The Greek name and Russian-European origin, exotic appearance, but at the same time the severity of simplicity. All this about a mysterious delicacy - asparagus. But what is asparagus, where does it grow and what is its value?
Just about the little-known
Oddly enough, the answer to the question of what asparagus can be, is the statement that it is a simple perennial plant, the main flowering of which occurs in mid-spring. It has long been growing on well-moistened soil, and in the wild, the places of its "habitat" are the banks of water bodies and rivers.
Speaking about what can be eaten from the composition of this plant, the statement according to which all parts of asparagus are perfect for culinary experiments is considered to be unmistakable. All of them plants have a wide range of useful microelements, the list of which includes B vitamins, but at the same time proteins, amino acids and carbohydrates necessary for the body.
But in addition to nutritional value, asparagus is also actively used in herbal medicine. So, it is indicated for diseases of the liver and kidneys, diseases of the heart and joints, as well as for obesity. But the use of asparagus during pregnancy is strongly contraindicated if it is complicated by urolithiasis.
There are many varieties of asparagus. But the most popular are the Snowy Head, Argenteuil, Braunschweig Glory and, of course, Dutch green asparagus. All of them differ in the color of the stems and the ratio of nutrients. So, green asparagus will be useful to those who need to raise the level of immunity. To do this, choose greenish-purple varieties.
How to grow asparagus?
In preparation for asparagus cultivation, it is necessary to find a place that meets the following conditions. The first is that the plot should be withdrawn from the crop rotation for a long period. This is explained by the fact that within fifteen years it will be possible to get a crop. The second condition is the quality of the soil. It should be enriched with compost or peat bog. The third condition is climate - the place must be protected from gusts of wind.
So, a suitable site has been found, which means that it should be prepared. To do this, it is enriched with fertilizers containing superphosphate and peat compost in the autumn and charcoal immediately after the thawing period in early spring. Moreover, Ph soils are kept in the range above 6.5.
The ideal way to plant asparagus is considered a seating arrangement. For this, seeds are soaked for a week in water at a temperature of twenty - twenty eight degrees. After that, the sprouted seeds are planted in containers with compost-rich earth at a level of one and a half centimeters and wait for the formation of a stable root system. Once it has formed, transplants should be transplanted to a permanent place.
To finally plant asparagus on the plot, furrows are formed to a depth of one meter, where seedlings are transferred. The distance between the furrows cannot be less than sixty centimeters. Otherwise, the root system of neighboring bushes is closely intertwined, which is not recommended. For planting, it is best to choose mid-late August.
During the entire growing time, two indispensable conditions must be observed. First, the soil of the asparagus should be fertilized annually in the spring. Second - soil dehydration must not be allowed. Otherwise, the minimum harm will be that the shoots lose their edible properties due to bitterness.
The conditions for obtaining white and green asparagus differ. What is the asparagus must bear in order to acquire a whitish hue? The answer is simple: the constant "enveloping" of the earth so that the shoots can not acquire a green color in the world .
When answering the question about what asparagus is and how it is grown, it should be remembered that this truly valuable plant can enrich the body with a number of useful microelements in return for the labor invested, but only if it is properly planted and cultivated.