Asparagus is a popular vegetable crop, often called royal. And it got this name for a reason. The most famous representative of the Asparagus family has a unique composition. It contains ascorbic acid, carotene, magnesium, iron, calcium, selenium and many substances vital for humans. Have you long dreamed of planting asparagus in your garden? This article will help with this!
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable plant valued for its unpretentiousness and frost resistance. It reaches a height of 1.5 m. It can grow in one place for up to 25 years, forming more than 60 shoots during this time.
The stems of asparagus are highly branched, the roots are well developed and powerful. The flowers are small, collected in racemes. The fruit is a berry with seeds hidden in a thick skin.
Young shoots that have just emerged from the ground are suitable for food. If buds appear on them, the branches become tough and unsuitable for consumption. The crop's yield is modest (up to 12 shoots per whole season). It is this circumstance that explains the high price of asparagus. But the cost fully justifies the maintenance.
A few sprigs of asparagus (the second name for asparagus) are a source of valuable substances that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of all internal organs.
When can I plant?
Asparagus is planted in spring or autumn. In spring - before buds sprout. Before planting, the soil is fertilized with humus (10 kg per 1 m2). Dig a 30 cm trench, carefully straighten the roots, cover with soil and water generously. The optimal distance between holes is 60 cm.
If you plant in the fall, carefully dig up the soil and add superphosphate (60 g), potassium sulfate (30 g), and ammonium sulfate (20 g) to each square meter. The distance between the trenches is the same as during spring planting.
Pay attention to one important point. When planting in spring, plant so that the plant is in a depression, which will help maintain the desired humidity. In autumn, on the contrary, form a small mound - this will protect the roots from frost.
How to plant?
Several methods of planting asparagus are practiced. Let's take a closer look at them and decide which one is the best.
Asparagus from seeds
Many gardeners consider this method the most labor-intensive due to poor germination. Actually this is not true. If the technology is followed, problems rarely arise.
Work will begin at the end of April. First, the seeds are soaked in water for 2 days, then for 2 hours in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Prepare a soil mixture consisting of garden soil, sand, manure, peat in a ratio of 2:1:1:1 and spread the seeds on the surface. Lightly sprinkle with substrate, spray with a spray bottle and wait for germination, remembering to constantly moisten the soil. You can cover the plantings with glass, creating a greenhouse effect.
The temperature should remain at +26 degrees. Seeds take a long time to germinate - 6 weeks. So be patient. On permanent place residence, asparagus can be moved in mid-summer.
Asparagus from roots
Growing asparagus using the root method is the fastest, and therefore the most common, option. In this case, the probability of rooting is 99%. Experts advise planting asparagus before winter. The soil should be prepared: remove weeds, dig, apply fertilizer. If you decide to grow asparagus in the spring, then the soil is flavored with compost (10 kg per 1 m2).
The rhizome is purchased one day before planting. Choose strong-looking roots that are brownish-gray in color.
Soak them in warm water for 30 minutes. Dig trenches 30x30 cm. When planting in several rows, the interval between them is 0.5 m.
Pour a nutrient substrate into the center of the hole, place the roots there at a distance of 30 cm from each other, sprinkle with soil and water. As the asparagus grows, the soil will settle - be sure to add new soil. When the trench is filled to the top, add dry leaves, sawdust or tree bark on top.
Asparagus by dividing the bush
Asparagus can be grown by dividing the bush. This method is suitable for any time of the year. It is better to divide the bush during replanting. So, young asparagus is replanted annually, adult - once every 10 years. One shoot at a time is planted in the prepared holes at intervals of 50 cm.
The roots should be 10 cm below the surface of the ground. If you decide to plant plants in one line, then all perennials located nearby will have to be eliminated.
The nuances of forcing asparagus
How to get asparagus in winter or in early spring? To do this, the rhizomes of plants aged 5-6 years are dug up in the fall and stored in the basement until winter. The temperature should be kept at +2 degrees.
At the beginning of December they are planted in a greenhouse. Planting density is high. At least 20 pieces per square meter. The seedlings are covered with humus and covered with polyethylene. For the first week, maintain the temperature at +10 degrees. After the rhizomes begin to grow, the temperature is raised to +18 degrees. The temperature regime is maintained throughout the entire harvest time.
How to care?
You need to water frequently, but in minimal portions. Asparagus does not tolerate stagnation of liquid - watch this. It is better to loosen the soil immediately after irrigation. 30 days after planting, a water infusion of mullein is added to the soil. At the end of June, the ground is fertilized with superphosphate, urea and potassium salt (30 grams of each item per 1 m2).
During flowering, spray with insecticides. In July (when the shoots begin to grow again), the plants can be pampered with minerals or organic matter. The fourth time is fed before frost (in October), using complex fertilizers.
In autumn, the old stems are cut off, the lower ones are hilled up and sprinkled with peat or compost. The lower part should be well covered, at least 5 cm in height. This will help the plants survive the winter. In the 2nd and 3rd years of life, in the spring, asparagus is fertilized with complex mineral supplements (30 grams per 1 m2).
A little about harvesting
Shoots that are eaten appear in the 4th year of life. The harvest is harvested in May; if the winter was warm, then in April. You can break out asparagus when it begins to lift the soil crust. Have you seen cracks in the ground? Carefully dig up the soil and, when you see a seedling, cut it off. Do not touch young shoots and roots. Fill the holes that appear after cutting with soil.
In the first year, try to harvest within a month - a long harvest will weaken the young plants. You can collect from old bushes until the end of June. The higher the thermometer, the faster the asparagus develops. However, after the shoots emerge from the ground, they change color and begin to crumble.
To avoid losing your harvest, harvest asparagus twice a day - morning and evening. After harvesting, the trenches are leveled and the soil is fertilized with ammonium nitrate or slurry.
That's all you need to know in order to be able to grow healthy asparagus. Apply the acquired knowledge in practice, and the queen of the beds will always be favorable to you - you will be provided with valuable vitamins and microelements!
Video review of asparagus harvest
Asparagus is not yet very common in our country, but this vegetable contains a lot useful substances, so it’s still worth considering the possibility of cultivating it. Growing asparagus at home is possible not only in the open ground, but also on the windowsill, although cultivating this crop in a city apartment is considered a difficult task.
From this article you will learn how to grow asparagus from seeds and what care the plants need to provide to obtain high yields.
Growing asparagus from seeds
Asparagus is one of the healthiest, tastiest and most expensive agricultural crops. Also, asparagus is an early vegetable and harvesting begins in April, like rhubarb. The collected young shoots can be eaten raw or steamed, grilled or baked.
Let's look at how to properly grow asparagus in the garden, and what conditions and rules must be followed.
What is needed for growing
When choosing a place for planting, you should give preference to a place that is sunny and sheltered from the wind; you can even arrange a bed in the back of the garden.
Note: The crop can be considered a long-liver in the garden, since it can live for 20-25 years in one plot without replanting.
To plant seeds, you need to prepare holes measuring 30*30 cm, into which you need to add a mixture of rotted manure, soil and garden compost(picture 1).
Sowing seeds can be done in early spring, but the fastest harvest can be obtained from a young plant or its root, which can always be purchased at a gardening store. Plants are planted at a distance of 40-45 cm from each other.
During the growing season, caring for asparagus is very simple:
- Manual weeding;
- Fertilizing plants before and after fruiting (with rotted manure or chicken droppings);
- Autumn mulching, which will consist of a thick layer natural materials(leaf humus, sawdust, crushed bark, etc.);
- Before mulching, yellowed greenery must be cut off at the root.
Figure 1. Features of growing asparagus in the garden The first harvest can begin with plants that have reached three years of age. Shoots are cut 15-20 cm long from ground level and within 4-6 weeks from the start of fruiting. However, shoots of older plants can be collected within 8-10 weeks. To harvest, you need to use a special knife, which can easily cut shoots at a depth of up to 2 cm under the soil or break them off at ground level.
Peculiarities
Asparagus should be planted in the ground in early spring before buds form. During planting, the soil is fertilized with ordinary humus (consumption per square meter of soil is about 10 kg of humus). The rhizomes are carefully placed in a previously prepared trench about 30 cm deep and then backfilled with earth (Figure 2).
Note: Backfilling must be done so that the plant is planted in the recess. Planting rhizomes in this way will greatly simplify watering the garden bed.
Once planting is complete, asparagus should be watered thoroughly. The optimal distance between trenches is considered to be at least 60 cm, since the bushes will grow with age. It is recommended to plant plants in a row at intervals of 30 cm for normal growth and development in the future.
the ground under autumn planting It is necessary to dig it well and fertilize it, and you need to add the following elements per 1 sq. m of soil area:
- Superphosphate (60 grams);
- Potassium sulfate (about 30 grams);
- Ammonium sulfate (20 grams).
Figure 2. Preparing the site for growing asparagus When planting asparagus for the winter, there is no need to bury it; on the contrary, a low mound should be formed above it, which can protect the root system from the winter cold. The distance between plants can be left as during spring planting. In order to obtain seeds, it is necessary to plant at least 2 plants, but better yet more, so that they can pollinate among themselves. The number of plants planted is due to the fact that only male or female flowers can grow on one specimen.
Rules of care
Asparagus is no exception among other agricultural crops that are grown in the garden or in greenhouses, and also requires care, consisting of fertilizers and loosening the soil, as well as timely watering (Figure 3).
Watering must be carried out systematically and in small portions. One of key points is the fact that it is strictly forbidden to allow water to stagnate, as this can destroy the plant. However, drying out the soil also does not benefit this crop, so the soil should be moderately moist at all times.
Loosening the soil should be done immediately after watering and weeding (at least 7-8 times per season). Quantity harvested significantly depends on the applied fertilizers and therefore fertilizing must be carried out before planting, and also continue throughout the growing season.
Figure 3. Features of planting care IN autumn period before the onset of stable frosts, it is necessary to remove all old stems (young and old bushes) from the beds, and the bottom of the plants should be hilled up and covered with peat (1.5 buckets per 1 sq. m.) or compost. When covering the lower part of the plants, you should make a mound up to 5 cm high around the horse system, which will help protect the plant from frost.
In the second and third years of life, you need to feed the plant with complex mineral fertilizer (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus), using up to 30 grams of the drug per square meter of soil.
Growing conditions
Asparagus is a universal crop that can be grown even in winter (in a greenhouse) or spring (in greenhouses). In order to harvest in winter or early spring, it is necessary to use rhizomes of 5-6 year old plants. They need to be dug up in October and placed in a cool room (basement), since for storage planting material you need a temperature of 0+2 degrees.
With the onset of December, you can plant rhizomes in a greenhouse, but planting should be done in containers small sizes, pressing them tightly against each other. On one square meter Soil can be planted with at least 18-20 rhizomes. After placing the planting material in the soil, it is covered with a very dense layer of humus (about 20 cm), and the containers are covered with black film.
After completing planting work in the greenhouse, you need to maintain a stable temperature (+10 degrees) during the first week. However, with the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature is raised to +18 and maintained at this level for about 2 months, while the harvest lasts.
Growing technology
With the coming spring period you can begin preparing planting material. At the beginning of April, it is worth starting to soak the seeds; they are placed in warm water containing a growth stimulant and left in it for two days.
Prepared seeds should be sown in light soil, which will consist of two parts of garden soil and one part each of sand, manure and peat. Upon completion of planting, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle, since the soil should not be allowed to dry out. You can also cover the container with glass, which will also prevent the soil from drying out (Figure 4).
For good growth seeds require a stable temperature (+25-27 degrees) and daily ventilation of the container. When ventilating the seeds, the glass from the container is wiped and turned over each time.
The seeds sprout first 6 weeks after sowing, and you should be patient while waiting for the young bushes to appear. Plants can be replanted to a permanent location no earlier than mid-June.
When to plant asparagus and how to care for it
Culture seedlings are grown from seeds planted in seedling pots or by sowing them in open ground. Caring for future seedlings is based on timely watering, removing weeds and loosening the soil.
Note: Proper care for seedlings makes it possible to obtain fully formed plants by autumn, which will have strong rhizomes and several shoots (3-5) about 25-40 cm high.
Before the onset of frost, it is necessary to cut off above-ground shoots to a level of 10 cm from the soil surface and leave the plants in this form for the winter. With the onset of spring, the seedlings need to be dug up and planted in a permanent place. When selecting suitable place A site near a wall or along a fence is best suited due to the longevity of the plant.
Figure 4. Planting and growing technology The designated area is cleared of weeds in the fall and distributed evenly organic fertilizers(15-20 kg per sq. m.) on the surface of the soil, after which the soil is dug up deeply. In spring, seedlings are planted in beds in which the rows are placed at a distance of 70 cm from each other. The seedlings are placed in dug holes 30 cm deep and 40 cm in diameter, at the bottom of which a mound of humus is made. The seedlings are planted in it, and the height of the mound should be equal to the edges of the hole.
Note: If a sufficient amount of organic fertilizer was added to the soil in the autumn, then humus can not be poured into the holes and replaced with loose soil.
Before planting the seedlings, its roots are shortened and made 3-4 cm long. In the hole, the roots are distributed evenly over the mound and sprinkled with a layer of soil 5-7 cm thick, after which they are compacted and watered. Once the water has been absorbed, the soil should be mulched. Throughout the summer, you can make several fertilizings with nitrogen fertilizer (25 g/m2). With the onset of the autumn period, it is necessary to dig up and cut off the dried stems 10 cm above ground level. Caring for two-year-old plants is the same as the first. The row spacing can be sown with watercress, radishes or vegetable beans.
From the video you will learn how to properly plant asparagus in the fall.
Planting asparagus in open ground should be done in early June and for this it is best to set aside a windless area with good light, and it is also advisable that it be located close to a fence or wall.
The culture does not tolerate high humidity in the soil and for this reason it is not recommended to plant it in areas where there is a high occurrence of groundwater. The choice of a site for cultivation must be taken very seriously, since this crop is long-lived and can grow in one place for 20-25 years.
What should it be
The optimal soil for growing asparagus should be fertile, enriched and sandy loam. Preparatory work they begin with the site in the autumn and carry out a number of such actions:
- Clears weeds;
- Dig to a depth of 50 cm;
- Fertilizers are applied per 1 square meter. - compost (15-20 kg), superphosphate (70g), potassium sulfate (40g).
With the onset of spring warmth, the area is harrowed and at the same time applied to every meter square area ammonium nitrate 20 g and wood ash 60 grams each.
Soil care
Before direct planting, holes are made on the site with a depth of 30 cm and a width of 40 cm, which should be at a distance of 60-70 cm from each other. The bottom of the furrow must be loosened to a depth of 20 cm and then a mound of loose soil must be poured, which should reach the edges of the hole.
A seedling is placed on the mound, but its roots are first shortened to 3-4 cm and then the hole is filled with soil. The soil must be compacted and watered. When the water is absorbed, the area is mulched.
Fertilizing asparagus
Asparagus is an unpretentious crop and caring for it consists of the usual procedures for any gardener: watering, loosening, weeding and fertilizing. Loosening the soil around the plants is carried out to a depth of 6-8 cm, while trying not to damage the root system.
During the first two years, it is recommended to grow various green crops in the inter-row spaces.
Methods
In the summer, several feedings of the planted crop are carried out. To do this, you can alternate mineral and organic fertilizers (mullein solution or bird droppings).
Good development of seedlings is confirmed by the presence of 2-4 stems on the plant by the beginning of August. As the first frost approaches, it is necessary to cut off all shoots and cover the roots with a layer of humus (5-8 cm) or leaf soil, which will prevent them from freezing.
The better
To accelerate the growth of shoots, it is necessary to add a solution of slurry to the soil (in a ratio of 1 part slurry and 6 parts water) after completing the first weeding. After a period of three weeks, the bed is fed with a solution of bird droppings (1 part droppings to 10 parts water).
The final fertilizing is applied before the onset of frost, using complex mineral fertilizers. It is also worth remembering that if you fertilized the soil before planting, you only need to fertilize it in the second year.
How to grow asparagus at home on a windowsill
Asparagus growing on windowsills are members of the vegetable asparagus genus, but belong to other species. Homemade asparagus is the closest relative of vegetables.
In photographs of asparagus in open ground, you can see that they grow in gardens with warm climates and our harsh winters they won't stand it. To grow a full-fledged crop on a windowsill, you need a lot of space for their roots and such an undertaking may be unsuccessful.
How to grow asparagus in the garden
Before starting planting work, it is necessary to decide on the site for this perennial. Loose fertile soil is suitable for it. The soil needs to be prepared in the autumn.
With the onset of autumn, the selected area is dug up and phosphorus fertilizers are applied. In the spring, the soil is dug up again and nitrogen fertilizers are applied. This preparation of the site for planting is explained by the fact that asparagus can grow in one site for up to 20 years. Throughout the entire growing period, with the onset of autumn, all shoots are cut off and the beds are covered with a new layer of humus or compost.
Seeds germinate in open ground for a very long time, and for this reason the seedling planting method is preferable:
- The seeds are soaked in warm water for a week;
- Hatched seeds are planted to a depth of 1.5-2 cm;
- The readiness of seedlings can be determined by the formation of a developed and healthy root system;
- The finished seedlings are planted in furrows at a distance of one meter, and the soil at the bottom of the furrow is loosened.
The seedlings are placed at a distance of half a meter from each other, after which the beds are thoroughly watered and mulched.
The video shows how to properly grow asparagus in the garden or vegetable garden.
It turns out that asparagus is not a new vegetable in our garden plots. Before the revolution, asparagus was eaten with pleasure. Then the vegetable became a bourgeois, and therefore enemy, product and gradually disappeared from our tables and beds. Currently, this food product appears on supermarket shelves, it’s just a pity that it’s mostly in frozen form. But growing this royal vegetable in an ordinary garden bed is not at all difficult. 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;
- legumes;
- sea
An unusual-looking vegetable - asparagus, extremely popular all over the world. Unfortunately, our gardeners have almost no interest in this crop. And few people know how to grow this delicacy. But asparagus is the earliest vegetable plant that can support the body precisely when the vitamin assortment is very poor. 
Asparagus is an early vegetable that helps replenish the body's vitamin reserves.
Methods of propagation of this perennial herbaceous plant There are several, which makes growing asparagus much easier.
Dividing the bush
This is perhaps the easiest and most accessible way to propagate asparagus even for beginners. The survival rate of rhizome segments with buds is very high - almost 100%. Moreover, you can practice this method of breeding in spring, summer and autumn. It is most advisable to divide the bush when replanting. A 4 or 5 year old plant is suitable for this. 
Asparagus has a very powerful root system, extending more than a meter deep into the soil.
- 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 remove the plant using a pitchfork.
- Divide the rhizome into parts with a sharp knife so that each section has at least 1 shoot.
Each part of the rhizome must have a shoot - Place a piece of rhizome in the center landing pit or a trench. Straighten the roots so that they do not twist.
When planting, the roots need to be straightened - 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. - Water the planting. As the soil settles, the soil needs to be replenished.
If there are a lot of 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 the rows should be at least 1 m.
Important information when planting asparagus
- Since asparagus is a perennial plant, you need to add nutrients to the soil before planting. For 1 m² you will need
- 15 g ammonium sulfate;
- 30 g potassium sulfate;
- 60 g superphosphate;
- mineral fertilizers can be replaced with organic matter. For 1 m² you need to add at least 6 kg of well-rotted humus;
- Asparagus is good to grow after grain crops and vegetables that require deep digging of the soil, such as potatoes.
Cuttings
This method of crop propagation 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 planted in a slightly larger pot.
Propagation by seeds
In general, growing asparagus from seeds will not be difficult for you. experienced gardener. But the unpopularity of this method is primarily due to poor seed germination. Well, caring for seedlings involves some difficulties. 
Asparagus seeds are not often found on sale, but you can collect them yourself
Planting seedlings
Before planting, the seeds are soaked to speed up germination. Seed material is sown for seedlings in two ways:
- sowing in seedling pots;
- sowing directly into the garden bed.
Planting times vary depending on the option chosen. Asparagus grown from seeds begins to bear fruit only in the 3rd year.
Seedling care
Seedlings can be grown without additional lighting, but it is advisable to place young plants in a window with maximum lighting. The temperature at which seed germination occurs is on average 25°C. Watering is carried out moderately, the main thing is not to let the soil dry out too much. To maintain conditions at a comfortable level, cover the seed box with a clear bag or glass. 
The first sprouts will not appear soon, after 1.5 months
The first fertilizing is applied 4 weeks after emergence. Then - a week or two after the pick.
Picking
Picking asparagus seedlings is carried out when the plants become cramped in a common seedling box. Typically, seedlings that have reached 15 cm in height are subjected to the procedure. Considering that the roots of 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, the long and thin stems of the seedlings may bend to the ground. But there is no need to worry, this is a temporary phenomenon.
This process allows you to obtain a delicious and nutritious product in winter or early spring.
- 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.
- At the beginning of December, asparagus is planted in the greenhouse.
- In this case, the planting density can be high - at least 20 plants are planted per 1 m².
- The seedlings are covered with a layer of rotted humus about 20 cm and covered with plastic film on top.
- In the first week permissible temperature should not exceed 10°C.
- 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. 
The planting density of asparagus during forcing is high
Caring for asparagus in open ground
Only hardened asparagus seedlings should be planted in open ground. IN middle lane In Russia, the transplant takes place in early June. Choose a site for planting that is well lit and windless. If the soil temperature is below 10°C, then 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 asparagus grows too much, give it places along the fence so that the plant does not bother anyone.
Look for a dry area for growing. Groundwater should not come closer to the soil surface than 1.4 m. Before planting, cultivate the soil - dig it up perennial crops, fertilize well. In general, take the preparation of the site with full responsibility, because asparagus can grow in one place and bear fruit for 20 years, and even a little more.
Watering
Despite asparagus’s dislike for waterlogged soils, planted seedlings need to be watered frequently. This is especially important in the first 2 weeks after planting, until the asparagus has formed a deep root system. In this case, after moisture is absorbed, 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 asparagus beds should be slightly moist. Insufficient watering will affect the condition of the young plant. It will become weak and painful.
To prevent the soil between the rows from drying out very quickly, you can mulch it with a thick plastic film, which will also prevent weeds from growing.
Mature plants are not watered as often as young ones. But, nevertheless, soil moisture needs to be monitored. If the soil is dry, the shoots will become bitter, fibrous and rough. So that asparagus receives required amount moisture, 6 - 8 liters of water per bush when watering is enough. 
Asparagus loves moderate but timely watering
Feeding
The yield of asparagus directly depends on high-quality fertilizing. But there are some nuances here.
- asparagus has virtually no need for nitrogen, so the share of this element in the plant’s nutrition is very small;
- while a lack of copper and potassium will negatively affect the ability of asparagus to produce juicy shoots;
- Asparagus loves organic matter very much, so give priority to manure and herbal infusions.
So that the asparagus shoots have more tenderness and are white(which is especially appreciated by gourmets), you need to pour humus onto the garden bed in the fall or in May, when the first shoots begin to appear - 1 bucket of organic matter per plant.
- in the spring, in addition to organic matter, fertilizers include potassium, calcium and phosphorus. If these substances are applied in dry form, then they do it exclusively for irrigation;
- in July, to maintain the strength of the plant after harvesting, you can use a solution of chicken manure. By the way, please note that the indicated concentration of the solution is high - 1/10;
- at the end of October it is advisable to use complex fertilizers. Most often, at this time, asparagus planting is fed with superphosphate and potassium salt - 30 g of each substance per 1 m².
Without fertilizing it is impossible to get a harvest of this wonderful vegetable. Weeding and loosening
This is very important stages 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. It is extremely important for asparagus sprouts, which are located under a mound, to receive enough oxygen to develop. To improve aeration you can use homemade device. It consists of a wooden roller into which nails no more than 2 cm long are driven. By rolling such a roller over the surface of an earthen hill, you destroy the soil crust and restore air circulation.
Always keep the row spacing in asparagus plantings clean. Weeding will save the royal vegetable from many troubles in the form of pests and diseases. 
Weeding and loosening asparagus beds is the key to a good harvest
Hilling
During the growth of asparagus, it is important to earth up the plant in time. The procedure is carried out when the green branches of the vegetable reach a height of 20 cm. This process allows the growth buds to transform into succulent shoots. Hilling is especially important for young plants that may suffer from frost in winter.
Features of caring for asparagus in a greenhouse
Not all varieties of asparagus are suitable for growing in a greenhouse. Take advantage early hybrids and varieties:
- Arzhentelskaya;
- Franklin;
- Cito;
- Connovers Colossal;
- Martha Washinton.
Asparagus Argentelles is an excellent variety for greenhouse cultivation. Asparagus is propagated in greenhouse conditions in the usual ways- division of rhizomes and seeds. You can grow seedlings right there. 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 when planting in greenhouses in divisions, the apical bud is not deeply buried - it should be in top layer greenhouse soil.
Necessary conditions for cultivation
The greenhouse is a special place. Here you can create ideal conditions for growing an early harvest of asparagus. The peculiarity of the plant is that it does not need additional lighting. Sprouts begin to form under the soil layer and, having made their way to the surface, are quite capable of making do with the available light sources.
And here's to temperature conditions the vegetable is more whimsical. Tender shoots begin to form in the soil at a temperature of 15°C. The maximum value should not exceed 25°C. In this thermal interval, asparagus will show excellent yield.
Watering and fertilizing
Since the greenhouse conditions allow the humidity inside to be maintained at a higher level, watering is carried out only as needed. Fertilizing is carried out with the same fertilizers as in open ground. 
Growing asparagus in a greenhouse can give you excellent results.
Is it possible to grow asparagus at home?
Growing asparagus at home just as a vegetable plant is a thankless task. And it’s not even a question of special care. It’s just that the asparagus rhizome requires too much space for normal development, both in depth and in width. Provide the plant with sufficient soil volumes in conditions small balconies It's unlikely to succeed. But keep asparagus as an ornamental plant - please. Indoor asparagus (that’s what asparagus is called in Latin) will decorate any corner of the apartment with fresh herbs. 
At home, asparagus can only please you 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 can perfectly withstand low temperatures - down to -30°C even with light snow cover. Therefore, this vegetable can be grown in open ground both in the Urals and Siberia. In winter, the beds are simply covered with a thick layer of mulch, for example, the same manure, which, when overheated, warms the soil. True, young asparagus is very afraid of frost, even a small one. Until the moment when asparagus begins to form a harvest, it is better to grow the young plant under film cover in the cold season.
Gardeners in cold regions have one secret for growing asparagus. They leave only male plants in the beds, which tolerate low temperatures well. But female plants are less cold-resistant.
In the cold season, Siberian asparagus is comfortable under light cover. For central Russia and the Moscow region, as well as for Belarus, there are many varieties of asparagus suitable for open ground conditions. The most famous:
- Early yellow;
- Danish white improved;
- Harvest 6.
If agricultural practices are followed, asparagus harvests can be obtained in these climatic conditions without any problems. The most popular growing method is seedlings.
In Kuban, Crimea and Ukraine, asparagus seedlings are planted earlier than in central Russia. This is possible after the second half of May. After all, the abundance of sun allows the soil to warm up very quickly. A feature of growing asparagus in hot regions is control over irrigation. 
In the south, an abundance of heat and light benefits asparagus
Diseases and pests
Asparagus is considered a hardy plant that is rarely affected by diseases and pests. But there are specific diseases that can quickly ruin plantings and deprive them of the long-awaited harvest.
Diseases and control measures
Root rot, or fusarium. The disease affects the roots and root collar. As a result, the entire bush suffers - branches begin to crumble and soon the plant dies. Fundazol helps in the initial stage of the disease. If the disease is advanced, you will have to dig up and destroy the entire bush. 
Damage to the root system leads to the death of the entire plant
Rust. In June, the affected asparagus shoots become dark color. The areas affected by the disease increase in size - this is where spores mature, which then move to healthy leaves. Rust takes over the asparagus bed gradually. Therefore, carefully inspect the plantings so that if the first signs are detected, use fungicides to combat the fungus. 
The appearance of spots on asparagus stalks is a sure sign of rust.
Pests
Asparagus fly. From mid-May to the end of June, the fly lays eggs inside asparagus shoots. After a week, larvae appear and begin to eat away the core of the shoot. As a result, the stem becomes bent and then breaks and dries out. To combat flies, insecticides are used, for example, Actellik. 
Asparagus fly larvae eat asparagus stems from the inside
Asparagus rattle. The beetle and its larva eat stems, foliage, and berries. The plant first stops growing and then dries out completely. To combat the pest, the soil in asparagus plantings is treated with Actellik solution. The 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;
- inspect the plantings every week to identify the first signs of diseases and pests;
- do not leave remnants of roots and stems between the rows;
- do not overwater asparagus, this leads to root diseases;
- if marigolds, calendula, basil or cherry tomato bushes are planted around the perimeter of the asparagus bed, the number of pests will be significantly reduced;
- In the fall, you need to cut off all the drying asparagus shoots and burn them.
In autumn and early spring, asparagus beds should be treated with fungicides - Topaz, Fitosporin. Gardeners are especially fond of Bordeaux mixture.
“The Lord's vegetable” was the name given to asparagus in pre-revolutionary Russia. Dishes made 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 rich set of microelements and vitamins, asparagus is still not popular among gardeners in our country. Although many people grow asparagus - how ornamental plant. Everyone knows the openwork branches with needle-like leaves and bright red berries. This is asparagus, which was eaten by Louis XIV himself, the famous “Sun King”.
Planting asparagus when growing: a, b - green shoots, c, d - leaded shoots.
You can grow asparagus on your site from seeds and root cuttings. The disadvantage of the vegetative method is 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 in a specialized store. Rice. 1.
For decorative purposes, mainly female plants are grown, whose 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. spread up to 10 kg of humus or compost, adding about 100 g 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 soil surface is carefully harrowed and leveled.
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How to sow asparagus seeds correctly
This can be done in 2 ways:
- sowing directly onto the beds;
- sowing in pots for growing seedlings.
1 way. Asparagus seeds are sown in well-warmed soil in the last ten days of May - early June. Shoots usually appear after 20-30 days. To speed up the germination of seeds, before sowing they need to be soaked in warm water (up to 40 ° C) and the container should be placed in a warm place (25-28 ° C) for 3-4 days, making sure that the moisture does not evaporate. After this, the seeds are placed between layers of damp paper and kept warm for another week, keeping the paper moist by covering it with film or placing it in plastic bag. Sprouted seeds are carefully sown in the garden bed, planted to a depth of no more than 2 cm. Seeds prepared in this way can sprout within 7-10 days.
Method 2 makes it possible to sow seeds 3-4 weeks earlier and plant already strong seedlings on the ridge, obtaining young plants more prepared for wintering by the fall. To grow seedlings, you need 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 along with a lump of earth for replanting. Small peat pots are convenient for growing asparagus seedlings.
Harvesting leaded asparagus shoots; a) using a knife, b) breaking it out.
The soil is prepared from fertile soil, peat, humus and sand in proportions 2:1:1:1, respectively. Before planting on the ridges, the seedlings are gradually accustomed to sunlight and harden it by taking the pots outside. Planted on ridges in the 1st-2nd decade of June.
Further care consists of watering, loosening the soil and weeding. When sown in the ground, the seedlings may become somewhat thickened, so they will have to be thinned out, leaving the most developed specimens at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
Fertilizing is carried out approximately a month after emergence or planting of seedlings in the ground, using per 1 sq.m. 20 g of ammonium nitrate, diluted in a bucket of water. During the growing season, fertilizing is repeated every month, adding 40 g of superphosphate to the nitrate solution.
In order for the plants to successfully overwinter, especially in areas with little snow cover, the asparagus beds must be covered with rotted manure or compost before the onset of frost. This fall, you should take care of preparing 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 strong root system. The 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 the females. They are less productive and are able to inseminate and spread throughout the site.
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Transplantation to a permanent place
Asparagus is a perennial plant; it can grow in one place for 15-25 years; the shoots are collected in early spring (April-June). Based on these cultural characteristics, it is necessary to choose a place such that the snow melts from the ridge early, the earth quickly warms up in the sun, and the asparagus begins to grow. A southern slope, protected from the north wind by a building wall or a high fence, is preferable.
A mature plant reaches a height of 1.5 m, is very spreading and will shade anything growing near it. Therefore, the place should not be located close to flower beds or other plantings.
Types of asparagus: 1 - white, 2 - green, 3 - soy.
Asparagus prefers non-acidic and fertile soil. It will grow well where greenhouses or compost heaps were located.
The selected area is prepared in the fall by digging the soil deeply and adding humus or peat. For 1 sq. m of beds for asparagus you need to add 50 g of superphosphate. For spring harrowing, additionally add 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 25 g of potassium chloride (50-60 g of wood ash).
Replanting is done after the soil has completely thawed. On the 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 furrows, completely covered with soil. All sprouts should be covered with a layer of soil up to 15 cm thick. At the beginning of 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 (diluted with water 1:6) or ammonium nitrate (30 g per 1 sq. m.). After the end of the growing season, cut the stems at ground level and cover the ridges with a layer of humus 6-10 cm thick.
Next year will require the same care measures. Asparagus plantings can be compacted with shoulder beans or beans, herbs, and radishes. In the fall, all above-ground parts of the plants are removed and burned, and the plantings are prepared for wintering. Be sure to mark the location of the asparagus rows with stakes so that you can prepare for 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 hilled 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 located, ready for harvesting.
Plant asparagus (lat. Asparagus), or asparagus, belongs to a genus of plants in the Asparagus family, numbering about 200 species, growing in dry climates around the world. The most common type is Asparagus officinalis. Asparagus can be a herb or subshrub with a developed rhizome and branched, often creeping stems. The upper parts of the sprouts of some types of asparagus - medicinal, whorled and short-leaved - are considered delicacy. The asparagus vegetable is one of the healthiest, tastiest and most expensive crops.
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Planting and caring for asparagus (in brief)
- Landing: sowing seeds for seedlings - in mid-April, planting seedlings in the garden - in early June.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- The soil: rich, fertile, sandy loam.
- Watering: the first week and a half 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.
- Feeding: a week and a half after planting, a solution of slurry is added to 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 rattles, greenhouse thrips.
- Diseases: root and gray rot, rust, fomoz, cercospora.
Read more about growing asparagus below.
Asparagus plant - description
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable plant. Its rhizome is powerful, developed, and its stems are branched. On the branches, numerous needle-shaped branches are collected in bunches, growing from the axils of small, underdeveloped spiny or scaly leaves, at the base of which hard spurs are formed. Small flowers asparagus, solitary or collected in racemose or thyroid inflorescences, are also found for the most part in the leaf axils. The asparagus fruit is a berry with one or more seeds covered in a thick dark skin.
Young asparagus shoots that just emerge from the ground are eaten. If leaf buds have already begun to bloom on the shoot, it becomes tough and is no longer suitable for food. Asparagus during its peak fruiting period produces from 9 to 12 shoots per season - this is just two full servings of a side dish. It is precisely this modest yield that explains the high price of this vegetable. In our gardens, where from year to year we grow such familiar and useful vegetable crops Like carrots, beets, peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and pumpkins, asparagus is still a rare guest. For those who decide to grow this useful and delicious vegetable, 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 asparagus can be grown at home.
Growing asparagus from seeds
Sowing Asparagus Seeds
Since asparagus seeds take a very long time to germinate in open ground, we suggest that you first grow seedlings from them. Before planting asparagus, The 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 emerge from them. In mid-April, sprouted 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. Seed 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 to be moistened daily. If these conditions are met, after 7-10 days you will be able to see the first shoots. The emerging sprouts are lightly sprinkled with peat. After two weeks, the seedlings are fed with complex mineral fertilizer in low concentration.
Picking asparagus
Picking seedlings will only be necessary if you are growing them 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 when transplanting. Seedlings are fed only a few days after picking. After another week, hardening procedures begin, and as soon as the asparagus can stay in the fresh air for a whole day, it is planted in open ground.
Growing asparagus at home
You can only grow asparagus seedlings 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 in open ground
When to plant asparagus in open ground
Asparagus is planted in open ground in early June. Where does asparagus grow best? In well-lit, windless 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. Choose a site for asparagus responsibly, 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 loam 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 has melted, the area is harrowed while simultaneously adding 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 60 g of wood ash per m².
How to plant asparagus in open ground
Before planting, holes are made on the site 30 cm deep and 40 cm wide at a distance of a meter from each other. The bottom of the furrow is loosened to a depth of 15-20 cm. Then a pile of loose soil is poured onto the bottom of such a height that it reaches the edge of the hole. A seedling is placed on a mound, having first shortened its root to 3-4 cm, filled the hole with soil, compacted it and watered it. After the water is absorbed, the hole is mulched with dry soil.
How to Grow Asparagus
Asparagus care
Asparagus is a non-capricious plant. Caring for it consists of procedures familiar to any gardener: watering, loosening the soil around plants and between rows, weeding, fertilizing. Loosening is carried out to a depth of 6-8 cm, trying not to damage the roots of the plant. It is advisable to grow green crops between the rows for the first two years.
Watering asparagus
For 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 often. In dry weather, you may need to water the area daily - the soil should be slightly moist at all times, otherwise the shoots will become fibrous and their taste will become bitter.
Feeding asparagus
To speed up the growth of shoots, after the first weeding, add a solution of slurry to the soil on the site - 1 part slurry to 6 parts water. After three weeks, the asparagus is fed with a solution of bird droppings - 1 part droppings to 10 parts water. The last feeding is applied before the onset of frost, and it consists of a complex mineral fertilizer. If you fertilized the area before planting asparagus, fertilizing begins only in the second year of growth.
Diseases and pests of asparagus
Asparagus diseases
Asparagus is quite resistant to diseases, but sometimes there are problems with it. Asparagus is most often affected by:
Rust – fungal disease, which develops on asparagus in four stages. As a result, the affected specimens lag behind in development and almost do not produce shoots, and at the end of summer they turn yellow prematurely and stop growing before they form a root system and lay buds at the base of the stems, which will certainly reduce the next year's harvest. Typically, the disease affects asparagus growing in areas with moisture-impermeable soil and close groundwater. Frequent rains also contribute to the development of the disease;
Rhizoctonia– a disease that usually occurs on root vegetables, especially carrots. Asparagus is rarely affected by rhizoctonia, but such cases have occurred;
Root rot or fusarium– a most harmful disease that affects many plants. It occurs on asparagus under the same conditions as rust - when the soil moisture is too high.
Asparagus pests
Asparagus in the garden is not subject to pest invasion, 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 along the back that feeds on berries, flowers and asparagus tops. It appears in the spring, but maximum amount beetles can be observed from mid-summer;
Asparagus fly- a small brown insect with yellow limbs, head and antennae, feeding on asparagus shoots and making passages in them. As a result, the shoots become bent, wither and die.
Processing Asparagus
Spring and autumn preventive spraying of plants with Bordeaux mixture 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 preparation, or some other product from this range, which can be purchased in stores. Treat asparagus as soon as you notice pests. However, this is not enough: it is necessary to regularly inspect the beds and, if oviposition is detected, remove and burn them. Prevent weeds from appearing in the area and destroy dead parts of the asparagus.
Harvesting and storing asparagus
You can cut off the shoots only from the third year of growing asparagus - two years will be needed to allow the root system to strengthen. Cut edible shoots in May, before their heads open, carefully raking away the soil from them in the place where a crack has formed in the soil, and leaving stumps 1-2 cm high 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, up to 30 shoots can be removed from each one each year.
Store asparagus in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp cloth, from two weeks to four months, depending on the variety and storage conditions. Do not keep foods with strong odors in the refrigerator at this time, otherwise the asparagus will quickly absorb them. The shoots are laid vertically, since they become deformed when stored horizontally.
Types and varieties of asparagus
There are three varieties of asparagus:
- green asparagus- the most common variety, which is in 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 of forcing and growing white asparagus;
- purple or red asparagus– the rarest variety with an unusual, slightly bitter taste. When cooked, this asparagus turns green.
Asparagus varieties 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 asparagus grows:
- Early yellow– productive and disease resistant early ripening variety Russian selection with tender shoots with a dense head yellow color and white pulp;
- Gainlim– an early foreign variety, characterized by a large number of tall shoots of excellent quality;
- Mary Washington- a mid-early variety of American selection, perfectly adapted to growing in our conditions, with thick large shoots 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-violet hue in bloom. The pulp is yellowish-white, juicy and tender;
- Tsarskaya– winter-hardy, drought-resistant, almost not affected by diseases and pests, a mid-season variety with needle-like green shoots;
- Glory of Brunswick– a late variety, distinguished 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 delicious 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 are the benefits 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 functioning of the kidneys, liver and heart. Due to the folic acid content in asparagus, it becomes an indispensable product for pregnant women. For patients who have had a heart attack, an asparagus diet is recommended, since the asparagine contained in the product dilates blood vessels, stimulates the work of the heart muscle and lowers blood pressure. The benefit of asparagus is also in the coumarins it contains, which stimulate cardiac activity, cleanse the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots in blood vessels.
The beneficial properties of asparagus stimulate processes that free the body from waste and toxins - phosphates, chlorides and urea. They have a tonic effect on the bladder, kidneys and the entire excretory system.
Asparagus is excellent cosmetic product: its juice cleanses, nourishes and softens the skin, and also removes calluses and small warts.
Asparagus - contraindications
How indisputable healing properties asparagus, evidence of its harm is equally contradictory and dubious. They claim that with long-term consumption of asparagus, oxalic acid salts accumulate in the body, and this, supposedly, can, if there is a genetic predisposition to this, provoke urolithiasis. Other experts believe that asparagus, being a diuretic, prevents urolithiasis. In addition, the saponin found in asparagus can irritate the gastric and intestinal mucosa in patients with exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. Asparagus is not recommended for articular rheumatism, cystitis, prostatitis and individual intolerance to the product.
