The Latest Asparagus Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Asparagus, also known as shidiao bai or longxu cai, and locally called shan baomi, is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family. The young spears of asparagus turn green after emerging from the soil and being exposed to light, and are called green asparagus, mainly for fresh consumption; when earthed up and blanched they turn white, and are called white asparagus, mostly used as raw material for canned food. Asparagus contains protein, fat, calcium, iron and a variety of vitamins. It is a valuable vegetable with a delicious taste and rich nutrition, and also has relatively high medicinal value: it can lower blood pressure, prevent and treat diseases of the cardiovascular, urinary, lymphatic and other systems, and has a unique anti-cancer effect. It is a world-famous fine vegetable and good medicine, and its products sell well both domestically and abroad. Asparagus is easy to cultivate and convenient to manage. At the same time, asparagus can be harvested continuously for 10-15 years from a single planting. In the south it grows all year round, while in northern regions it enters dormancy in winter. It will continue to grow the following year. Asparagus has strong adaptability, is easy to cultivate, and has low temperature requirements: in winter the underground part can withstand low temperatures of -20°C in the soil, and during the growing period it can withstand high temperatures of 35-37°C. In cultivation it also has the advantages of requiring little labor, being convenient to manage, and giving high yields.
Asparagus seed treatment
Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 25°C-30°C for 3-5 days, changing the water 1-2 times a day. Once the seeds have absorbed enough water, remove them, mix with fine sand or vermiculite, place in a container, cover with a wet towel, and keep at 25-30°C to promote germination, turning them twice a day. After 5-8 days, once the seeds have sprouted white, they can be sown.
Asparagus seedling-raising techniques
For friends growing them in home pots or small gardens, you can use peat soil or seedling soil with a seedling tray, or seedling blocks with a seedling box, to raise seedlings. The soil covering thickness is about 2-3 cm. The best temperature for raising seedlings is 25-30 degrees. In agricultural production, the following method is used:
1. Seedbed preparation: The seedbed should preferably be fertile, loose sandy loam. Apply 2500-3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 20 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 15 kg of potash fertilizer per mu of seedbed. Plow them into the soil, prepare the land finely, and then make beds. The bed width is 1.3-1.5 m. For sowing, use lengthwise beds with trenches opened across them, with a row spacing of 20-30 cm and a plant spacing of 7-10 cm. Use a hole puncher to make holes, sow one seed per hole, cover with 2.5 cm of soil, and then cover with a thin layer of grass to increase temperature and retain warmth. The sowing time is from late April to early May (when the ground temperature has steadily passed 10°C, which is preferable).
2. Greenhouse seedling raising
(1) Nutrient soil preparation: 30% decomposed farmyard manure, 30% peat, 20% aged stove ash, 20% farmland soil (with no pesticide residue), and add 50 g of diammonium phosphate per kg of nutrient soil.
(2) Raising seedlings in nutrient pots (8×12 cm): sow one seed in each pot, at a sowing depth of 2 cm, cover with 2 cm of soil, and water thoroughly.
(3) Temperature and humidity management: The suitable temperature for asparagus germination is 25°C-28°C; after emergence, 25°C, with a maximum not exceeding 30°C and a minimum not lower than 8°C. The soil should preferably be kept moist. After emergence, the seedlings have weak root systems, so water promptly during drought, and weed promptly. From 7-10 days before planting out, begin large ventilation to harden the seedlings so they adapt to the external natural environment and reach the standard of healthy seedlings, with more than 3 aboveground stems and 5-7 underground storage roots.
Asparagus planting-out methods
1. Land selection: Choose sandy loam with loose soil, good air permeability, high terrain, smooth drainage, deep soil layers, and rich organic matter. A pH value of 5.8-6.7 is preferable. The previous crop should not be carrots or sugar beets.
2. Land preparation and fertilization: Deeply plow 20-25 cm and form ridges. Apply 3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, plus 25 kg of ternary compound fertilizer as base fertilizer. The ridge width is 1.2-1.4 m. 3. Planting-out method. With a plant spacing of 30-40 cm, use a shovel to dig planting furrows 30 cm deep and 30-40 cm wide. Apply 25 kg of ternary compound fertilizer plus 1500 kg of organic fertilizer per mu into the furrows, mix evenly, then spread in 10 cm of topsoil, with the center of the furrow slightly higher. Place the graded asparagus seedlings into the furrow: one strong, large seedling per hole, and two weak, small seedlings per hole. Spread the root systems out in all directions, with the buds facing the same direction along the furrow, arranged in a straight line, to facilitate management, earthing up, and harvesting. Hold the seedling body with one hand, first cover with a small amount of soil and firm it, then cover with 4-5 cm of fine soil, water thoroughly, and after the water seeps down, cover with another 1-2 cm of soil to prevent crusting and water evaporation. 3-4 days after transplanting, promptly check the seedlings and replant missing ones to prevent gaps.
Management after asparagus planting out
15 days after planting out, carry out one intertillage and weeding to loosen the soil, improve aeration and preserve moisture. Keep soil moisture at 60%-70%. If it is too dry, water appropriately. During the rainy season, dig drainage ditches to prevent water accumulation and root rot.