Asparagus royal cultivation from seeds. Asparagus - cultivation and care in the advice of experienced gardeners. Top dressing asparagus seedlings

Gardener 24

Young shoots are used for food, which are harvested when they reach a height of 15-20 cm.

Success in growing asparagus is achieved primarily through careful soil preparation.

Asparagus ripens very slowly. It takes at least three years from planting seeds to the first small harvest. Planting seeds is the longest way to propagate asparagus.

Most gardeners plant asparagus in May. It is possible to reduce the time to harvest by planting one-year-old roots. Two-year-old roots can also be purchased, but young roots are preferred as they can withstand the stress of transplanting more easily.

How to grow asparagus

Planter for asparagus

When preparing your asparagus bed, keep in mind that growing asparagus roots need a thick layer of protective layer soil.

Step 1. Dig a trench 30 cm deep and 45 cm wide. (Leave 120 cm between the centers of the trenches if planting more than one row of asparagus.
Step 2 At the base of the trench, loosen the soil to a depth of 20-25 cm.
Step 3. Add 200 g of fertilizer for every 3 m of trench.

Soil preparation

Asparagus prefers neutral soil with a pH around 7.0. Ate you have more acidic soil add lime.

Step 4. After that, add a 10 cm layer of compost to the bottom of the trench, which will nourish the plants for several years.
Step 5 To give the roots a firm base, pack the soil into the bottom of the trench.
Step 6. Then level with a rake.
Step 7. Spread the roots of the asparagus so that they look like octopus tentacles.
Step 8. Lay them 60 cm apart at the bottom of the trench.
Step 9. Carefully cover the fragile roots with a 5 cm layer of soil.

Asparagus Care

Gradually fill the trench with soil as the asparagus grows. Fertilize the plantings every three months or so.

Harvesting

When growing asparagus, one of the most important things to know is when and how to harvest the fresh, tender shoots.

Two years after planting annual roots, the first crop can be harvested.
Asparagus is ready to harvest when the stems are 20 cm high and 1 cm or more in diameter.
In the first year, harvest at a minimum.
Let as many stems as possible continue to grow and nourish the plant throughout next years.
It is very important to harvest the asparagus sprouts at the right time.
During warm weather, check the readiness to harvest every day.
Shoots quickly release lateral branches and leaves, after which the possibility of harvesting is lost.
You will not need any special tool for collecting shoots.
Bend the stems until they break.
Fertilize immediately after harvest and again in mid-July and mid-August.
Reap the benefits for years to come!

Variety selection

Purple extra sweet

It's unique new variety asparagus with purple shoots that are larger, sweeter and tastier than most other varieties. When cooked, the shoots turn green, but have the same delicious flavor as when raw.

To begin with, it is unlikely that it will be possible to grow a full-fledged asparagus suitable for food on the windowsill. Too much space is required for its long root. Because asparagus is often found in apartments as an ornamental plant, it is customary to plant a vegetable crop on the beds.

Asparagus seeds germinate for a very long time, so before sowing they are soaked in warm water for up to four days, changing the water twice a day. Moreover, the container with seedlings should be warm so that the water temperature does not decrease.
After soaking, the swollen seeds are laid out on a damp burlap or other material and left for about a week until the sprouts hatch (periodically, the seed must be moistened).
Young shoots are planted plastic cups or in a box filled with store-bought loose soil. Between plants it is desirable to maintain a distance of 6 cm on each side. It is enough to bury the seeds in the ground by two centimeters, no more.
Containers with seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place, it will not interfere and additional source light so that the plants gain strength faster.
The emerging sprouts are lightly sprinkled with peat.
After 10-15 days, a complex mineral fertilizer is applied to the ground.
During the month, water the asparagus, carefully loosen the soil and turn the seedlings on different sides to the light for uniform growth.
When the stems reach 15 cm in height, the plantings should be thinned out, leaving the healthiest specimens at a distance of 10 cm from each other.

During the month, water the asparagus, carefully loosen the soil and turn the seedlings on different sides to the light for uniform growth.

In the last days of May, seedlings must be hardened: every day, subject to good weather, put containers with plants outside. Start hardening from one hour and gradually increase to 12 hours. By the beginning of June, the seedlings will be completely ready for transplanting on their own. permanent place in the garden.

For young plants, beds 100 cm wide, 30 cm high will be enough. A distance of 40 cm should be left between seedlings, and up to 60 cm between rows.

More popular is the propagation of asparagus using segments of rhizomes with live buds. The survival rate of plants in this case is almost 100%. Planting with rhizomes is carried out both in spring and before winter. Let us consider in more detail the technology of planting asparagus in May.

Having chosen the strongest, fleshy rhizomes on the market, divide them into several parts. Carefully place each part in a previously dug hole 50 cm deep, on the bottom of which a mound of earth mixed with humus is poured. Thus, the seedling should be deepened by 25 cm. Optimal Distance between the bushes is 15 cm, the intervals between rows are 50 cm.

Having chosen the strongest, fleshy rhizomes on the market, divide them into several parts.

When landing, try to straighten well root system, from above, cover the rhizomes with a mixture of soil with humus and press down firmly. Then water the bed with some water.

Regardless of whether asparagus is planted with rhizomes or seeds, subsequent care for it will be the same. Immediately after planting on the plant site, it will be necessary to water abundantly for the first one and a half to two weeks, then sprinkle the holes with peat and reduce watering.

During the summer, it is necessary to regularly remove weeds, loosen the soil between the rows and water it from time to time so that the earth does not dry out, but it also cannot be waterlogged. To speed up the growth of shoots, after the first weeding, you can apply top dressing from slurry diluted with water (6 parts of water to 1 part of slurry) to the bed. After three weeks, it is recommended to feed the plants bird droppings diluted 10 times with water. And already before the first frosts, the last top dressing with complex mineral fertilizer is carried out.

During the summer, it is necessary to regularly remove weeds, loosen the soil between rows and water from time to time.

For the winter upper part asparagus is cut off, leaving only "stumps" of 2.5 cm, which are spudded with earth, covered with humus and dry leaves on top. The aisles are covered with manure.

Caring for asparagus in the second year looks exactly the same as in the first. And no matter how much you would like to try juicy shoots, be patient until next year so that they are filled with strength and accumulate more vitamins. Premature cutting of the stems will simply nullify all your work.

In Europe, it is customary to cut asparagus shoots only when the height is at least 22 cm and the diameter is at least 1.6 cm.

In the third year, with the advent of spring, plantings will need to be spudded so that the asparagus grows long, straight, and its heads do not open ahead of time. Around the end of April, the time for harvesting the first harvest begins. Try not to miss the moment when the heads have not yet appeared above the surface, otherwise the shoots will lose their presentation, change color and become rough.

Video about growing asparagus in your garden

Readiness can be determined by cracking the ground above each plant. As soon as you notice that the soil has risen and cracks have appeared, then it's time to dig up the stems, cutting them to the very root. In warm weather, asparagus can be harvested every day or every other day. Just do not remove all the shoots at once, otherwise the plant may die.

After cutting the crop, level the bed, sprinkle with humus on top and slightly compact. In the future, care for asparagus is repeated, as in the first two years.

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

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

Description

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

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

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

AT room conditions most common Asparagus vulgaris. They are also planted in vegetable gardens in the form of a vegetable, and are also often used in making bouquets of flowers. This species was discovered more than 2000 years ago.

At times ancient egypt asparagus was grown as a vegetable, used for medicinal purposes, or as a simple ornamental plant. Roots of Asparagus vulgaris rich in nutrients including vitamin C.

Now let's take a closer look at how to grow Asparagus at home and in the open field.

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

The easiest way to plant Asparagus is to plant seeds. Such seeds can be purchased at any specialized store. Asparagus seeds are quite large, and their sowing will not cause any difficulties.

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

Location and lighting in the home

Asparagus - very light-loving plant, so he prefers a fairly well-lit place. However, direct contact with the plant should be avoided. sun rays. In particular, this applies summer period when the day is especially long.

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

pot size

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

Otherwise, it can lead to acidification of the soil and the death of the plant. The shape of the pot also does not play any role. This most often depends on where Asparagus will be placed or on decorative preferences. Some types of Asparagus look very attractive in:

hanging planters;
miniature pots on the windowsills;
large pots on the floor.

Soil for growing

asparagus very unpretentious in terms of soil. Part of the land can be taken from the garden or garden, add some deciduous soil, which can be taken in the forest or park. A little coarse sand can be added to the mixture, which will crush the substrate.

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

Transplantation and care after it

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

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

Next, a layer of substrate is poured into the pot. At Asparagus carefully the root system is inspected, the damaged roots are removed. Shaking off the roots old soil. Then the plant is placed in a new pot, carefully straightening the root system. The soil is gradually poured from above. You can’t crush the soil, but you shouldn’t leave air voids either. final stage transplantation will become watering Asparagus warm infused water. After transplanting, the plant must be placed in a shaded place for a couple of days.

Fertilizers and top dressing - the key to successful cultivation

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

Plants usually start feed in early spring, and finish top dressing in late autumn. In winter, when the dormant period for Asparagus sets in, it is not recommended to feed the plant, and the watering itself should be reduced. In the summer, when Asparagus is outside, you can feed it organic fertilizers. Good for chicken manure.

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

The first sign of presence spider mite will change the color of Asparagus leaves. They will become yellow color and start to dry out a bit. Between the leaves you can see a small cobweb. Small white cotton specks also appear on the leaves of the plant.

When attacked by a pest, Asparagus leaves must be wiped soapy water. If a this method no longer helps, then you can turn to insecticides for help. But it is worth remembering that Asparagus does not tolerate processing well. chemicals so it is best to avoid infecting the plant spider mite subject to temperature conditions.

Growing asparagus outdoors

But how to plant and grow Asparagus in the open field?

Bloom

Whatever the care and maintenance, at home is very difficult achieve flowering of Asparagus, even if all the necessary conditions will be respected. But if it is possible to achieve a flowering plant, then the flowers look rather inconspicuous.

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

reproduction

There are three main ways to propagate asparagus:

rest period

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

Plant toxicity / beneficial properties

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

Often the owners summer cottages pay very little attention to the cultivation of asparagus. In some flower beds, a green "herringbone" decorates a flower bed, does not require special care, its branches are added to bouquets - that's all the use of a useful plant. And if you plant bushes correctly and organize good care behind them, you can treat yourself to a vegetable delicacy that in many countries only people with high incomes can afford. Your main task is to choose the right place in the country for asparagus - that's what they call asparagus in a different way - and it will give a tasty harvest for more than a dozen years.

Planting material preparation

The easiest way to get planting material- buy a root in a specialized center. There you will be explained the features of each variety, they will tell you what kind of soil and care it needs.

The following varieties of asparagus are popular with gardeners:

"Early yellow" - valued for productivity and disease resistance;
"Arzhentelskaya" - has excellent taste;
"Royal" - received recognition from gardeners for resistance to frost and drought;
"Gainlim" - gives a lot of sprouts.

You can independently obtain material from an adult bush. The first way: divide the rhizome into parts, take several fragments for growing and plant them in the country. The second option: cut cuttings from one-year-old shoots, dip the lower parts in a growth stimulator and stick them in the sand. Seedlings need to be created suitable conditions to root and provide proper care at home. Cover them with their necks plastic bottles, on hot days, remove the covers and moisten the soil in a timely manner. When the plants take root well, transplant them to a permanent place.

Growing from seeds is a very laborious task; it is impossible to plant them immediately in the garden. Grains should be soaked in water and kept in a warm place at +30⁰ for 2 days. When the seeds swell, you need to grow strong seedlings and only then plant it in open ground. Most often, grains are planted in a greenhouse, for this you need to carefully prepare the place. Make furrows, put black soil at the bottom, to which superphosphate and ash are added. The top layer is garden soil with fallen leaves and manure. The planting depth should be about 2-4 cm, the distance between plants should be at least 3 cm.

Growing asparagus at home

Those who do not have a dacha sometimes wonder if it is possible to grow edible shoots from seeds on a balcony or on a windowsill. At home, you can grow only seedlings or indoor flower asparagus. To get the first harvest, the plant must be 3 years old. During this time, very long root. Of course, you can put a large tub in the room and plant 1 bush, but the harvest will be so insignificant that it makes no sense to do such work.

If you want to buy a delicacy in the store, remember that green beans and soy asparagus have nothing to do with asparagus. The first of them is also very tasty and useful plant the legume family. Under the second name is a semi-finished product made from soy.

If you want to grow seedlings from seeds, plant the seeds in separate deep cups. Fill them with a mixture of equal parts garden soil, peat, sand and rotted manure. Seedlings require careful care. The plant does not tolerate dryness, moisten the soil daily. Feed 2 weeks after germination complex fertilizer.

When the seedlings grow to 15 cm, start hardening off the seedlings. Take her to Fresh air or ventilate the greenhouse first for 1-2 hours at the warmest time. Gradually increase your time outside. When the seedlings can stand in the air constantly without any changes for the worse, you can plant them in open ground in the country.

Site preparation

Asparagus is not in vain very expensive. It takes up a lot of space, it takes a lot of time from sowing seeds to harvest, and the number of shoots is small. For those who are trying to collect a large amount of vegetables from a small garden, it is better to abandon this crop. And yet find in the garden small plot, where you can plant at least 3-4 bushes, and grow several seedlings at home. When after 3 years you taste the juicy shoots, your attitude towards asparagus will change.

In the country, soil for asparagus should be prepared in the fall. Please note that each bush will need 0.25 m 2 of empty space. The site should be sunny, protected from the wind. The plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture, with a high occurrence ground water Be sure to need good drainage or bulk beds. Most of all, asparagus likes fertile sandy loam. During autumn digging, add to 1 m 2:

Compost - 20 kg;
Superphosphate - 70 g;
Potassium sulfate - 40 g.

If you dug up the bed well in the fall, you can only loosen it in the spring. When harrowing, 60 g of ash and 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 m 2. Holes should be spacious, 35 cm in diameter and depth. In June, you can plant bushes grown at home in a permanent place. In the hole, make a mound of fertile soil, shorten the root of the seedling to 4 cm and place the plant on the embankment. Bury the hole, compact and water the soil well. In the future, young bushes will need proper care, then they will grow thick and strong.

After planting, mulch the bed with sawdust or leaf compost. Such a procedure will keep the soil loose, prevent weeds from breaking through and protect the roots from freezing in winter months. In the early years, while the bushes are still small, use the space between them to grow spices and herbs from seeds.

Proper care - a good harvest

Asparagus is a fairly large bush that grows in one place for many years. He needs a lot to develop properly. nutrients and the soil depletes over time. If you want to get good yields up to 25 years old, fertilize the plot with manure every autumn, and apply compost in the spring. In order for the shoots to grow faster and the harvest to become richer, do not spare organic matter, water the beds with slurry every 3 weeks.

The soil should not be allowed to dry out; on dry days, water the garden bed every day, especially during the growth of edible shoots. If the sprouts do not get enough moisture, they will become bitter and tough. Excessive humidity or stagnant air is also dangerous: plants can be affected by a fungal infection. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the top layer well. If you want to make it easier to care for plants, mulch the bed with peat or compost when planting. With a layer thickness of more than 5 cm, not a single weed will appear on the bed.

You may notice that if you plant asparagus in an open area with strong winds, it grows poorly and often gets sick. This happens not from the cold, but from the fact that the roots of the plant are sensitive to any movement of the aerial part. strong flow air shakes the stems, while small underground root processes come off, and the whole system begins to rot. To prevent this from happening in your garden, be sure to install a strong stake and tie shoots to it. So that the scattered seeds do not germinate and do not make it difficult to care for the garden, remove the fruits that appear on the branches.

If you want to collect asparagus seeds, do not cut the shoots, let the bush develop. Please note that both male and female specimens must grow in the area to obtain germinating seeds.

The rhizome of asparagus each year grows upwards and gradually emerges from the ground. Inspect the plantings several times a season and spud them. This will allow the underground part of the plant to develop normally. At the end of summer, cut off the yellowed shoots, and before the onset of cold weather, cut off all the stems and cover the ground with peat or sawdust with a layer thickness of at least 5 cm. The rhizomes of adult plants will not die even in severe frosts, and spring frosts are dangerous for young shoots.

Diseases and pests of green bushes

Asparagus is very rarely sick, but sometimes it can be affected by fungal infections. Basically, such problems arise if the care of the plant is done incorrectly. The cause of diseases is excessive moisture in the soil or air. Bushes do not like strong wind but they need fresh air. Do not arrange a bed in a completely enclosed space, allow a light breeze to penetrate there. For prevention, you can spray plantings with fungicides in spring and autumn.

Among insects, asparagus has 2 enemies.

Asparagus fly. Brown midge with yellow legs and head. Its appearance can be determined by twisted and withering shoots.
Asparagus leaf beetle. A beetle with blue wings and a red stripe. Eats all parts of the plant. Especially active in the second half of summer.

How to properly harvest and preserve the crop

The gardener can't wait to try the young sprouts. Take your time: until the plant is 3 years old, you can not cut the shoots. Wait until the bush has accumulated enough strength, then in the next years it will bestow you good harvests. The first time, cut no more than 5 stems, leave the rest for the development of a strong bush. From good adult specimens, a gardener can collect up to 30 sprouts per season. Never remove all shoots: if not a single branch remains, the bush may die.

Sprouts that have reached 20 cm in height, on which leaf buds have not yet bloomed, are suitable for food. As soon as the first needles begin to form, the stems will become stiff and unsuitable for food. Open the soil and break off with your hands or cut off the shoots at the very rhizome with a knife, just be careful not to disturb or injure the root system. You can harvest all summer, but the richest spring months.

White asparagus is the most valuable species. These shoots were dug out of the ground, not exposed to sunlight and retained the maximum concentration of nutrients.
Purple asparagus was not exposed to light for long and did not have time to develop chlorophyll. Slightly bitter in taste.
Green asparagus grew in the sun, accumulated a lot of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, but lost some of the vitamins. The taste is bitter.

Everyone has different preferences, some gourmets consider white asparagus to be the most delicious and tender, others argue that green shoots have a richer and richer taste. If you want to taste white sprouts, protect them from light. In autumn, after cutting the stems, make an earthen mound about 20 cm high above the roots. In the spring, watch the soil surface. When you notice elevations or small cracks, carefully dig the soil down to the root. Cut off the shoots that have reached the desired height, and again restore the mound. After a few days, the next sprouts will start to make their way to the surface, dig the ground again and harvest.

If you didn’t make mounds in the fall, in the spring you can cover the ground with boxes or make a shelter from a material that does not let light through: black film, roofing felt.

Fresh shoots should be immediately eaten or used for cooking, preparations for the winter. If you need to use the asparagus later, place it in a jar of water like a bouquet and refrigerate. Remember that if there are products with a pungent odor on the shelves, the shoots will absorb foreign odors. Sprouts can be frozen, but at the same time they will lose some of their taste and useful qualities.

Conclusion

Do not believe the rumors that asparagus is a very capricious plant, that growing asparagus from seeds in the open field and caring for it takes too much time. All the most difficult happens in the first year, when growing seedlings at home or in a greenhouse, and when the bushes take root and begin to develop well, they will not require much attention from you. It is necessary to cultivate the soil once and properly plant asparagus in the country, and then it will grow in one place for many years.

To make the shoots white and tender in taste, they need to be protected from light. Most convenient way- in the fall, after cutting the stems, pour a mound of earth over the plant, and dig up the soil when harvesting. When cutting, do not be greedy, do not completely remove all the stems, leave something for the development of the bush. The faster you put the product into processing, the tastier and healthier the dish will turn out. Use asparagus for salads, soups, vegetable side dishes, and feel like a millionaire who has access to expensive delicacies.

Asparagus can often be seen in the gardens of summer residents and owners of household plots. But many are engaged in its cultivation only in decorative purposes, not knowing that the young shoots of this plant are edible. This vegetable crop has a unique composition and has a great taste, and there are quite a few varieties of asparagus. In addition, caring for it does not cause any particular difficulties, and planting a plant is possible with seeds immediately in open ground.

Description of culture: varieties and varieties

Asparagus is a perennial crop that has become quite widespread in many regions. She does well in the wild too. Often this herbaceous plant can also be found in gardens, because asparagus is quite unpretentious in growing and easy to care for. It is resistant to frost and can grow without a transplant in one place for a long time. Planting a crop is possible with seeds in open ground, there are other ways to propagate it on the site. It has good taste properties and excellent decorative qualities, as you can see if you look at the photo different varieties this plant.

There are over 300 species of this plant. Among this diversity, the following varieties of culture can be distinguished:

vegetable;
decorative;
medicinal.

Asparagus in the open field

Vegetable asparagus is quite common in vegetable gardens, because it is not only suitable for use in food, but also very decorative. And this can be fully assessed from the photo of various vegetable varieties of this crop. The most popular varieties include the following:

Snow head is one of the most popular vegetable varieties of medium early ripening with tender and tasty pulp.
Glory of Braunschweig - with juicy white shoots, late ripening, often used for canning.
Late Arzhenteuil - characterized by large-sized shoots that are suitable for both consumption in fresh, and for cooking various dishes and canning.

Planting a plant with seeds

This culture prefers well-lit areas with fertile soil, cleared of weeds. Great fit sandy soils. The plant, with appropriate shelter, winters well in autumn, withstanding even severe frosts. But young seedlings do not tolerate a decrease in temperature. Therefore, planting asparagus in open ground is best done at a time when the threat of frost in the spring has already passed.

For planting a plant, you can use different methods of its reproduction. But to grow a new variety, a crop can be planted with seeds immediately in open ground. Before planting, it is better to soak dry asparagus seeds in water with the addition of a growth stimulator for two days before planting. Then sow them in a pre-prepared bed. The soil should be light, well fertilized. Seeds are planted to a depth of no more than 1-2 cm, keeping a distance of about 5-7 cm between them. The distance between rows should be at least 25-30 cm.

asparagus seeds

Asparagus germinates for a long time, up to 1-1.5 months. When the sprouts appear, they will need to be thinned out, leaving only the strongest ones with a distance between seedlings of 10-15 cm. In the year of planting, young seedlings are left on the same bed, not forgetting about appropriate care for them, as well as regular fertilizing and fertilizers. Asparagus can be transplanted to a permanent place after one or two seasons.

culture care

Asparagus is a fairly easy-to-care plant. Of course, she still needs some care, and it consists of:

timely watering;
application of fertilizing and fertilizers;
removal of weeds;
loosening the soil after watering, rain or weeding.

Particular attention should be paid to watering plants. It must be systematic. It is undesirable to allow the drying of the earth. This can adversely affect the growth and development of the plant. It is better to water little by little and with subsequent loosening of the earth near the seedlings.

Attention! The culture does not tolerate stagnant water very well. This should be taken into account when choosing a site for planting asparagus and when further care for her.

In autumn, asparagus shoots are best cut near the ground without damaging the rhizome. To protect the roots of the plant from freezing, they can be covered for the winter with straw, foliage, peat or manure.

asparagus sprouts

Fertilizer and top dressing of asparagus

The growth, development and yield of asparagus directly depend on the fertility of the soil in which it is planted, and on timely fertilizers applied to the ground. Feeding is done several times per season and throughout the life of the plant. In the spring, before planting, humus is introduced. Then, during the season, you will still need to make top dressing, using both organic matter and mineral fertilizers. Last time it is better to feed the plant with complex fertilizer in the fall before the cold weather.

Plant propagation

There are several different ways propagation of this plant:

seed - asparagus is a dioecious plant, on female specimens, ovaries are first formed, and then - small red berries that cannot be eaten. Male plants produce pollen;
cuttings - for this, green shoots are taken from an adult plant. In order for them to take root, they need to be planted in moistened sand;
dividing the bush is the easiest and most popular way for gardeners to propagate this plant. It is most convenient to divide the bush during transplantation.

Diseases and pests of culture

Asparagus is a fairly disease-resistant crop. But it can be affected by such a dangerous plant disease as Helicobasidium purpureum. This fungus causes red root rot and death. And after the death of the roots, the aerial part of the plant also dies off. When this fungus appears, "Fundazol" is used, and in case of severe lesions, the plant is completely destroyed.

Asparagus fruits are not to be eaten.

This culture also has insect pests. The most dangerous asparagus leaf beetle. Other pests can cause damage to plants: asparagus flies, bears, wireworms, slugs.

Advice. Spraying the plant during flowering systemic insecticide for prevention purposes, it helps to scare away many pests from asparagus.

The combination of asparagus with other plants

For successful cultivation culture is required to take into account the proximity of other plants next to it. Favorable for asparagus, its combination in the garden with dill or strawberries. Coreopsis, kosmeya, marshmallow - also enough good combination for asparagus when planting in one area. Compatible also with tomatoes, basil, parsley.

Young shoots of asparagus are tasty and very healthy. Therefore, it is worth thinking about growing this crop in your garden, especially since caring for it is quite simple and usually does not cause any particular difficulties.