Asparagus Growing Methods Explained in Detail: Grow This Way for Ten Years of Continuous Harvest

Asparagus, also known as Disun or Lusun, is a green leafy vegetable with a relatively high selenium content, combining green organic and natural wild qualities in one, and is called the king of vegetables. Because it is easy to grow and has high economic value, it has strong growing prospects, so what are the asparagus growing methods?

1. Introduction to Asparagus:

1. What is asparagus?

Asparagus is the young shoot of Asparagus officinalis, a plant in the Asparagaceae family. Before it emerges from the soil it is white and called white asparagus; after emerging it turns green and is called green asparagus. Generally, after exposure to light it becomes green asparagus.

2. Which regions does asparagus come from?

Asparagus has many places of origin and is distributed both domestically and abroad. Abroad, it is mainly distributed in Germany, the United States, France, Japan, Spain, and Peru. Domestically, it is mainly distributed in Xuzhou, Jiangsu; Heze, Shandong; Shaanxi; Henan; Sichuan; Tianjin and other places, among which Shandong is the main base for asparagus production.

2. What are the asparagus growing methods?

1. Sowing:

(1) Sowing time: spring, March to April; autumn, August to September.

(2) Seed treatment: asparagus seed coats are thick and do not easily absorb water, so before sowing they must be treated to promote germination. Generally, first clean and disinfect the seeds, then soak them in 30 degree warm water for about 3 days, finally take them out, wrap them in a towel or gauze, and place them in a warm place for about 3 days until they germinate. During germination promotion, a small amount of water should be sprayed according to how dry or wet the towel is, to ensure the seeds have enough moisture and germinate quickly.

(3) Seedbed preparation: asparagus likes to grow in loose soil with good air permeability, so when choosing a seedbed, sandy loam is best. At the same time, to ensure the loam has sufficient nutrients, an appropriate amount of calcium fertilizer, farmyard manure, or urea can be added to ensure seedling growth.

(4) Sowing method: asparagus can be sown in three ways: broadcast sowing, dibbling, or drilling. For broadcast sowing, about 10 kg of seed is sown per mu; for dibbling and drilling, about 1 kg of seed is used per mu. After sowing, cover the bed surface with rice straw or pine needles, then use a watering can to water evenly and thoroughly. After 15 to 20 days, seedlings begin to emerge.

(5) Seedbed management: after 80% of the seedlings have emerged, the straw and other coverings can be gradually removed, and with proper watering and fertilizing, small seedlings will grow.

2. Planting out:

(1) Site selection: as much as possible, choose loam or sandy loam that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, with a low underground water table and good drainage.

(2) Digging trenches: dig a trench about 40 cm wide at the top, 50 cm wide at the bottom, and about 50 cm deep, and place about 10 cm of topsoil in the trench to promote asparagus root growth.

(3) Planting out time: spring-sown seedlings are planted out in May to June; autumn-sown seedlings are planted out in March to April of the following year.

(4) Planting density: about 1200 plants per mu, with a plant spacing of 30 to 35 cm being suitable.

(5) Planting out method: cut away part of the stems and leaves of the selected asparagus seedlings, leaving 20 cm, then spread the root mass apart according to the set plant spacing so that it extends diagonally downward in all directions. Do not cover with soil too deeply at one time; after they survive, cover with soil twice more during cultivating and weeding. When covering with soil, try to bury the root crown 10 to 15 cm below the soil surface.

3. Replanting:

One month after planting out, asparagus may show diseased seedlings, dead seedlings, and similar problems, so to improve the survival rate, inspect the seedlings and replant promptly, and water the replanted seedlings after planting out to promote their rapid growth.

4. Field management techniques:

(1) Clean the field promptly: after harvesting asparagus, clean the field promptly to increase the next year's yield. When cleaning the field, remove withered stems and branches, field debris, and so on as thoroughly as possible to prevent bacteria from breeding and affecting the growth of other plants.

(2) Disinfect and prevent disease: after cleaning the field, disinfect the soil promptly to prevent pests and diseases. When disinfecting, use agents such as chlorothalonil as much as possible to spray and drench the roots, to reduce the disease rate.

(3) Water and fertilizer management: after disinfection, fertilize and water the asparagus. Generally, decomposed farmyard manure can be used, and water immediately after fertilizing to promote dissolution of the fertilizer, allow the soil to absorb it quickly, and help the asparagus overwinter safely.

(4) Loosening soil and weeding: to help asparagus overwinter safely, soil moisture conservation must be maintained. Generally, regularly loosen the soil and weed so that the soil and fertilizer mix fully and the soil permeability improves. When weeding, if you encounter tenacious weeds, chemical herbicides such as fluorochloridone can be used.

3. Is white asparagus better or green asparagus better?

Both white asparagus and green asparagus are good, because the two are about the same in nutritional value; it is only that white asparagus is slightly more expensive. The specific differences are as follows:

Difference 1, different culinary value: white asparagus is mostly used to make canned goods or high-end dishes, while green asparagus is mostly used widely in cooking.

Difference 2, different nutritional value: white asparagus has no chlorophyll, but has a high content of mineral elements. Green asparagus contains chlorophyll, and also contains carotene, folic acid, protein, vitamins, and so on.

Difference 3, difference in price: white asparagus is rare and is generally used for high-end dishes, so its price is 3 to 5 times higher than green asparagus. Green asparagus is relatively common and is generally sold in vegetable markets, so its price is affordable.

The above are the high-yield asparagus growing methods. By following this method, you can harvest continuously for ten years. I hope it helps you.