Content
- 1 Where does asparagus grow?
- 2 Is it possible to grow asparagus
- 3 How asparagus grows in the garden
- 4 How to grow asparagus in open ground
- 5 How to plant asparagus seedlings
- 6 How to plant asparagus in open ground
- 7 How to care for asparagus outdoors
- 8 Growing asparagus in a greenhouse
- 9 Features of growing asparagus in different regions
- 10 Growing asparagus at home on a windowsill
- 11 Harvest and storage
- 12 How does asparagus reproduce?
- 13 Diseases and pests
- 14 Conclusion
- 15 Reviews about growing asparagus
Growing and caring for asparagus in open ground requires certain knowledge. The plant is considered a vegetable. Dense shoots are eaten, which, depending on the variety, are green, white, or purple.Traditional healers use the roots for treatment. Beautiful bright orange berries are usually used for decorative purposes.
Where does asparagus grow?
Asparagus grows in almost all countries. The plant tolerates heat and cold well. Large plantings of the vegetable are found in European countries, Asia, Africa and the Russian Federation. The plant is considered perennial. In one place without replanting, asparagus can grow for up to 20 years. Vegetables are not afraid of frost, but sudden frosts can destroy them.
Is it possible to grow asparagus
If desired, any gardener can grow a garden crop. The vegetable grows well in a greenhouse, garden and windowsill. However, when grown indoors, most likely the result is an ornamental plant. Asparagus has a very long root. It is difficult to provide conditions in the house for a healthy vegetable suitable for food to grow.
How asparagus grows in the garden
Garden crops love a sunny area, nutritious soil, not overgrown with weeds. The vegetable grows well in sandy soil. Asparagus needs a lot of free space. The planting site is chosen on the south side, protected from the wind. The soil is acceptable non-acidic with a large amount of humus. Externally, growing asparagus resembles bushes with pods. Shoots or stems may grow.
According to external signs, there are three types of vegetables:
- White asparagus grows underground. In terms of taste, it is placed on the same level as truffles or artichokes. The technology for growing garden crops requires constant hilling. The complexity of the process affects the high price of the finished product. However, white pods have many beneficial substances, for which they are valued by vegetarians.
- Green asparagus more common in England, as the local climate suits it better. The pods have a distinct taste and are rich in vitamins B and C. The harvest time for garden crops lasts from spring to mid-summer.
- Purple asparagus It acquires its unusual shade from exposure to sunlight. During cooking, the pods regain their natural green color. The vegetable grows in any garden bed and has a slightly bitter taste. If the shoots are not collected in time, they become rough.
Each type of asparagus requires specific growing conditions and likes different soil and weather conditions.
How to grow asparagus in open ground
The entire process of planting asparagus in open ground and caring for it does not require complex technologies. The garden crop is grown like a regular garden vegetable. Propagated by seedlings or dividing the bush. The process can be briefly described in several steps:
- Seeds are sown in the garden in early spring. The holes are made 3 cm deep with a distance of approximately 30 cm from each other. If a garden crop is planted as seedlings, then make sure that the upper buds are level with the ground.
- With any method, before planting the crop, the soil in the garden bed is generously fertilized with compost.
- Caring for a plant consists of standard actions. The bed is loosened and kept free of weeds. As the soil dries, watering is carried out. Three feedings are applied per season.
If the right place and soil are initially selected for a garden crop, it will grow for up to 20 years. Productivity will increase to its maximum from the sixth year.
How to plant asparagus seedlings
Most often, to successfully grow the crop, gardeners sow asparagus seedlings.The technology is more in demand in cold regions, where there are still frosts in the spring.
When to sow asparagus for seedlings
The exact time for sowing garden seeds depends on the climatic conditions of the area. Typically this period falls in March-April. The gardener individually determines the timing by analyzing the weather of previous years.
Preparation of planting containers and soil
Containers for seedlings are boxes, cups, and flower pots. They must be disinfected with a solution of manganese or other store-bought preparations.
The soil is prepared lightly. Seedlings love plenty of air to penetrate to the roots. If you use store-bought soil, then add 1 part sand and 1 part vermiculite or coconut substrate to 5 parts of it.
Seed preparation
A feature of garden crop seeds is their difficult germination. They take a long time to hatch. Before sowing, it is optimal to place the seeds in a solution of any biostimulant, for example, Epin, and keep them there for 2 days.
You can use ordinary warm water for soaking, but the duration of the process is increased to 4 days. Moreover, the water in the soaked seeds is changed 2 times a day. It is important to maintain the same temperature for 4 days. These parameters can be achieved if the container with seeds is kept in a warm place.
The soaked seeds are placed on a damp cotton cloth and left in a warm place until sprouts appear. Pecking will begin in about a week.
Planting asparagus seedlings
Typically, asparagus is grown from seeds in the country in containers. The process consists of the following steps:
- the container is filled with soil and lightly compacted by hand;
- without making a groove, the seeds are simply laid out on the soil surface in increments of 3-4 cm;
- sprinkle the grains on top with loose soil 1 cm thick;
- crops are moistened from a sprayer;
- Cover the container with glass or transparent film and place it in the light in a warm place.
In order for germination to proceed faster, it is necessary to constantly maintain heat and moisture. Condensation will accumulate in drops on the inside of the shelter. Once a day, the film or glass is lifted for ventilation. Maintaining a temperature of + 25 ° C around the clock, sprouts will appear in 1.5 months.
In the video, sowing seedlings:
Seedling care
After mass germination, the sprouts of the garden crop are not completely covered with dry peat. In the interval between 10-15 days, fertilize with complex fertilizer. Water the seedlings, carefully loosen the soil, and turn the container daily with different sides to the light. In about a month, the stems will grow 15 cm high. The crops are thinned out. The strongest plants should remain at a distance of 10 cm from each other.
Hardening of asparagus seedlings begins at the end of May. At first she is kept outside for 1 hour. Every day the time is increased until it reaches 12 hours.
How to plant asparagus in open ground
The process of growing asparagus in the garden begins with planting seedlings. At this point, the crop has passed the hardening stage and is ready to meet open ground.
When to plant asparagus in the garden
Asparagus, like most garden crops, is best planted in warm soil. At this point, the time for return frosts should have passed. In most regions of the Russian Federation, the optimal time for planting seedlings is considered to be early June. In the south you can plant earlier.
Preparing the landing site
A garden bed is prepared in a sunny area.If the soil is poor, during digging, add 1 bucket of humus per 1 m2, and add mineral complexes according to the instructions. Clay soil is considered difficult for the plant. When digging such an area, sand is added.
Seedlings can be planted not only in spring, but also in autumn. In the second case, during soil enrichment, mineral complexes are replaced with fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen fertilizers should not be applied in the fall. Rapid growth of shoots before winter is not necessary.
How to plant asparagus in open ground
There are two ways to plant a garden crop: seeds or seedlings.
Planting asparagus seeds in open ground
If the sowing method is chosen, then on the prepared bed, cut grooves 5 cm deep with a stick or the tip of a hoe. The seeds that have been soaked are sown thickly. Many of them will not germinate. It is better to break through the extra shoots later. The seeded furrows are covered with a thin layer of loose soil and lightly patted with the palm of your hand. Garden crops are watered with warm water. After the liquid is absorbed, the bed is mulched. Seeds take a long time to germinate. They need warmth and moisture. Covering the beds with white agrofibre helps to provide a good microclimate for the crops.
Planting asparagus seedlings
To plant seedlings, the depth of the furrows in the garden bed is increased to 30 cm. It is important to take into account that after 20 years of living in one place, garden bushes will grow greatly. If the vegetable is not to be replanted in the future, then the seedlings are spaced in a row at 40 cm intervals. Row spacing is left at least 1 m wide.
After cutting grooves at the bottom, mounds are formed from fertile soil. Seedlings are placed on them with their roots, sprinkled with loose soil, and pressed with hand.If the roots are long, they are shortened with scissors. The optimal length of rhizome branches is 5 cm. After planting the seedlings, the groove is generously filled with water and covered with peat or sawdust mulch.
How to care for asparagus outdoors
Simple agricultural technology for growing asparagus requires performing the work familiar to a gardener. The crop requires timely watering, fertilizing, and weeding.
Watering and fertilizing
Garden crops do not tolerate excess moisture in the soil, but seedlings must be watered frequently. The first two weeks after planting, the plants are watered abundantly to speed up the formation of roots. Immediately after the water is absorbed, the soil is loosened. If this is not done, the resulting film will block the access of oxygen to the roots. Seedlings need to constantly maintain moist soil, and adult plants need to be watered less frequently. However, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, otherwise the shoots will become bitter.
The crop definitely needs fertilizing, since the yield depends on it. The plant practically does not need nitrogen. Copper and potassium are needed, as these substances affect the juiciness of the shoots. The best fertilizer is organic matter and herbal infusions.
During the season, asparagus requires three feedings:
- The first fertilizing of garden crops in the spring is done with organic matter. Dry granules of potassium, phosphorus and calcium are added from mineral fertilizers, after which they are watered abundantly.
- The second feeding occurs in July. The asparagus is topped with a solution of chicken manure in a high concentration of 1/10. Fertilizing gives strength to the plant after harvesting.
- The final third fertilizing of the crop is done in the fall at the end of October. 30 g of superphosphate and potassium salt are added per 1 m2.
Organic matter makes asparagus shoots tender, tasty, and gives them a white color.Experienced vegetable growers used a bucket of humus to cover each plant in the spring or autumn with the appearance of sprouts.
Trimming
After planting the seedlings, shoots will appear in the garden bed. You can't cut them. The asparagus should grow into delicate bushes. It is not advisable to do pruning in the second year. As a last resort, you can cut off 1-2 shoots. Complete pruning of the crop is carried out in the third year. Shoots about 12 cm high must be cut. Sanitary pruning of the plant is carried out in the fall. All yellowed shoots are cut off, leaving stumps 2.5-5 cm high above the ground level.
Transplanting asparagus
Asparagus is transplanted to a permanent location in May. This is done in the second year of life. You can replant the garden crop in September so that the plant becomes even stronger over the summer. They dig up a bed for planting. Add 4 buckets of compost per 1 m2. During spring planting, the depth of the trenches is made to be half a shovel's length. If the crop is transplanted in the fall, the grooves are dug bayonet deep.
25 g of mineral complexes are added to each plant. You can sprinkle 70 g of fertilizer on 1 m of trench. At the bottom of the grooves, mounds are formed from the soil, asparagus is placed with the roots, and covered with earth. After transplanting, the plants are watered abundantly.
Preparing for winter
To ensure that asparagus overwinters well, the shoots are cut short in the fall before frost sets in. The stumps protruding from the ground are covered with soil, forming a hill. Peat or compost is additionally poured on top.
Growing asparagus in a greenhouse
To grow asparagus from seeds at home, you can use greenhouses. However, not all varieties can be sown.Early maturing hybrids are most suitable, for example: Connovers Colossal, Franklin, Arzhentelskaya and others. The advantage of growing crops in greenhouses is getting early harvests. Asparagus does not require artificial lighting. The plant gets enough natural light. The temperature is maintained in the range from + 15 to + 20 °C. Watering is carried out less frequently, since moisture evaporates less in the greenhouse. Fertilizing and other procedures are carried out in the same way as when growing vegetables in open ground.
Features of growing asparagus in different regions
Asparagus grows in all regions except the far north. For cold areas, it is optimal to leave male plants in the garden. They are characterized by increased frost resistance. Female plants are more heat-loving.
Growing asparagus in the Moscow region
Asparagus varieties have been bred specifically for the climatic conditions of the Moscow region. The most popular are “Early Yellow”, “Harvest 6”, and also “Danish White”. The varieties are well suited for the climate of Belarus. To get a good harvest, the crop is grown in seedlings.
Growing asparagus in Siberia
Cold-resistant varieties of asparagus can withstand frosts down to -30 °C with little snow cover. They can be grown in Siberia. In winter, the plants are covered with mounds of earth and a thick layer of manure. When the organic matter overheats, it releases heat, which warms the asparagus rhizomes. In the spring, before positive air temperatures are established, a greenhouse is stretched over the garden bed to protect the young shoots of the vegetable from frost.
Growing asparagus in the Urals
The agricultural technology for growing crops in the Urals is similar to that for Siberia. In the fall there is more mulch, in the spring a greenhouse is installed.
Growing asparagus in the Leningrad region
For the entire central zone, including the Leningrad region, the cultivation technology and varieties used are the same as for the Moscow region. The climate is approximately the same.
Growing asparagus at home on a windowsill
The crop is intended for planting in a greenhouse or garden. It will not be possible to fully grow asparagus at home on a windowsill. The long rhizome requires a large depth of soil, and the branches grow strongly on the sides. In a flower pot, asparagus will grow simply as an openwork ornamental plant.
Harvest and storage
If the gardener took good care of the asparagus and followed agricultural practices, the crop will reward it with a harvest.
Asparagus yield
The disadvantage is the low yield of the vegetable. Only young shoots are eaten. Depending on the variety and time of growth in one place, 2-5 kg of shoots are collected from 1 m2 of land. The first harvest from a plot of 6 acres will bring about 1200 kg of vegetables. Every year the crop grows in one place, the yield will increase.
When to Harvest Asparagus
The first vegetable harvest is harvested only in the third year after planting. However, if the plants are weak, the asparagus harvest is postponed until the fourth year. The maturity of the shoots will be signaled by dense bushes in the garden bed. The size of the shoot ready for harvesting is approximately 2 cm thick and up to 20 cm long.
How to harvest asparagus
It is optimal to cut 3 shoots from one bush, maximum 5 pieces. To harvest vegetables, use a special sharpened knife. First, the earth around the shoot is raked. The cut is made 3 cm above the rhizome. The remaining stump is covered with peat or compost. In cold regions, shoots are cut off every two days.In the southern regions, asparagus grows faster. Shoots are cut 1-2 times a day.
How to Preserve Asparagus
Asparagus shoots cannot be stored for long periods of time. On the third day, the vegetable begins to coarse and loses its juiciness. To preserve the harvest for up to 4 weeks, the shoots require a humidity of at least 90% and an air temperature of 0 °C. Usually they are wrapped in a wet cloth and sent to the refrigerator. Freezing helps preserve vegetables longer. The shoots are wrapped in film or cloth and placed in the freezer.
How does asparagus reproduce?
There are three ways to propagate a crop. Each gardener chooses the most suitable option for himself.
Propagation of asparagus by dividing the bush
The easiest way allows you to propagate the crop in spring and autumn. If the summer is not hot, then you can try to perform the procedure at this time of year. First, dig up an adult bush. Using a knife or hands, separate the sprouts with full roots. Each seedling is planted in a garden bed in the same way as seedlings.
Similarly, a garden bush can be propagated by rhizomes, dividing it in the spring before young shoots appear. Each root must have 1 bud.
Propagation by cuttings
The method of propagating a culture is complex and does not always give a positive result. Cuttings are performed from spring to June. Cuttings are cut from last year's green shoots, dipped in a root growth stimulator solution, and planted in containers with wet sand. Each seedling is covered with a glass jar or a cut PET bottle. Asparagus cuttings are periodically ventilated and sprayed with water. Rooting should occur in 1.5 months.
Propagation by seeds
Garden crops are planted with seeds as seedlings or directly in open ground.The propagation method is not very popular, since asparagus grains do not germinate well. In addition, the gardener experiences additional difficulty in caring for seedlings.
Diseases and pests
Asparagus is resistant to diseases and is rarely affected by pests, but sometimes unpleasant situations occur:
- The beginning of root rot of a garden crop is signaled by crumbling branches. The plant is treated with Fundazol or the entire bush is removed.
- In June, shoots of garden crops can be affected by rust. They become dark in color and wounds appear. The fungus is treated by spraying with a fungicide.
- The asparagus fly, which lays eggs inside the shoots, is considered a dangerous pest of garden crops. The emerging larvae eat the plant. Insecticides help fight flies. The most popular drug is Actellik.
- The asparagus rattler loves to feed on succulent stems, foliage and even seeds. Adult beetles are collected by hand. The larvae are destroyed in the soil by applying the drug Actellik.
To prevent the death of plantings, preventive treatments are carried out. Plants are inspected weekly.
Conclusion
Growing and caring for asparagus in open ground is difficult at the initial stage. In the future, the crop requires minimal labor and timely harvesting.
