Asparagus
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Read about Asparagus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Asparagus officinalis, Linn. Asparagus. Figs. 402, 403. An erect herb from a woody crown with long fleshy roots: Bts. smooth, much branched above, 4-12 ft. high: cladodes 3-8 in a fascicle, ¼-1 in. long, terete: B. -scale with a short soft spur at base: fls. 1-4, in axils with cladodes or branches, campanulate, yellowish green: berries red, ¼-⅜ in., 1-9-seeded; seed germinate in 12-14 days in warmhouse, often taking a month when planted outdoors in spring. Eu. — The esculent asparagus of the garden, the fruiting sprays with the bright red berries used for decorating. The young seedlings developed from a large number of seed planted in a small pot or pan make a very handsome table decoration. See Asparagus, Esculent.
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Read about Asparagus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Asparagus (the Greek name). Liliceae. Asparagus. Smilax (greenhouse). Asparagus Fern. A large genus of herbaceous perennials and tender woody shrubs and vines, grown mostly for ornamental habit and foliage, but one of them (A. officinalis) for food. Plants provided with short underground rhizomes from which the aerial sts. arise in serial order: roots often tuberous, sometimes fleshy but long-cylindric as in A. officinalis: sts. varying from low herbs to stout woody vines 50 ft. or more long: Lvs. reduced to scale- like bracts usually with a basal spur, often spiny; 11'.- function performed by special sterile twigs, cladodes (phyllodia, cladophylls, i.e., If.-like branchlets) of determinate growth and of characteristic shape with each species (see Fig. 411): fls. usually axillary, or terminal, in 1-4's, sometimes umbellate, often racemose on special branches lacking the cladodes, small; perianth 6-parted; stamens 6, free, filament attached to base of perianth lobes; ovary 3-celled, stigma 3- paited (except in Section Kodiastigma), ovules 2-6 in locule: fr. a berry 1-, 3-, 6- or more seeded; seed globose or flat on one side, testa usually black, embryo straight, surrounded by a hard endosperm.—About 150 species, all native of the Old World, ranging from Siberia to Cape of Good Hope, usually from dry regions. Monogr. by Baker, Journ. Linn. Soc. 14 (1875); account of cult, species by Watson, G.C. III. 23:122, 147, 178. This large genus is remarkable for its lack of functional leaves, whose place is taken by the leaf-like cladodes which are usually considered as leaves. The cladodes are usually borne in fascicles of three to forty in the axils of the leaf-scale; in A. stipulaceus the leaf-like cladode is solitary in the axils. 1 he woody members of the genus often have the base of the leaf- scale developed into a strong spine. In some groups the cladodes are spiny tipped. A. stipulaceus and its relatives (apparently not in cult.) have the side branches developed into thorns. Most of the ornamentals of the genus will not stand frost, but some of the Asiatic forms are perfectly hardy except in the North. Members of this genus furnish the most satisfactory "green" for decorative purposes known to the trade, some of the forms rivaling the finest ferns in their delicate beauty. Their ability to hold up for several days without wilting makes the cut sprays of some of the species necessary in some forms of decorative work. Nearly all the species are of easy culture and can be propagated readily by seed which is usually produced in abundance; also propagated by division and in some woody forms by cuttings.
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| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennial |
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| Origin: | ✈ | Europe, N Africa, W Asia |
| Exposure: | ☼ | sun |
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| Water: | ◍ | frequent"frequent" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property., regular"regular" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property. |
| Features: | ✓ | edible shoots"Edible shoots" is not in the list (evergreen, deciduous, flowers, fragrance, edible, fruit, naturalizes, invasive, foliage, birds, ...) of allowed values for the "Features" property. |
| Sunset Zones: | 1-24, 29-45 |
The vegetable known as Asparagus, is the specie Asparagus officinalis, of the Asparagus genus, which has many other species. Once established, this is a very reliable, long-term perennial that will produce crops year after year. It takes 2-3 years for plants to reach full production. After that period a good spring crop should be produced for the next 10-15 years. Plants take a fair amount of room, producing grand and feathery branches, which are very ornamental. Plants make a good background for other vegetables or flowers, and look good along a sunny fence.
Cultivation
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Seeds planted in the spring become strong plants in the first season, but most people buy roots. Seedlings as well as plump roots bought from the store should be planted either in the fall/winter (mild climates) or early spring (cold winter climates). Plant in 1ft wide, 8-10in deep trenches, with themselves trenches 4-6in apart. Manure-enriched compost/soil should be heaped loosely at the bottom of the trench, and watered in well. Plant roots/seedlings a foot apart, in such a way that tops are 6-8in below trench top. Roots should be evenly spread, and covered with 2in of soil and given more water.
Fill in trenches as plants grow, being careful not to cover growing tips. Water with a deep soaking whenever soil near roots starts to dry. Do not harvest any spears the first 2 years to allow the plants to gain strength. Cut stems to ground when they die in the fall, or in the spring if you live in cold-winter areas (to help protect roots from snow).
The third year you can harvest some of the shoots during the first 4-6 weeks of production, but be very careful to stop if they begin to get noticeably thinner. After that time frame, stop harvesting to allow the plants to grow and gather strength for the next years crop. Cultivate and feed during the year, and water regularly.
After the third year you can harvest for 8-10 weeks, when the spears are 5-8in long. Slice into the stem with a knife at ground level at a 45 degree angle.
Propagation
Seeds planted in the spring. Traditional varieties will produce seed, some varieties known as "all-male" have almost all male plants which produce no seed.
Pests and diseases
Asparagus beetles should be hand picked off the plants during harvest season, and knocked off with jets of water. Growing with tomato plants helps reduce these pests.
Cultivars
White and purple varieties exist, as do some varieties with virtually no female plants.
Popular cultivars include:
- 'Martha Washington' - traditional type
- 'Jersey Giant' - "all-male" varieties which do not produce seeds, allowing for better crop production.
Gallery
References
- w:Asparagus. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Asparagus QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
- Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608