry weather, watering is required. Feed immediately after germination with ammonium nitrate, and 3 weeks after the first, a second top dressing with slurry is done.

By the fall of the first year, well-groomed seedlings have 2-3 stems and a well-developed root system. For winter, plantings are mulched with a layer of peat or compost. At the same time, they begin to prepare the soil for planting seedlings on permanent place.

Soil preparation

For good growth and active shoot formation, all rhizomes of perennial weeds must be removed from the planting site. The soil needs to be loosened to a depth of 30-40 cm. Then deoxidize it with lime or chalk to an almost neutral reaction. For each future plant, add 3-4 shovels of rotted manure or compost or a bucket for each square meter plantings, add complete mineral fertilizer - according to the instructions for it.

If there are many plants, then a ditch is dug to plant them. If there are few seedlings, then there is a more convenient planting option - this is to dig a hole for each plant with a diameter and depth of up to 40 cm. Put a layer of 15-20 cm of humus on its bottom, pour a pile of garden soil 10 cm high on it. Place a plant on this pile , spread the roots along it, cover them with a layer of soil with humus and fertilizers 5-7 cm thick. As the shoots grow, this layer is increased to the edges of the dug hole.

Planting seedlings in a permanent place

In the spring of next year, seedlings are planted in a permanent place. If the plants are weak, then you can leave them in the seedling bed until the fall of next year. By this time at good nutrition they will have time to bloom, and it will be possible to select among them male or female specimens - whoever likes what.

Asparagus - dioecious plant: male and female flowers located most often on different individuals. Male plants are more developed, they grow more stems than female ones, but they are thinner and coarser. Male plants are more precocious than female ones. Female plants produce thick shoots, but in a small amount but they are very soft. The yield of shoots from a bed of male plants alone is much greater than from a bed with mixed crops. The number of male and female plants when sowing seeds is approximately the same. Berries are formed on female specimens.

The best time for transplanting seedlings to a permanent place in our area is the first half of May. You can plant in the second half of August. When planting in a permanent place, you need to remember that we plant plants for 15-20 years, and over time they will grow strongly. Therefore, planting should not be thickened, but left between the bushes 35-50 cm.

In the first two years after planting in a permanent place, plants are spudded 2-3 times during the summer, fed with mineral and organic fertilizers, weeded, loosened the soil. For the winter, the stems are cut, the soil is loosened and mulched with compost or humus.

Reproduction of asparagus by dividing the bush

You can propagate asparagus by dividing the bush. At the excavated bush, the rhizome is cut with a knife into divisions (they are clearly visible), which are planted in a permanent place in the same way as seedlings. Do it in the spring. next spring plants spud to a height of 25-30 cm (or throw a pile of hay on them). When the tops of the head appear, the shoots are cut off and carried to the kitchen. Thus, when propagating asparagus by dividing the bush, we save a couple of years compared to the seed method.

There are recommendations in the literature to plant delenki in the fall. In autumn, this method is not always successful, because delenki sometimes die in winter, especially if they are taken from bushes not of their first youth. I have autumn plantings often died, so I'm afraid to recommend them.

Harvest

Harvesting of shoots can be started in the 3rd year after sowing. Shoots covered with humus or highly heaped up grow white color. Such shoots grow only in the dark. They are called bleached, or etiolated. Usually in the spring, plants are deliberately highly spud precisely for the purpose of bleaching. I manage to get bleached shoots easier: in the spring I throw heaps of hay or mowed weeds on asparagus bushes that have not yet awakened. Then I remove the hay and cut off the shoots that have grown under it.

After emerging into the light, the shoots turn green, over time they become woody. Green shoots do not spud and are harvested at a length of 15-18 cm, when they have a dense head. In fact, green shoots are richer in chemical composition than bleached ones, but they are coarser and, for my taste, worse than white ones. The most delicious and fragrant part of the shoot is its head.

Shoots are cut as needed. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots with the kidneys. The youngest bushes are harvested within 2-3 weeks. In older bushes, this pleasure can be stretched for a month and a half. Then the asparagus is fed with mineral fertilizer. After that, the plant is given complete freedom to grow and the opportunity to make food supplies for the next season. It is imperative to feed the asparagus, otherwise it will quickly deplete. Once every 3-4 years should be given organic fertilizer, best rotted manure. For several years now, instead of manure, several times during the summer I have been mulching plantings with mowed and chopped grass from a lawn mower, I first put full mineral fertilizer under a layer of grass, and embed it in the soil. The asparagus feels great. Sometimes I add rotted manure to the mulch, if I can get it, or compost.

Usually in our region the first harvest is ready in the second half of May. Under film cover, you can get a crop even earlier, but it all depends on the weather.

Cut asparagus shoots quickly lose their quality, so it is recommended to cook them within an hour after cutting. If it is not possible to cook the shoots right away, they can be packed in plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days, or place in the freezer and store much longer. Asparagus can be eaten raw and used in salads, soups, and numerous other dishes. In addition, shoots can be preserved.

Garden affairs №7(60) 2012

Asparagus is one of the most delicious and healthy vegetable crops, but the cost of the product is not always affordable. Therefore, it is worth knowing how to grow it yourself.

The plant has many attractive properties, the presence of a large number of amino acids and vitamins makes it indispensable in the diet. In addition, the first crop can be harvested as early as April, so the crop is an early product.

Doctors recommend using this vegetable for diseases of the kidneys and vascular system. Because it contains substances that have a diuretic and blood-purifying effect. Young, green shoots are suitable for food. As soon as the leaf buds open, the plant becomes unfit for food due to density. Then asparagus is used in decorative purposes – flower arrangements often decorated with Christmas trees with orange berries.

Culture features

If we consider the main varieties of asparagus, then two types are offered for cultivation - royal and Arzhentel. The first type is characterized by high yield. Shoots of asparagus grow in mid-late May. The product of the second type is characterized by tender pulp and pleasant taste.

The plant also has a division into male and female specimens. A feature of the first is productivity, the second is the softness of the trunk, they are much tastier. Asparagus is a perennial crop, a full-fledged crop is obtained only in the fourth year after planting. With proper care and regular tillage, up to 15 harvests can be obtained per season, while the duration of fruiting is about 20 years.

In the photo you can find green asparagus, or the so-called soup. Culture is common due to ease of care and unique properties. It is rich in nutrients, contains much more B vitamins compared to bleached asparagus. So this species used for cooking first courses and side dishes.

Planting a green variety is carried out in shallow grooves so that the buds of the top do not reach the surface of the earth by 8 cm. The soil should not be cold, of normal acidity. Shoots that have reached a length of 20-25 cm are cut off with a depth of 2 cm. The finished product is stored in the refrigerator.

Argentelle asparagus is difficult to grow from seed on your own, requiring a lot of space to ensure proper development. During the season, one copy gives 9-12 shoots, which is only enough to prepare two servings of a side dish. The high cost of the vegetable is due to the need for large areas for cultivation, manual harvesting and a short shelf life of the product.

plant requirements

In order to ensure the growth of asparagus from seeds, it is necessary to prepare the soil. The plant grows well in dry climates. It is important to fertilize the soil with manure in the autumn, and use compost in the spring. If the soil is characterized hyperacidity, then liming is carried out. Directly in the process of planting the culture, superphosphate and potassium salt are used.

Growing asparagus from seeds can take place in two ways:

• in open ground;
• beforehand in greenhouse conditions.

The first option is carried out in late April - early May. Then the soil is carefully prepared, for which humus, ash with superphosphate are placed in the dug grooves. The next layer should be manure, foliage and sod. After instillation of fertilizer, the earth is loosened. Asparagus is sown in such soil, for which the prepared grains are deepened by 3 cm, while the distance between specimens must be at least 5 cm.

The second situation allows you to create the most suitable conditions for the nascent sprout, then growing asparagus from seeds is most effective. With the help of greenhouse conditions, you can correct the lack of light or the presence of drafts. Therefore, indoor cultivation is often carried out by residents of the northern regions. But, as a rule, the greenhouse serves only as a place for obtaining seedlings, and mature plants are transplanted into already prepared grooves.

Seed preparation and planting

At the end of February, asparagus seeds are soaked in warm water- this will speed up the period of germination of the culture. Water temperature must be controlled optimal indicator+ 30̊ C. Soak specimens for five days, while changing the water daily. Next, the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth, constantly wetted. In a week, sprouts should appear.

After planting, the second period of plant development begins - in a month, asparagus should stretch 10-15 cm. It is important to regularly water and loosen the soil. In addition, you will have to thin out the plants when they reach a length of 15 cm. As a result, only strong and healthy sprouts are left, the distance between specimens is taken 15 cm.

When growing asparagus with seeds on a windowsill, you need to plant a couple of seeds in peat pots. It is important to turn the seedlings towards the light in different directions, then the specimens develop normally. Approximately in the middle of May, the sprouts reach a length of 15 cm, they are transplanted to a permanent place. After that, to get the first harvest, you will have to take care of the plant for two years.

Planting asparagus seeds can be carried out under the film - this will speed up the process of plant development. To do this, in early April, frames are placed on top of the asparagus, on which polyethylene is stretched. Due to this, the soil warms up quickly, thaws. Then the plant begins to grow. With proper care, the harvest is obtained earlier, by about 10 days. When Environment warm up average daily temperature reaches +10̊ С, the film is removed.

Shoots are formed in a month, in May they begin to be cut. After the ends of the head reach the edge of the comb, the asparagus must be harvested. To do this, they dig out each shoot, cut it off special knife at the base. In this case, it is important not to damage nearby instances. Then the comb is again filled with the removed earth, compacted.

Shoots are cut every 2 days, in the first fertile year, the collection lasts 20 days, in the next - 1.5 months. At the same time, in order to preserve the fertility of asparagus for 3 years, a maximum of 5 shoots are removed from one plant, in the future it is allowed to increase their number to 16 pieces.

The harvested crop is sorted, be sure to cut off the ends. To keep the original palatability and appearance culture must be stored in a refrigerator at t 0-2̊ C.

It is easy to care for seedlings, it is enough to water and loosen the ground. Young plants are fed immediately after the first weeding either with mullein (it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:6) or ammonium nitrate (20 g per 1 m2). During the summer, the same compositions are used for top dressing, only 40 g of superphosphate is added per bucket of fertilizer.

To conserve plants cold period the surface of the soil is covered with rotted manure or straw compost. With proper care, seedlings should be healthy, have a developed root system and 5-7 shoots.

After transplanting asparagus during the summer, the earth is loosened only 2-3 times, regularly weeded and watered. If necessary, treat the area from pests. The same top dressing as in the case of seedlings will help accelerate the growth of plants. late autumn the stem is cut at the root, burned with pathogens. Humus or compost is poured into the remaining furrows with a layer of 5-8 cm.

In the second year after the shoots rise above ground level, scatter saltpeter and level the site, removing the soil from the row spacing into the furrows. The remaining space can be planted with a compacting crop. It could be vegetable beans or celery. Due to the characteristics of these crops, the soil is additionally enriched with beneficial bacteria. In autumn, the stem is again completely cut off and burned, and the soil is covered with humus.

In the third year, in the spring, ridges up to 30 cm high are arranged in the direction of the rows. To accurately determine the location of the asparagus, it is necessary to drive pegs in advance at the beginning and end of the furrow. Furrows spud, picking up the earth from the aisles. It is important to compact the soil a little, then in the places of cracks that appear on the surface there will be shoots ready for harvesting.

Once every 3 years, lime or chalk is added to the soil, then manure should be replaced with composted peat.

Pest protection

Before you grow asparagus from seeds, you should know the main asparagus lesions. The enemies of this culture are:

• spores of the fungus, after which the plant turns yellow and fades. Then it is worth immediately removing the infected shoots and burning them;
• an asparagus fly that lays eggs on the scales of sprouts in spring. After maturation, the larvae gnaw the shoots, they become unsuitable for consumption. In the case of young plantations, it is necessary to treat the area with chlorophos or sevin. And it is important to remove and burn damaged plants in time;
• beetles that can be harvested by hand. To do this, water is poured into a small container, and living creatures are thrown from the escape. After cutting the shoots, the plant is pollinated with pyrethrum.

"The master's vegetable" - that was the name of asparagus in pre-revolutionary Russia. Dishes from white or greenish young shoots were so expensive that only a wealthy person could afford to order French asparagus with sauce in a restaurant. Despite the ease of cultivation, delicate taste and a rich set of trace elements and vitamins, asparagus is still not popular with gardeners in our country. Although many grow asparagus - as an ornamental plant. Everyone knows the openwork twigs with needle-like leaves and bright red berries. This is the pharmacy asparagus, which I ate myself Louis XIV, the famous "Sun King".

Planting asparagus during cultivation: a, b - green shoots, c, d - leaded shoots.

You can grow asparagus on the site from seeds and root layers. Flaw vegetative way in that when buying rhizomes on the market, as a rule, neither the variety nor the condition of the plant is known. Therefore, gardeners should prefer growing asparagus from seeds purchased at a specialized store. Rice. one.

For decorative purposes, mainly female plants are grown, in which spring shoots are thinner and smaller.

Preparing seedling beds

A well-lit, sun-warmed area is suitable for growing young plants. The soil for sowing seeds or planting seedlings is prepared in the spring:

• per 1 sq.m. scatter up to 10 kg of humus or compost, adding about 100 g of complex fertilizer for vegetable crops and 0.3-0.5 kg of chalk or sand;
• the ridge is dug up, removing the rhizomes of perennial weeds;
• the surface of the soil is carefully harrowed and leveled.

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How to sow asparagus seeds

This can be done in 2 ways:

• sowing directly on the ridges;
• sowing in pots for growing seedlings.

1 way. Asparagus seeds are sown in well-warmed soil, in the last decade of May - early June. Shoots usually appear in 20-30 days. To speed up the germination of seeds, they must be soaked in warm water (up to 40 ° C) before sowing and put the container for 3-4 days in a warm place (25-28 ° C)), making sure that the moisture does not evaporate. After that, the seeds are placed between layers of wet paper and kept warm for another week, keeping the paper moist, covering it with a film on top or placing it in a plastic bag. Sprouted seeds are carefully sown on the garden bed, planting to a depth of no more than 2 cm. Seeds prepared in this way can sprout as early as 7-10 days.

The 2nd method makes it possible to sow seeds 3-4 weeks earlier and plant seedlings that have already grown stronger on the ridge, having received young plants more prepared for wintering by autumn. To grow seedlings, it is necessary to soak and germinate the seeds, as for sowing in the ground. They should be sown in seedling cassettes or small containers (100 ml) in such a way that the plants can be removed together with a clod of earth for transplantation. Small peat pots are convenient for growing seedlings of asparagus.

Harvesting leaded asparagus shoots; a) with a knife, b) with breaking out.

The soil is prepared from fertile soil, peat, humus and sand in proportions of 2:1:1:1, respectively. Before planting on the ridges, the seedlings are gradually accustomed to sunlight and hardened by taking the pots outside. Planted on the ridges in the 1st-2nd decade of June.

Further care consists in watering, loosening the soil and weeding. When sown in the ground, seedlings may turn out to be somewhat thickened, so they will have to be thinned out, leaving the most developed specimens at a distance of 15 cm from each other.

Top dressing is carried out about a month after the emergence of seedlings or planting seedlings in the ground, using 1 sq.m. 20 g ammonium nitrate diluted in a bucket of water. During the growing season, top dressing is repeated every month, adding 40 g of superphosphate to the saltpeter solution.

In order for the plants to successfully overwinter, especially in areas with little snow cover, before the onset of frost, the ridges with asparagus must be covered with rotted manure or compost. In the same autumn, care should be taken to prepare the beds for planting asparagus in a permanent place.

The following spring, young asparagus plants are dug up, selecting well-developed bushes with 5-7 shoots and a powerful root system. Sorted seedlings are placed in a permanent place for further cultivation. You can leave a little more bushes than necessary to meet the needs of the family in order to subsequently remove females. They are less productive and are able to inseminate and spread throughout the site.

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Transfer to a permanent place

Asparagus is a perennial plant, it can grow in one place for 15-25 years, shoots are collected in early spring (April-June). Based on these features of culture, it is also necessary to choose a place so that the snow from the ridge descends early, the earth quickly warms up in the sun, and the asparagus grows. The southern slope, protected from the north wind by a wall of a building or a high fence, is most preferable.

An adult plant reaches a height of 1.5 m, is very spreading and will shade everything that grows next to it. Therefore, the place should not be located close to flower beds or other plantings.

Types of asparagus: 1 - white, 2 - green, 3 - soy.

The soil of asparagus prefers non-acidic and fertile. Well, it will grow where greenhouses or compost heaps were located.

The selected site is prepared in the fall, digging deep into the ground and introducing humus or peat. For 1 sq. m. beds for asparagus must be added and 50 g of superphosphate. For spring harrowing, an additional 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 25 g of potassium chloride (50-60 g of wood ash) are added.

Transplantation is carried out after the soil has completely thawed. On prepared ridges, furrows are made 25 cm deep at a distance of 100 cm from each other. Seedlings are planted every 40-50 cm in the furrows, completely falling asleep with soil. All sprouts should be covered with a layer of soil up to 15 cm thick. In early May, they will appear on the surface, then it will be possible to judge how the plants have taken root. If necessary, the dead are replaced.

In summer, planting care includes watering as needed, weeding and fertilizing with slurry (dilute 1:6 with water) or ammonium nitrate (30 g per 1 sq. M.). After the end of the growing season, cut the stems at ground level, cover the ridges with a layer of humus 6-10 cm thick.

Next year will require the same care measures. Plantings of asparagus can be compacted with beans on a shoulder blade or beans, herbs, radishes. In autumn, all above-ground parts of plants are removed and burned, and plantings are prepared for wintering. Be sure to mark the arrangement of the rows of asparagus with stakes in order to be able to prepare for the harvest in the spring.

After the snow melts in the 3rd year of growth of asparagus grown from seeds, the rows marked with stakes are spudded to a height of 25-30 cm. The top of the ridge is slightly compacted, which makes it possible to determine where the shoot is ready for harvest.

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 bird droppings(1:10), before the onset of frost - 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 asparagus, single or collected in racemes or thyroid inflorescences, are also found for the most part in the axils of the leaves. The fruit of asparagus is a berry with one or more seeds, dressed in a thick dark peel.

Young shoots of asparagus that have just emerged from the ground are eaten. If leaf buds have already begun to bloom on the shoot, it becomes hard and no longer suitable for food. Asparagus at its peak produces 9 to 12 shoots per season - that's just two full servings of a side dish. It is this modest yield that explains high price for this vegetable. In our gardens, where from year to year we grow such familiar and healthy vegetable crops as carrots, beets, peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and pumpkins, asparagus is still a rare guest. For those who decide to grow this healthy and tasty vegetable on their plot, we suggest using the information collected in our article on how to grow asparagus from seeds, how to plant asparagus in open ground, what are the conditions for growing asparagus and whether it is possible to grow asparagus at home. conditions.

Growing asparagus from seed

Sowing seeds of asparagus

Because in open ground asparagus seeds germinate for a very long time, we suggest you grow seedlings from them first. 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 soil mixture of this composition: sand 2 parts, garden soil, peat, rotted manure - one part each. Close up the seeds to a depth of 1.5-2 mm and place the containers in a well-lit place. The room temperature must be maintained within 25 ºC. The soil needs daily moisture. If these conditions are met, after 7-10 days you will already be able to see the first shoots. The emerging sprouts are lightly sprinkled with peat. Two weeks later, the seedlings are fed with a complex mineral fertilizer in a low concentration.

Asparagus pick

Seedling picking is required only if you grow it in a common box. When it reaches a height of 15 cm, transplant the seedlings into a large container, keeping a distance of 10 cm between them and slightly shortening the asparagus root during transplantation. Seedlings are fed only a few days after picking. After another week, hardening procedures begin to be carried out, and as soon as the asparagus can be on fresh air the 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 – fungal disease, which develops on asparagus in four stages. As a result, the affected specimens lag behind in development and almost do not shoot, and at the end of summer they turn yellow prematurely and stop growing before they form the root system and lay buds at the base of the stems, which will definitely reduce the next year's crop. Usually the disease affects asparagus growing in areas with impervious soil and close groundwater. Contribute to the development of the disease and frequent rains;

Rhizoctonia- a disease that usually occurs on root crops, especially on carrots. Asparagus is affected by rhizoctonia infrequently, but there have been such cases;

root rot, or fusarium- a harmful disease that affects many plants. It occurs on asparagus under the same conditions as rust - when too high humidity soil.

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. Shoots are laid vertically, because when stored in horizontal position they are deformed.

Types and varieties of asparagus

There are three varieties of asparagus:

• green asparagus is the most common variety, which medicinal purposes cultivated in ancient Rome;
• white asparagus, or bleached, or etiolated, or chlorophyll-free, appeared 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. At heat treatment 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 – mid-early variety American selection, perfectly adapted to growing in our conditions, with thick large shoots different shades red and purple flowers. In bright light, the color of the heads may turn green;
• Arzhentelskaya- a foreign mid-early variety, modified by domestic breeders, with white-pink shoots that acquire a greenish-purple hue in color. The pulp is yellowish-white, juicy and tender;
• Royal- winter-hardy, drought-resistant, almost not affected by diseases and pests mid-season variety with needle-like green shoots;
• Glory of Braunschweig- a late variety, characterized by a large number of shoots with juicy white pulp, intended mainly for canning.

Properties of asparagus - harm and benefit

Asparagus in the country is not only a delicacy product, but also a source of vitamins K, A, C, E, PP, group B, as well as folic acid, dietary fiber, copper, sodium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, potassium, manganese and other elements.

What is the benefit of asparagus? 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 great cosmetic: 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, in the presence of a genetic predisposition to this, can provoke urolithiasis. Other experts believe that asparagus, being a diuretic, prevents urolithiasis. In addition, saponin found in asparagus can irritate the gastric and intestinal mucosa in patients with exacerbation of diseases. gastrointestinal tract. Asparagus is not recommended for articular rheumatism, cystitis, prostatitis and individual intolerance to the product.

It turns out that asparagus is not new vegetable on our garden plots. 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 to grow this royal vegetable on ordinary garden quite easy. 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

Reproduction methods of this perennial herbaceous plant there are several that greatly facilitate 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 pieces sharp knife so that each division has at least 1 shoot.
   Each part of the rhizome must have an escape
3. Place a piece of rhizome in the center landing pit 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, it must be added to the soil before planting nutrients. 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 seeds is not difficult for experienced gardener. But the unpopularity of this method is primarily due to poor germination seeds. 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 from above. polyethylene film.
5. In the first week 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. AT middle lane Russian 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 site preparation with full responsibility, because asparagus is able to grow in one place and produce crops 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. For the asparagus to get required amount moisture, enough 6 - 8 liters of water per bush 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 negatively 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 autumn or 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 chicken manure. By the way, note that the indicated concentration of the solution is high - 1/10;
• at the end of October it is desirable 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

This is very milestones in caring for a plant 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 makeshift fixture. It consists of a wooden roller, into which nails are driven, no more than 2 cm long. By rolling this roller over 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 lovely 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 top layer greenhouse soil.

Necessary conditions for growing

The greenhouse is a special place. Here you can create ideal conditions for cultivation early harvest 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 to temperature regime vegetable is more whimsical. Tender sprouts begin to form in the soil at a temperature of 15°C. Maximum rate must not exceed 25°C. Here in this thermal period, asparagus will show excellent yields.

Watering and feeding

Since the conditions of the greenhouse allow you to maintain humidity inside for more high 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

How to grow asparagus at home vegetable plant- 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. Provide the plant with sufficient soil volumes under conditions small balconies is unlikely to succeed. But to contain asparagus as 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 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 asparagus begins to form a crop, young plant it is better to grow under a film cover in the cold season.

Gardeners in cold regions have one secret to growing asparagus. They leave in the beds only male plants which tolerate low temperatures very well. 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 hardy plant, which is rarely affected by diseases and pests. But there is specific diseases who are capable of as soon as possible ruin the 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. AT initial stage Fundazol helps 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 acquire dark 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 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 levels - 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.