Growing asparagus from seeds
Can You Grow Asparagus From Seeds
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Asparagus
By: Amy Grant
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If you are an asparagus lover, chances are good that you would like to include them in your garden. Many gardeners buy established bare root stock when growing asparagus but can you grow asparagus from seeds? If so, how do you grow asparagus from seed and what other information on asparagus seed propagation might be helpful?
Can You Grow Asparagus from Seeds?
Asparagus is often grown from bare root stock crowns. The reason for this is that growing asparagus requires patience. Crowns take three growing seasons before they are ready to be harvested! Even so, this is significantly faster than if you try growing asparagus from seeds. That said, yes, asparagus seed propagation is very possible and a little cheaper than buying crowns.
Asparagus seeds, or berries, turn bright red in autumn. Once the tops fall over, the tops can be collected and hung upside-down in a warm, dry area for about a week or so to ripen. To catch the seeds once completely dried, keep a bowl beneath them or gently tie a brown paper bag around the tops when hanging. These seeds can then be used for planting asparagus. Likewise, you can purchase them from reputable suppliers.
How Do You Grow Asparagus from Seed?
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a hardy perennial suited to USDA zones 2 to 8 and is native to western Europe. This perennial can remain viable for 10 to 20 years, so choose your garden site carefully. Asparagus needs a soil pH of between 7.0 and 7.2 in fertile, well-draining soil.
So how do you go about planting asparagus seeds? There’s no trick to growing asparagus from seeds, just be patient. It’s recommended that you start asparagus seeds indoors or in a greenhouse in mid-February to May under bright lighting. Soil temperatures for seed germination should be between 70 and 85 degrees F. (21-29 C.). Soak the seeds for a couple of hours, then plant each seed ½ inch (1 cm.) deep in sterile soil, in individual 2 inch (5 cm.
) pots. They should sprout anywhere between two and eight weeks from planting asparagus seeds.
Seedlings are ready to transplant when they are 10 to 12 weeks old and all danger of frost in your area has passed. Space the transplants 18 inches (46 cm.) apart in rows set 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm.) apart. If you want thinner spears, space the transplants 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm.) apart, with the plant set 4 inches (10 cm.) deep. If you like thicker spears, plant them 12 to 14 inches (30-36 cm.) apart and set 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) deep. Consider planting your new asparagus babies near your tomatoes. Asparagus repels nematodes that attack tomato plants while tomatoes repel asparagus beetles. A very symbiotic relationship, indeed.
As the plant grows, cover the crown with soil and keep it moist with 1 inch (2.5 cm.) of water per week. Fertilize in the spring with 1 to 2 cups (250-473 ml.) of complete organic fertilizer per 10 foot (3 m.) of row and dig in gently. Remember, don’t harvest the plant until its third year; allow the plant to set ferns and redirect its energy back into the plant.
Cut the ferns down to 2 inches (5 cm.) tall in the late fall.
In the plant’s third year, you can begin regularly harvesting the spears. The season usually lasts around 8 to 12 weeks. Cut the asparagus spears 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) below the ground, and at least 2 inches (5 cm.) above the crown using a sharp knife or asparagus harvesting tool.
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How to Grow Asparagus From Seed
Asparagus is one of the favorite vegetables of Spring. This is a vegetable that when picked from the garden and prepared immediately is so far superior from the asparagus purchased from the grocery, you’ll feel like you’ve never had real asparagus before. Asparagus should have a sweet nutty delicate flavor. The longer the time between picking and eating, the sharper the flavor becomes.
Asparagus is actually pretty easy to grow from seed or from the rootstock, but there are some considerations you must take. Your asparagus bed will be a permanent feature of your garden for years. Asparagus plants produce abundantly for 15 to 25 years, but it will be two to three years before you can grow a full harvest. Let’s talk about how that affects how you grow your asparagus.
STARTING SEEDS
Starting asparagus is much the same as starting your usual varieties of organic vegetable seeds. If you have a seed starting kit, use it to start your seeds indoors. You can also use peat pots or other seed-starting containers. Asparagus seed will germinate best if the soil is kept warm. Use bottom heat and keep the temperature in the high 70s. Asparagus takes about three weeks to germinate, so have patience.
Once the seeds have germinated, you can lower the temperature to 60-70 degrees. Move the plants outside once the danger of frost is past.
They will need to be hardened off. Plant them 2-3 inches deep in a temporary nursery bed.
Asparagus is monoecious. That means that each plant is either male or female. The female plant wants to put most of its energy into producing seeds. For the highest yields, you want to plant only male asparagus. Some varieties of asparagus, such as Jersey Knight or Jersey Supreme, produce mostly male plants. If you want your asparagus bed to be only male, you will be able to differentiate the plants by the flowers. The flowers are tiny, so you will probably need to use a magnifying glass. The female plants have well developed three-lobe pistils, while the male flower is longer and larger than the female.
LOCATION OF THE ASPARAGUS BED
You have one chance to make your asparagus bed the best environment for your plants. They will be growing there for 25 years, so this is very important. Choose your location carefully. Asparagus will tolerate some shade, but there will be a decrease in productivity, as full sun is preferable.
Many gardeners prefer to use raised beds. Asparagus roots do not like standing water, and raised beds eliminate that problem. Raised beds also make it easier to keep your bed weed-free and make it easier for you to pick the asparagus. Having a row of asparagus in a traditional garden is also acceptable, but remember that the asparagus plant will grow quite tall after you’ve finished harvesting and could shade the plants adjacent to it.
PREPARING THE ASPARAGUS BED
Once you’ve chosen the site, it’s time to prepare the soil. Asparagus likes lighter soil, so amend your soil if necessary. You want to deep dig the soil and add lots of compost and aged manure. Remove any stones or other debris and remove all weeds. This is very important and will continue to be for the life of your asparagus bed. It is easy to spend a few minutes removing any weeds when the weeds are seedlings. Once the weeds start growing, it is more difficult to remove them without damaging the spear growing underground.
PLANTING THE ASPARAGUS>
Dig a trench in the prepared bed 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Plant the asparagus about 11/2-2 feet apart and cover with about two inches of soil. Two weeks later, add another 2 inches of soil. Continue periodically adding soil until the soil is mounded over the ground level. Keep the bed well-weeded and water regularly.
MAINTENANCE
A good clean mulch will help keep down the weeds and keep the moisture level of the soil consistent. Fertilize your bed in the Spring and Fall. After harvesting asparagus each year, allow the plants to grow. This gives them time to reenergize the rootstock. Remove the dried plant material in late Fall and clean the bed of any debris that could be harboring pests.
While growing asparagus seeds isn’t difficult, you might not want to wait three years for that first taste. You can cut down the wait by a year if you purchase asparagus plants.
Park Seed offers one-year-old bare-root crowns ready to go into their permanent home. Consider planting both and purchase an heirloom variety asparagus seed to start germinating. Then, plant your main crop with one-year-old plants.
growing from seeds, planting and care, types and varieties, photo
Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/en/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: garden plants reprinted: Last amendments:
Content
- Listen to article
- Planting and care for asparagus
- Sparge Plant - Description
- Growing Asparas from Seeds
- Sowing of Asparary Seeds
- Asparary Picking
- Growing Asparages at home
- Sharp planting
- How to grow asparagus
- Caring for asparagus
- Watering asparagus
- Feeding asparagus
- Diseases and pests of asparagus
- Diseases of asparagus
Asparagus vegetable is one of the most useful, tasty and expensive crops.
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Planting and caring for asparagus
- Planting: sowing seeds for seedlings - in mid-April, planting seedlings in the garden - in early June.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- Soil: rich, fertile, sandy loam.
- Watering: the first week and a half after planting - frequent and plentiful, during the dry season - daily, the rest of the time - as needed: the soil on the site should be slightly moist all the time. nine0012
- Top dressing: a week and a half after planting, a solution of slurry is introduced into the soil, three weeks after that - a solution of bird droppings (1:10), before the onset of frost - a complete mineral fertilizer.
- Reproduction: seed.
- Pests: asparagus flies, aphids, asparagus leaf beetles, scale insects, asparagus rattlesnakes, greenhouse thrips.
- Diseases: root and gray rot, rust, phomosis, cercosporosis. nine0012
Read more about growing asparagus below.
Asparagus plant - description
Asparagus vegetable perennial plant. Her rhizome is powerful, developed, the stems are branched. Numerous needle-like twigs are collected in bunches on the branches, growing from the axils of small, underdeveloped spiny or scaly leaves, at the base of which hard spurs are formed. Small flowers of asparagus, single or collected in racemose or thyroid inflorescences, are also mostly found in the axils of the leaves. The fruit of asparagus is a berry with one or more seeds, dressed in a thick dark peel. nine0007
Young shoots of asparagus that have just emerged from the ground are eaten. If leaf buds have already begun to bloom on the shoot, it becomes hard and no longer suitable for food. Asparagus at its peak produces 9 to 12 shoots per season - that's just two full servings of a side dish.
It is this modest yield that explains the high price of this vegetable. In our gardens, where from year to year we grow such familiar and healthy vegetable crops as carrots, beets, peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and pumpkins, asparagus is still a rare guest. nine0007 For those who have decided 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.
Growing Asparagus from Seeds
Sowing Asparagus Seeds
As asparagus seeds take a very long time to germinate outdoors, we suggest that you grow them into seedlings first. nine0007
Before planting asparagus, seeds are kept in warm water for 3-4 days, changing the water twice a day. Then the swollen seeds are laid out on a damp cloth and wait until sprouts hatch from them.
In mid-April, hatched seeds with sprouts 1-3 mm long are planted in boxes at a distance of 6 cm from each other or in pots with a capacity of 100-200 ml with a soil mixture of the following composition: sand 2 parts, garden soil, peat, rotted manure - one at a time parts. Close up the seeds to a depth of 1.5-2 mm and place the containers in a well-lit place. nine0007 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 picking
Seedling picking is required only if you grow it in a common box. When it reaches a height of 15 cm, transplant the seedlings into a large container, keeping a distance of 10 cm between them and slightly shortening the asparagus root during transplantation. Seedlings are fed only a few days after picking.
After another week, hardening procedures begin to be carried out, and as soon as the asparagus can be in the fresh air for a whole day, it is planted in open ground. nine0007 - A proven way to sow gloxinia for seedlings - how to achieve 100% seed germination?
Growing asparagus at home
Only seedlings of asparagus can be grown at home, 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 outdoors
When to plant asparagus outdoors
Asparagus is planted outdoors in early June. Where does asparagus grow best? In a well-lit, windless area, 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.
Asparagus soil
The optimal soil composition for asparagus is rich, fertile sandy loamy soil. The plot for asparagus begins to be prepared in the fall: it is cleared of weeds and dug up to a depth of 40-50 cm with the addition of 15-20 kg of compost, 70 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate per 1 m². After the snow melts, the plot is harrowed with the simultaneous application of 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 60 g of wood ash for each m².
How to plant asparagus outdoors
Before planting, holes are made in the field 30 cm deep and 40 cm wide 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. nine0007
How to grow asparagus
Caring for asparagus
Asparagus is not a capricious plant.
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 asparagus
The first one and a half to two weeks after planting, asparagus is watered frequently and abundantly, then the amount of water is reduced, and watering begins 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. nine0007
Asparagus top dressing
To speed up the growth of shoots, after the first weeding, apply a solution of slurry to the soil in the area - 1 part slurry to 6 parts 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. - Cauliflower: growing in the garden, varieties nine0012
Diseases and pests of asparagus
Diseases of asparagus
Asparagus is quite resistant to diseases, but sometimes there are problems with it. Asparagus is most commonly affected:
Rust is a fungal disease that develops on asparagus in four stages. As a result, the affected specimens lag behind in development and almost do not shoot, and at the end of summer they turn yellow prematurely and stop growing before they form the root system and lay buds at the base of the stems, which will definitely reduce the next year's crop. Usually the disease affects asparagus growing in areas with impervious soil and close groundwater. Contribute to the development of the disease and frequent rains; nine0007
Rhizoctonia is a disease commonly found on root crops, especially carrots.
Asparagus is affected by rhizoctonia infrequently, but there have been such cases; Root rot, or Fusarium is a most harmful disease affecting many plants. It occurs on asparagus under the same conditions as rust - when the soil moisture is too high.
Asparagus pests
Asparagus in the garden is not attacked by pests, but it has two enemies in the insect world:
Asparagus leaf beetle, imported from Western Europe together 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 is a small brown insect with yellow limbs, head and antennae that feeds on asparagus shoots and burrows through them. As a result, the shoots are bent, wither and die.
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Treatment of asparagus
Spring and autumn prophylactic spraying of plants with Bordeaux liquid or other fungicides - Fitosporin, Topaz, Topsin M.
will help protect asparagus from diseases. -some other remedy from this series, which 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. nine0007 Collection and storage of asparagus
Shoots can be cut 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.
nine0007 Store asparagus wrapped in a damp cloth in the refrigerator for two weeks to four months, depending on variety and storage conditions. Do not keep foods with a strong smell in the refrigerator at this time, otherwise the asparagus will quickly absorb them. The shoots are laid vertically, because when stored in a horizontal position, they are deformed.
Types and varieties of asparagus
There are three varieties of asparagus:
- green asparagus is the most common variety cultivated for medicinal purposes as far back as Ancient Rome; nine0012
- 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 is the rarest variety with an unusual, slightly bitter taste.
When cooked, this asparagus turns green.
Varieties of asparagus also differ in terms of ripening. We offer you a choice of several varieties that you could plant in your garden, if only to see how the asparagus grows:
- Early yellow is a productive and disease-resistant early ripe 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 is a mid-early American variety, perfectly adapted to growing in our conditions, with thick large shoots of different shades of red and purple flowers. In bright light, the color of the heads may turn green; nine0012
- 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;
- Tsarskaja - winter-hardy, drought-resistant, almost not affected by diseases and pests, mid-season variety with needle-like green shoots;
- Slava Braunschweig is a late variety, characterized by a large number of shoots with juicy white pulp, intended mainly for canning.
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Properties of asparagus - harm and benefit
Useful properties of asparagus
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.
Why is asparagus useful? 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. nine0007
Patients who have had a heart attack are advised to eat 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. nine0007
Asparagus is an excellent cosmetic product: its juice cleanses, nourishes and softens the skin, and also removes calluses and small warts.
Asparagus - contraindications
As much as the healing properties of asparagus are indisputable, the evidence about its harm is just as contradictory and doubtful. It is claimed that with prolonged use of asparagus, oxalic acid salts accumulate in the body, and this, allegedly, can, if there is a genetic predisposition to this, provoke urolithiasis. nine0007
Other experts believe that asparagus, being a diuretic, prevents urolithiasis. In addition, saponin found in asparagus can irritate the gastric and intestinal mucosa in patients with exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Asparagus is not recommended for articular rheumatism, cystitis, prostatitis and individual intolerance to the product.
Literature
- Read related topics on Wikipedia
- Peculiarities and other plants of the Asparagus family nine0012
- List of all species on The Plant List
- More information on World Flora Online
We keep moisture in the soil - how can you keep snow on the site, how to direct water in the thaw?
Saving the crop: 3 proven ways to protect seedlings from blacklegSections: Garden plants Asparagus plants on C Shoots Dessert
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Asparagus is an early vegetable. Growing from seed. Landing and care. Photo — Botanichka
Asparagus (asparagus) is one of the most delicious, healthy and expensive vegetable crops.
The first sprouts of asparagus, which are white, green, pinkish green, or purple, are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The color of the sprouts depends on the method of cultivation and the time of collection. Green asparagus grows like a regular vegetable in the garden; sprouts of white asparagus spud so that they do not get light; and purple sprouts become after “sunbathing” - it is not spudded immediately, allowing the tender shoots to soak up the sun. nine0007 Asparagus. © packolkata Young, tender shoots can be eaten raw or steamed quickly, in water, in the oven or on the grill. Asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables of the new season: harvest of young shoots begins in April-May.
Asparagus, a genus of plants from the asparagus family. In total, up to 100 species of asparagus are known, scattered throughout the world, mainly in a dry climate. Some types of asparagus are herbs, others are semi-shrubs that develop an underground rhizome and above-ground more or less branched stems, in many species they are creeping.
The most common species in the world - Medicinal asparagus or Common asparagus or Pharmacy asparagus or Asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ). The upper parts of asparagus sprouts (about 20 cm) are used worldwide as a delicacy in cooking. Growing seedlings of asparagus
Seedlings of asparagus are grown from seeds, sowing them in open ground or seedling pots.
Care of seedlings consists in timely watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds. With good care, healthy plants are formed by autumn, with a powerful rhizome and 3-5 shoots 25-40 cm high. Before the onset of frost, in October, the above-ground shoots of asparagus are cut 10 cm above the soil surface. In this form, plants overwinter. In the spring, seedlings are dug up and transplanted to a permanent place. When choosing a site, it is necessary to take into account that this is a perennial plant. It is best to place the asparagus near a wall or along a fence.
nine0007 The site selected for asparagus is cleared of weeds in autumn. 15-20 kg / m² of organic fertilizer is evenly scattered on the soil surface and dug deep. In the spring, seedlings are planted in rows on the site. Rows of asparagus are placed at a distance of 70 cm from each other. Holes are dug in rows with a depth of 30 and a diameter of 40 cm. Humus is poured into the bottom of the hole, on which seedlings are planted. The height of the mound should reach the edges of the hole. If the soil was well seasoned with organic fertilizer in the fall, then you can not pour humus into the holes (although it will not hurt), but replace it with loose soil. nine0007
Asparagus seedlings are shortened before planting, leaving them 3-4 cm long. The roots are evenly distributed over the mound, sprinkled with a layer of earth 5-7 cm thick, compacted and watered. When the water is absorbed, the hole is mulched with earth. Over the summer, you can do one or two fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizer (25 g / m²).
In autumn, the aisles are dug up, and the dried stems are cut 10 cm above the soil level. In the second year of the plant's life, care for it is the same as in the first. During the first two years of row spacing, asparagus can be sown with crops such as radishes, watercress, lettuce, vegetable beans. nine0007
As for the technology of growing seedlings, there are two ways.
Asparagus. © Nino FruitsDirect sowing of asparagus seeds in seedling beds
It is better to start sowing seeds of asparagus in seedling beds in the third decade of May. So, we take the seeds and sow. But keep in mind: dry ones will only sprout in 20–30 days. Are you ready to wait this long? Not? Then it is better to pre-soak them. That is, fill with water (30-35 ° C) for 5-6 days and change it daily. To maintain the desired temperature, a container of seeds (say, a small plastic bottle) can be placed near the radiator or in another warm place. nine0007
After this period, asparagus seeds are placed in a damp cloth or paper for 3-7 days - let them germinate.
To prevent the fabric or paper from drying out, cover it with a plastic bag. Just soaked seeds sprout on the 10-15th day, and those that have pecked - already on the 7-8th. While the asparagus seeds germinate, you can prepare your seedling bed. That is, add 10 kg (bucket) of rotted manure or compost and 100 g / m² of complex fertilizer per 1 square meter of land. Dig the soil, loosen and level. The distance between the beds should be from 25–30 to 40 cm. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm and at a distance of 5–7 cm. And after 3–4 weeks, seedlings will need to be thinned out, leaving only the strongest shoots at a distance of 10–15 cm. nine0007
Asparagus seedlings grow slowly and after a month and a half reach only 10-15 cm in height. Therefore, it remains on the seed beds for a long time, one or two seasons. All this time, it needs to be carefully looked after: regularly weed and water, in June, once or twice, feed with nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea, 10 g / m²) or slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 6.
As a result, by the end of August the plants will have 2-4 shoots and a small rhizome. It needs to be prepared for winter by feeding in late August - early September with phosphorus and potassium (any autumn fertilizer according to the instructions on the package). And when the aerial part of the asparagus dies off in October, cover the plantings with humus or peat with a layer of about 3 cm. You can cover them with spruce branches or fallen leaves. nine0007 Asparagus. © Shihmei Barger
Planting asparagus seedlings in pots
Potted asparagus seedlings are good because, unlike plants sown immediately in the ground, they allow you to win half a month or a month and get more developed young plants by autumn, which will be better prepared for winter.
The procedures are the same as for planting in seedling beds: soaking, germinating and sowing. Only it is necessary to sow early, in the beginning - the middle of May, and not into the ground, but into pots with a capacity of 100–200 ml or into seedling cassettes.
For sowing asparagus, you can use barely hatched seeds with a root of 1–3 mm. Seedlings with a spine of 20–25 mm are also suitable, but in order not to damage it, you will have to plant the seeds especially carefully. nine0007 Pot soil can be used the same as for cucumber seedlings, or you can prepare "asparagus" soil: mix garden soil, rotted manure, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. Then only the classic simple care remains: watering, loosening, turning to the light in different directions, gradual hardening.
Seedlings can be planted outdoors in early June.
Caring for asparagus
In the second year after planting asparagus seedlings, mineral fertilizers are applied, then the soil along the rows of plants should be loosened as early as possible, trying not to damage the roots. nine0007
In dry weather, keep the soil under the plants moist. In dry soil, asparagus shoots become fibrous and take on a bitter taste.
In October, dried asparagus shoots should be carefully cut close to the ground, being careful not to damage the rhizome, and burned.
In plants that are not affected by rust and asparagus fly, the tops can not be cut, it will protect the roots from freezing in winter. Seedlings of asparagus in a nursery in severe frosts in the absence of snow or a small snow cover should be covered with leaves, straw or manure. nine0007 In autumn, annual, biennial plantings and fruit-bearing plants should be fed with superphosphate (0.3-0.5 kg per 10 m²) and 40% potassium salt (0.25-0.35 kg). After fertilization, the soil between the rows is deeply loosened. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots and seedlings of asparagus.
Good results are obtained by mulching with peat in a layer of 8-10 cm in autumn for better overwintering. In early spring, the mulch is loosened and embedded in the soil as top dressing. This operation is carried out annually. nine0007
In April, the soil, spread in swaths on rows of fruit-bearing asparagus, should be carefully leveled and lightly tamped. In this way, it will not be difficult to detect cracks in the soil above the asparagus seedlings (the appearance of cracks indicates that the seedlings can be cut).
Asparagus. © Gwendolyn Stansbury
The width of the windrows at the base in the first years of cultivation should be 40 cm, in subsequent years - 50-60 cm. Harvesting asparagus
In the third year after planting, if the plants are strong and bushy enough, they start harvesting. If the plants are weak, harvesting is postponed to the next year and the asparagus is cared for in the same way as in the second year of cultivation. nine0007
Harvesting of asparagus shoots starts from the 3rd year. However, before harvesting, in early spring, the aisles are deeply loosened, and the plants are highly spudded with soil and humus. In the II-III decade of April, shoots appear above the soil. When they reach technical maturity (5-7 cm in height and 0.7-1.0 cm in diameter), the soil is carefully raked and the asparagus shoots are cut off at the soil surface, then they are again spudded.
Shoots are cut as they form every 3 days for 20-25 days. In the 3rd year of life, up to 5 shoots are removed from one plant.
In subsequent years, up to 15 shoots can be harvested within 30-40 days. After harvesting, each plant should have at least 3-5 shoots, which, developing, form powerful stems with branches of the 2nd-5th order, covered with cladodes, thanks to which the plants accumulate plastic substances. nine0007 For the fourth year and thereafter, asparagus care is the same as for the third year.
Care of asparagus plants in the post-harvest period should be especially careful, because it is at this time that the foundation of the future harvest is laid. It is recommended to scatter humus, wood ash or fertilizer mixture between the rows, plant them 5-7 cm into the soil, then water them. The soil must be loosened after each watering or rain. In winter, asparagus can be harvested by forcing. For a family of three, it is enough to have 15-20 asparagus bushes in the garden. nine0007
Diseases and pests of asparagus
Red rot of asparagus roots is caused by the fungus Helicobasidium purpureum.
- Diseases of asparagus
- How to grow asparagus
