How to grow asparagus for beginners effectively and efficiently
How to grow asparagus for beginners effectively and efficiently
Asparagus is gradually becoming popular because of its high nutritional content and is very good for health. Asparagus is used a lot in preparing dishes not only because of its delicious flavor but also because of the rich source of nutrients it brings. So what benefits does asparagus really bring to the body? Are there any things to keep in mind when using asparagus? Don’t skip this article if you want to answer the above questions!
Introduction to asparagus
Asparagus has the scientific name Asparagus Officinalis, a perennial plant and native to European countries, North Africa and West Asia. Asparagus has thick, spongy stems, light brown in color and about 5-6mm in diameter. In particular, the plant stem grows underground in the soil and has many long roots, so it is often called a rhizome. The part of the stem that rises above the ground will have needle-shaped leaves. Asparagus also has flowers, but the flowers are very small, only about 6mm long, green, bell-shaped and grow in groups of 4-6 flowers in the leaf axils. Asparagus fruit is spherical, thick and characteristically red. Asparagus can be classified according to 3 common colors: white asparagus, purple asparagus and green asparagus. In particular, purple plants contain many anthocyanins and photochemicals, which help bring about the unique purple color. Green asparagus, when grown in areas with limited light and unable to absorb enough chlorophyll, will produce white asparagus.
Ways to grow asparagus
How to grow asparagus is also quite simple. You can harvest after 6 months and maintain harvest for the next 4-8 years. The golden time to harvest asparagus is from March to May every year.
Plant with seeds
First, the seeds need to be soaked in warm water (ratio 2 boiling: 3 cold) for about 12 hours. After that, you take it out, drain it and then incubate it in a towel/cloth for about 9-12 days to let the seeds crack. Next, you plant the seeds in pots or plant them directly in nursery soil. If planting in pots, you should choose a 7×12 cm polyethylene bag and have drainage holes in the bottom. Put in the pot with clean soil, rice husk ash and decomposed manure (at the ratio of 3 soil: 1 stool), then use a stick to poke a hole 0.5 – 1cm deep to put the seeds in and gently close it. During this period, every 12 to 15 hours, you need to water with warm water using a sprinkler or rain sprinkler system to avoid displacing the seeds. In addition, you should use a pergola to limit the impact of sun and rain. The plant will germinate and grow after about 7 days of planting.
Planted with trees
Note: Regarding temperature, asparagus plants will grow well in places with lots of light and temperatures between 15-30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you should maintain the ideal temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
How to fertilize asparagus
Regarding fertilizer, 15-20 days after planting the tree, you can fertilize the tree by mixing NPK 15-15-15 compound with water and then watering it at the base of the tree. After that, every 10-15 days, you continue to fertilize with NPK at a ratio of 16-16-8 and combine with other microbial fertilizers. You should stop fertilizing about 15 days from harvest time.
Asparagus care techniques
Regarding irrigation, in the dry season, you should water regularly and cover with straw, rice husk ash or coconut fiber to retain moisture and prevent the soil from drying out. Besides, you should not water the plants after 5pm to avoid damaging the newly sprouted shoots. During the rainy season, you should regularly check the drainage ditches to avoid flooding so that the roots do not rot.
Prevent pests and diseases for plants
Regarding pests, asparagus can suffer from pests/diseases such as armyworms, earthworms, aphids, thrips and fungi/viruses that cause root rot. To prevent pests and leafhoppers, you should regularly clean the grass, prune away damaged/old leaves and moisten the soil. In case the tree is attacked by fungi and viruses, you need to use pesticides such as Kasai, Carban, Carbenzim, Daconil, Wofatox,… 6Harvest the asparagus plant Regarding harvesting asparagus, you should harvest it early in the morning from 4-9 am after 6-9 months of planting. You just need to gently rotate the bamboo shoot base with your hand and the bamboo shoot will easily separate. As soon as harvest is completed, bamboo shoots should be placed in a cool place, away from sunlight. You can harvest continuously for 15 days, then pause to continue fertilizing and providing nutrients to the plant. After 3 months, cut off the old tree and change to another mother tree.
Cool tip:
– When the tree has reached a height of about 1-1.5m, you can use twine to string it in double rows, clamping asparagus in the middle to prevent the tree from falling over.
– About 4-5 months after planting, you prune old and stunted trees, keeping only 4-6 healthy mother trees. This will stimulate the tree to grow more new seedlings
– From the 4th year of harvest, the yield and quality of asparagus will increase significantly.
Above are shares about the meaning, how to grow as well as the wonderful uses of asparagus. Hope you have more knowledge about asparagus, through which you can plant and care for plants at home and prepare delicious dishes for your family.
