Medicinal plants asparagus. Asparagus officinalis: description, beneficial properties, application. Planting potted asparagus seedlings
Asparagus officinalis - Asparagus officinalis. Family Asparagaceae.
Botanical characteristics
Perennial herbaceous plant with numerous strongly branched stems up to 1.5 m high. It has a thick rhizome from which a large number of roots, and vertical vegetative shoots. The leaves are very small, scaly, and have thread-like branches in their axils. Blooms in June. The flowers are greenish-white or greenish-yellow, small dicotyledonous, and also pseudobisexual. The fruits are red spherical berries that ripen in September.
Spreading
Found in the wild in the European part of the country, in Western Siberia(except for the Far North), in the Caucasus. Cultivated by amateurs as tasty vegetable plant in gardens and orchards.
Plant parts used
Rhizomes with roots and young shoots.
Asparagine and arginine (up to 0.04%), steroid saponins, essential oil, vitamin A, carbohydrates, coumarin and chelidonic acid.
Application and beneficial properties
Not used in scientific medicine. It has a strong diuretic effect, as well as hypotensive, sedative, antispastic and choleretic. Asparagus increases heart contractions and slows down their rhythm.
Preparations from the plant are prescribed for neuroses, hysteria, impotence, tachycardia, hypertension and atherosclerosis.
In Chinese folk medicine, asparagus is a popular plant and is recommended for illnesses. gastrointestinal tract and liver, as an anti-inflammatory and digestive and appetite improving agent, for lung diseases, whooping cough, diabetes, gout and rheumatism.
The main advantage of asparagus preparations is their diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. The plant is widely used for kidney diseases, Bladder, prostate gland, as well as edema due to cardiovascular and renal failure.
Used externally for various skin diseases. Asparagus gives urine a specific unpleasant odor.
Preparation
- Decoction of rhizomes and roots of asparagus officinalis: 1 tbsp. l. dry crushed raw materials, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Set aside and filter. Take 0.5 cups 4 times a day before meals for kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, allergies.
- Decoction of asparagus herb: 1 tbsp. l. dry crushed herbs, pour 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, filter. Take 0.5 cups 4 times a day before meals for cardioneurosis, tachycardia, toxic goiter, hypertension.
- Infusion of asparagus officinalis fruit: Five berries are poured with 1 glass of boiling water and left in a thermos for 6-8 hours. Take 1 tbsp of infusion. l. every 4-5 hours 3-4 times a day for impotence, hemorrhoids.
- Decoction of rhizomes and roots of asparagus officinalis (external): 1 tbsp. l. crushed dry raw materials, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Leave for 20 minutes, filter. Used as lotions for pustular, eczematous, psoriatic and allergic skin lesions.
Homeopathy
Asparagus 3 x is used in homeopathy in the treatment of cardiac patients. Characteristic symptoms: circulatory failure, accompanied by general weakness, pain radiates to the left shoulder, pulse is small and weak. More suitable for elderly patients.
Asparagus officinalis – perennial of the Liliaceae family, which has healing properties.
It has a powerful rhizome and erect stems up to one and a half meters high.
The stems are widely covered with small leaves, in the axils of which so-called cladodes are formed - an accumulation of thread-like branches.
Asparagus blooms at the end spring period. Flowering continues until the end of summer.
Asparagus flowers grow in pairs, held together in the axils of the peduncles. They have a pale greenish color.
The fruits are spherical berries that become red when ripe. Asparagus berries ripen in September.
You can look at the photo of Asparagus officinalis below:
Outdoor care
When growing asparagus, appropriate care is required, which is based on moderate watering, regular weeding and constant application of fertilizer.
Growing and Reproduction
The growing time for asparagus is similar to the growing time for grapes. The period from planting asparagus to harvest lasts three years.
With the onset of the third year, asparagus begins to produce new shoots every year from April to July.
At proper cultivation this period lasts for 16-20 years.
REFERENCE: A year before planting asparagus permanent place growing in a greenhouse or hotbed, it is necessary to grow seedlings.
Start growing seedlings
First, the seeds need to be kept in warm water within 3-4 days, as they germinate poorly. A container with seeds can be placed next to the battery to keep the water warm.
Then the seeds are wrapped in wet gauze folded in several layers and placed inside a small container. The gauze must be constantly moistened as the moisture evaporates. The seed opening process will begin after a week.
ADVICE: When most seeds hatch, they need to be sorted out and stored in the refrigerator until sowing.
Planting and transplanting
Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to prepare the beds by providing them with fertilizers.
Compost or rotted manure is suitable as fertilizer. The soil must be carefully dug up and loosened for good air exchange.
Landing is subject to the following conditions:
In early April, prepared seeds are sown in pre-made grooves to a depth of 2 centimeters.
The grooves should be spaced at a distance of 35-45 centimeters, and the distance between the seeds should reach 6-7 centimeters.
ADVICE: After the seedlings grow to 3-4 centimeters in height, thinning should be done, leaving stronger plants.
Throughout the summer, it is necessary to weed from weeds, water regularly and be sure to feed with fertilizers based on cow dung or fermented hay.
By the end of summer, the plant will develop a rhizome and approximately 3-4 shoots.
With the arrival of autumn, fruits appear. Now you need to pull out the plants with small berries of rich red color and set them aside for future propagation for decorative purposes. These are females that produce weak and tasteless shoots.
IMPORTANT: before the beginning winter season plants should be fertilized. In October, the plant loses its top part and only the root part remains. The roots need to be covered with peat.
Seedlings can also be grown in pots. Then they will come out more powerful and resistant to winter period plants.
Sowing in pots is carried out according to the same parameters as in greenhouse beds.
Sowing time is May. Manure and sand are placed and carefully distributed into pots with seedlings.
Seeds are watered moderately warm water. Prepared seedlings are planted in open ground with the arrival of summer time.
Harvesting
Harvesting begins three years after asparagus is planted. In the spring, hilling is carried out at a height of 20-25 centimeters. Shoots begin to be cut off in May. This can be done daily.
The process of cutting a shoot begins with carefully pouring the soil to the base of the shoot. Then the shoot is cut off at a distance of 2-4 centimeters from the root, and the hole is filled with soil.
In the first year of harvesting, 5-6 shoots are cut from asparagus in 2-4 weeks; in the second and subsequent years, about 15-25 cut shoots are cut per plant in 1.5 months.
The cut shoots are washed with cool water, tied into bundles of 500-1000 grams and put in the refrigerator or a fairly cool room.
So the shoots are stored for up to 3 weeks.
The shoots do not need to be collected in bunches, but rather distributed vertically inside wet river sand.
After the asparagus harvest is completed, the soil is cultivated. The soil is loosened, saturated with oxygen, and watered.
Then complex mineral fertilizers, peat, rotted manure.
Benefits and harms
Asparagus spears contain some protein and amino acids, various minerals, vitamins.
Asparagus is a popular product in the diet. It is used in salads and soups.
Green shoots are healthier than bleached shoots.
Asparagus has low calorie content. Refers to vegetable crops. The taste is similar to green peas.
Asparagus is contraindicated for diseases such as rheumatism and various inflammations of the genitourinary system.
Diseases and pests
- Rust;
- Asparagus fly;
- Asparagus rattle.
Asparagus rust caused by a fungus that develops directly on the plant.
The disease, which appears in the spring, does not show itself at first, and a little later the stems are covered with oval pads of a dirty rusty color, which over time merge together and form voluminous stripes.
A diseased plant slows down its development, producing little yield.
Plants planted on sandy soil are more affected by this disease.
IMPORTANT: At the first signs, it is necessary to remove damaged shoots.
Asparagus fly- an insect with two wings Brown, reaches 5 mm in length. Fly activity lasts from April to July.
The fly lays its eggs on asparagus shoots. A week later, the larvae emerge and gnaw the hollow passages inside the stems. As a result, the plant becomes deformed and turns yellow.
IMPORTANT: You can fight asparagus flies only by identifying and removing them in a timely manner. In advanced cases, it is necessary to transplant the asparagus to another location.
Asparagus rattle is a beetle with an orange back and a dark abdomen, reaching 6 mm in length. The beetles attack asparagus from the beginning of June and live on it until the end of summer. They gnaw off the stems and leaves of the plant. The beetle lays its eggs on the upper parts of the shoots.
The fight consists of destroying the remains of affected plants.
IMPORTANT: If the pest spreads on a large scale, the asparagus is transplanted to a new location.
Medicinal asparagus can be called a healing medicine and a delicacy that provides a lot of health benefits, but growing it requires a lot of responsibility, hard work and patience.
Useful video
You can also admire Medicinal Asparagus in the video:
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–This is a perennial plant belonging to the Asparagus family. The plant produces long, juicy, dense shoots with small needle-shaped leaves different shades– whitish, light pink, green, slightly purple. Root system consists of thick long roots. Due to the composition and qualities of the plant, it is used in recipes traditional medicine.
There are several varieties of this vegetable. Let's look at the types of asparagus below:
Did you know? Soy asparagus is also known as Korean asparagus. This is not a plant of this type, but the foam that is removed from boiling soy milk when preparing crushed soybeans, processed in a special way.
Calorie content and chemical composition of asparagus
In cooking, asparagus is a popular delicacy. The shoots of the plant are eaten. Asparagus brings both benefits and harm to the human body.
Calorie content of asparagus per 100 g of product is only 21 kcal. The product is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Asparagus contains the following vitamins: A - 82.8 mcg, thiamine B1 - 0.1 mg, riboflavin B2 - 0.1 mg, C - 20.2 mg, E - 1.9 mg, beta-carotene - 0.6 mg, PP - 1, 1 mg.
Macro- and microelements components of asparagus are as follows: potassium - 195.8 mg, phosphorus - 62.1 mg, calcium - 21 mg, magnesium - 20.2 mg, sodium - 2 mg, iron - 1 mg.
Chemical composition this healthy vegetable contains the following elements:
- Water – 93 g;
- Carbohydrates – 3 g;
- Disaccharides and monosaccharides – 2.2 g;
- Proteins – 2 g;
- Dietary fiber – 1.5 g;
- Starch – 1 g;
- Ash – 0.5 g;
- Organic acids – 0.1 g;
- Fats – 0.1 g.
In soy asparagus contains vitamins B, D, E, among macroelements there is also lecithin, which is involved in cell regeneration and normalizes function nervous system and brain, and choline, which increases cell resistance against harmful factors.
contains vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E. Micro- and macroelements included in its composition - calcium, potassium, phosphorus.
It has a richer composition of elements. The vitamins contained in it are A, B1, B2, B4, B9, E, C, K. Among the micro- and macroelements are present, in addition general list, manganese, copper, selenium and niacin.
Beneficial properties of asparagus for the human body
The benefits of asparagus for the human body are manifested by its following properties:
- Diuretic effect;
- Decreased blood pressure;
- Slow heart rate;
- Improving liver function;
- Increased heart contractions;
- Laxative effect;
- Analgesic properties;
- Calming effect;
- Anti-inflammatory properties;
- Blood purifying properties;
- Immunostimulating effect
- Improving kidney function.
Scientists have studied the benefits of asparagus for men. The plant contains proteins, minerals, and carbohydrates, which are important for male potency.
Certain properties are inherent in soy asparagus. It is used to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis.
How to prepare and store medicinal raw materials from asparagus
For food consumption, young shoots are harvested in the spring. White asparagus shoots harvested while they are in the ground so that they retain their tenderness and softness.
Green asparagus harvested when the sprouts reach 20 cm in height. Under the influence sunlight a reaction occurs due to which the shoots become green, while simultaneously acquiring a coarser structure.
Asparagus sprouts should be elastic, smooth, with a slight shine. The cut areas should not look dried out. Keep fresh product it cannot be used for long, as it loses its properties and qualities. Asparagus sprouts are stored in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, provided that the cuts are renewed and immersed in water.
Did you know? The longer asparagus is stored, the worse its taste becomes.
For medicinal purposes rhizomes, grass, fruits and young leaves of asparagus are used.
Harvesting roots produced in the fall, after the above-ground part has withered. They are dug up, cleared of soil, washed in running water and cut into pieces. In this form, the rhizomes are dried on outdoors under the canopy thin layer laid out on cloth or paper.
Oven drying is practiced at temperatures up to 45°. Roots prepared in this way can be stored for 2 years.
Asparagus grass harvested during flowering. The young tops of the plant are cut off to a length of about 30 cm. The grass is dried outdoors in the shade or in a room with good ventilation, spread in a thin layer on cloth or paper.
Asparagus fruit harvested when they are fully ripe.
Important! It is necessary to store the blanks in paper or canvas bags or in wooden containers.
The use of asparagus in folk medicine
In folk medicine, asparagus has found use as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
Medicines containing asparagus help lower blood pressure, slow the heart rate, increase diuresis and dilate peripheral blood vessels.
These drugs are used for cardiovascular diseases associated with dropsy of the abdomen and swelling of the lower extremities.
Important! Asparagus helps cope with various diseases, but it has no effect on a healthy body.
Asparagus will be beneficial for diseases such as nephritis, pyelonephritis, pyelitis and other diseases of the genitourinary system. Tachycardia, diabetes, arthritis, rheumatism are also treated with infusions and decoctions of asparagus rhizomes. An infusion of asparagus rhizomes is used for joint pain.
Asparagus is commonly used as a laxative. It is used as a means of destroying kidney and liver stones, as well as for treating skin diseases, eczema
How to use it in dermatology and cosmetology
The properties of asparagus have found application in dermatology and cosmetology.
Rhizomes and young shoots Asparagus is used to treat allergic dermatoses, pyoderma, vitiligo, lichen planus, and psoriasis. Also in dermatology, asparagus is used in combination for the treatment of blistering dermatitis as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Asparagus rhizomes are used as a blood purifier for skin diseases, namely eczema and exudative diathesis.
In cosmetology, medicinal asparagus is used to influence aging skin cells. With its help they maintain youth. In spa salons, masks are prepared for the skin of the face and neck from young asparagus shoots.
The benefits and harms of asparagus during pregnancy
The question of whether asparagus is beneficial or harmful during pregnancy is important to find out before consuming this product. As for the benefits, they are definitely present.
- nutritious vegetable containing many microelements that have positive influence on the woman’s body and on the formation of the fetal skeletal system and its strengthening, on the process of blood formation, the formation of connective tissues.
Asparagus is also good remedy from edema, as it has diuretic properties. Doctors prescribe folic acid to pregnant women, and asparagus contains a fairly high amount of it.
Harm from asparagus during pregnancy may occur in case of an allergic reaction.
Therefore, it is worth finding out in advance before use whether there is an allergy to the product.
Asparagus and nutrition
Asparagus is a dietary productwhich is included in the diet of a large number of diets. It is an excellent source of vitamins, carotenoids, amino acids lysine and asparagine. Asparagus is considered an indispensable product in the diet of people suffering from kidney and heart diseases.
Asparagus is used in fresh, boiled, canned. Green asparagus cooks instantly, so it is important to perform all steps quickly during the cooking process in order to preserve the vitamins and taste of the dish. Best ways cook asparagus - grilled, steamed, in the oven. White asparagus takes a little longer to cook.
Before heat treatment, you need to cut off the hard bases of the asparagus, wash the shoots in cold water. Asparagus is served with cheeses, poached eggs, and in combination with other types of vegetables.
Side effects from asparagus
Like any plant, asparagus has health benefits and harms in one product. different cases. There are some controversial opinions about the properties of asparagus.
For example, experts say that asparagus prevents the development of urolithiasis. But some believe that this plant can cause urolithiasis when consuming the product in case of a genetic predisposition to the disease.
For some people, eating asparagus is contraindicated due to an allergy to the product. Also, harm to asparagus in the form of an allergic reaction can occur not only when it is consumed orally, but also when it touches the sprouts.
Important! Research has found that eating asparagus large quantities may cause the development of diabetes.
Asparagus does not often cause side effects, but its benefits have been clearly proven. Reasonable consumption of this product will bring health benefits and gastronomic pleasure.
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Asparagus (asparagus) is one of the most delicious, healthy and expensive vegetable crops. The first asparagus spears, which come in white, green, pinkish-green or purple, are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. The color of the sprouts depends on the method of cultivation and the time of collection. Green asparagus grows like ordinary vegetable, in the garden; white asparagus sprouts are spudded so that light does not fall on them; and the sprouts turn purple after “ sunbathing“- they don’t spud it right away, allowing the tender shoots to bask in the sun.
Asparagus. © packolkata
The young tender shoots can be eaten raw or quickly steamed, in water, in the oven or on the grill. Asparagus is one of the most early vegetables new season: the harvest of young shoots begins in April-May.
Asparagus, a genus of plants from the Asparagus family. In total, up to 100 species of asparagus are known, scattered throughout the world, mainly in dry climates. Some types of asparagus are herbs, others are subshrubs, developing underground rhizomes and above-ground, more or less branched stems, and in many species they are creeping. The most common species in the world is Asparagus officinalis, or Common asparagus, or Asparagus, or Asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis). The top parts of asparagus sprouts (about 20 cm) are used in cooking as a delicacy all over the world.
Content:Growing asparagus seedlings
Asparagus seedlings are grown from seeds, sowing them in open ground or seedling pots.
Caring for seedlings consists of timely watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds. At good care form by autumn healthy plants, having a powerful rhizome and 3-5 shoots 25-40 cm high. Before the onset of frost, in October, above-ground shoots of asparagus are cut 10 cm above the soil surface. In this form, the plants overwinter. In spring, seedlings are dug up and transplanted to a permanent place. When selecting a site, it is necessary to take into account that this is a perennial plant. It is better to place asparagus near a wall or along a fence.
The area selected for asparagus is cleared of weeds in the fall. 15-20 kg/m² of organic fertilizer is evenly scattered on the soil surface and dug deep. In the spring, seedlings are planted in rows on the site. Rows of asparagus are placed 70 cm apart. Holes are dug in the rows with a depth of 30 and a diameter of 40 cm. A mound of humus is poured into the bottom of the hole, on which the seedlings are planted. The height of the mound should reach the edges of the hole. If the soil was well amended in the fall organic fertilizer, then you don’t have to pour humus into the holes (although it won’t hurt), but replace it with loose soil.
Before planting, the roots of asparagus seedlings are shortened, leaving them 3-4 cm long. The roots are evenly distributed over the mound, sprinkled with a 5-7 cm thick layer of earth, compacted and watered. When the water is absorbed, the hole is mulched with earth. During the summer, you can do one or two fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizer (25 g/m²). In the fall, the row spacing is dug up, and the dried stems are cut 10 cm above the soil level. In the second year of the plant’s life, its care is the same as in the first.
During the first two years, the row spacing in the asparagus plot can be sown with crops such as radishes, watercress, lettuce, and vegetable beans.
As for the actual technology of growing seedlings, there are two methods.
Asparagus. © Nino Fruits Direct sowing of asparagus seeds in seed beds
It is better to start sowing asparagus seeds in seedling beds in the third decade of May. So, we take the seeds and sow them. But keep in mind: dry ones will sprout only after 20–30 days. Are you ready to wait that long? No? Then it is better to soak them first. That is, fill it with water (30–35 °C) for 5–6 days and change it daily. To maintain the desired temperature, a container with seeds (say, a small plastic bottle) can be placed near a radiator or in another warm place.
After this period ends, asparagus seeds are placed in a damp cloth or paper for 3–7 days - let them germinate. To prevent the fabric or paper from drying out, cover it in a plastic bag. Just soaked seeds sprout on the 10-15th day, and sprouted seeds - already on the 7-8th.
While the asparagus seeds are germinating, you can prepare a seedling bed. That is, deposit by 1 square meter land 10 kg (bucket) of rotted manure or compost and 100 g/m² complex fertilizer. Dig up the soil, loosen and level it. The distance between the beds should be from 25–30 to 40 cm. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm and at a distance of 5–7 cm. And after 3–4 weeks it will be necessary to thin out the seedlings, leaving only the most strong shoots at a distance of 10–15 cm.
Asparagus seedlings grow slowly and after a month and a half reach only 10–15 cm in height. Therefore, it remains on the seedling beds for a long time, one or two seasons. All this time you need to carefully look after it: regularly weed and water it, in June, feed it once or twice with nitrogen fertilizers ( ammonium nitrate, urea, 10 g/m²) or slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1:6.
As a result, by the end of August the plants will have 2–4 shoots and a small rhizome. It needs to be prepared for winter by feeding it in late August - early September with phosphorus and potassium (any autumn fertilizer according to the instructions on the package). And when the above-ground part of the asparagus dies off in October, cover the plantings with humus or peat with a layer of about 3 cm. You can cover them with spruce branches or fallen leaves.
Asparagus. © Shihmei Barger Planting potted asparagus seedlings
Potted asparagus seedlings are good because, unlike plants immediately sown in the ground, it allows you to gain half a month or a month and by the fall you will get more developed young plants that are better prepared for winter.
The procedures are the same as when planting in seedling beds: soaking, germination and sowing. You just need to sow early, in early - mid-May, and not in the ground, but in pots with a capacity of 100–200 ml or in seedling cassettes. For sowing asparagus, you can use barely sprouted seeds with a root of 1–3 mm. Seedlings with a root of 20–25 mm are also suitable, but in order not to damage it, you will have to plant the seeds especially carefully.
The soil for pots can be used the same as for cucumber seedlings, or you can prepare “asparagus” soil: mix garden soil, rotted manure, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. All that remains is the classic one. easy care: watering, loosening, turning towards the light different sides, gradual hardening.
You can plant seedlings in open ground in early June.
Asparagus care
In the second year after planting asparagus seedlings, mineral fertilizers are applied, then the soil along the rows of plants must be loosened as early as possible, being careful not to damage the roots.
In dry weather, make sure that the soil under the plants remains moist. In dry soil, asparagus spears become fibrous and have a bitter taste.
In October, drying asparagus shoots should be carefully cut off close to the ground, trying not to damage the rhizome, and burned. In plants that are not affected by rust and asparagus fly, the tops do not need to be cut; they will protect the roots from freezing in winter. Asparagus seedlings in a nursery in severe frosts in the absence of snow or little snow cover should be covered with leaves, straw or manure.
In autumn, annual and biennial plantings and fruit-bearing plants should be fed with superphosphate (0.3-0.5 kg per 10 m²) and 40% potassium salt (0.25-0.35 kg). After applying fertilizers, the soil between the rows is deeply loosened. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots and seedlings of the asparagus.
Autumn mulching with peat in a layer of 8-10 cm for better overwintering gives good results. In early spring, the mulch is loosened and incorporated into the soil as top dressing. This operation is carried out annually.
In April, the soil poured in the form of rolls onto the rows of fruiting asparagus should be carefully leveled and lightly compacted. This will make it easy to spot cracks in the soil above the asparagus sprouts (the appearance of cracks indicates that the sprouts can be cut off). The width of the windrows at the base in the first years of cultivation should be 40 cm, in subsequent years - 50-60 cm.
Asparagus. © Gwendolyn Stansbury Harvesting asparagus
In the third year after planting, if the plants are strong and bushy enough, they begin harvesting. If the plants are weak, harvest is postponed until next year and asparagus is cared for in the same way as in the second year of cultivation.
Harvesting of asparagus shoots begins in the 3rd year. However, before cleaning, in early spring the row spacing is deeply loosened, and the plants are piled high with soil and humus. In the 2nd-3rd decade of April, shoots appear above the soil. When they reach technical ripeness (5-7 cm in height and 0.7-1.0 cm in diameter), the soil is carefully raked and the asparagus shoots are cut off at the surface of the soil, then hilled again.
Shoots are cut off as they form every 3 days for 20-25 days. In the 3rd year of life, up to 5 shoots are removed from one plant. In subsequent years, up to 15 shoots can be harvested within 30-40 days. After harvesting, each plant should have at least 3-5 shoots left, which, as they develop, form powerful stems with branches of the 2nd-5th order, covered with cladodes, thanks to which the plants accumulate plastic substances.
In the fourth year and further care for asparagus the same as in the third year.
Caring for asparagus plants during the post-harvest period should be especially careful, since it is at this time that the foundation of the future harvest is laid. It is recommended to sprinkle humus between the rows, wood ash or fertilizer mixture, embed them 5-7 cm into the soil, then water. The soil must be loosened after each watering or rain. IN winter time The asparagus harvest can be obtained through forcing. For a family of three, it is enough to have personal plot 15-20 asparagus bushes.
Diseases and pests of asparagus
Red rot of asparagus roots is caused by the fungus Helicobasidium purpureum.
In diseased plants, the root collar and roots die. The death of roots leads to the death of the aboveground part of the plant. As the disease spreads, a bald spot forms on the area.
If the infection is not very strong, then the place where the infection accumulates must be treated with Fundazol and isolated with a thick plastic film. In case of severe infection, the plants are destroyed and a new plantation is planted.
The asparagus leaf beetle appears on plants in mid-summer. Small yellow and black beetles, their black larvae destroy foliage. To control pests, use special insecticides - “Aktellik”, “Fitoverm”, “Fufanon”, etc., always following the instructions.
Asparagus is also damaged by polyphagous pests - the familiar mole crickets, slugs, beetles, wireworms, etc.
The excellent taste of asparagus and its unpretentiousness make this plant a popular “resident” of many gardens! How do you grow asparagus?
Medicinal. Many people plant this in their garden plots. ornamental plant. It is commonly called summer herringbone or hare's eyes.
Asparagus officinalis. Description
This is so pretty tall plant. Its stems are covered with soft needles. In August, bright red fruit boxes also ripen. This perennial grass It is also used to decorate bouquets and to decorate the garden. In fact, this plant is called asparagus officinalis. It belongs to the asparagus family, genus Asparagus. She came to our sites from North America. However now wild species This herb can be found in the forests of the foothills of the Caucasus, in the fields of Eastern Europe.
And she feels great in Siberia. The plant is very decorative, beautiful and not particularly demanding of careful care. Where does asparagus grow? On any soil and under any conditions. It propagates by dividing the rhizome, as well as by seeds, which ripen at the end of summer and fall out of the seed pod. Then next spring start their life cycle. Asparagus officinalis looks like a fairly tall bush with a main trunk. A small number of lateral branches extend from it. The main trunk and branches are covered with small needles, soft to the touch. They are called cladodes. Leaves are small scales that fit tightly to the trunk of the plant. They have a dark green color with a purple tint. In August, after flowering, a large number of bright red berries are formed on the plants; these are fruits that contain plant seeds under a layer of pulp. Asparagus is a plant that needs to be planted in the garden. Where should I plant it? For planting and cultivation, it is necessary to select a place slightly shaded from direct sunlight with loose, nutritious soil. Plants should be planted at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from each other. The row spacing is 50 centimeters. When collecting young shoots, 1-2 sprouts are left to continue the formation of the bush and further reproduction of new growth.
Healing properties
In addition to being decorative, asparagus officinalis fully lives up to its scientific name. Roots, trunks and seeds contain large amounts of useful substances and vitamins. This is a group of vitamins C, nicotinic acid, thiamine and many others. Among other things, asparagus officinalis contains substances such as saponins and chelidonic acid. They help in the fight against kidney disease and urinary system. Infusions from the green parts of the plant fight hair loss and dandruff. Decoction of rhizomes - indispensable assistant in the treatment of bronchial diseases.
You can eat asparagus
If you are interested edible plants, then know that this asparagus is one of those. Its young shoots are eaten. To do this, in early spring, when the plant is just beginning to emerge from the ground, you need to dig 10-15 centimeters out of the soil and rinse thoroughly.
And then use it in cooking. However, if the plant rises high enough above the ground, it becomes unsuitable. Because the trunks become hard and tasteless. First and second courses are prepared from asparagus stalks. But for salad, asparagus is lightly boiled. And then they cut it.
Salads
Salad with asparagus and herbs turns out tasty, refreshing, and original. Moreover, it is also useful and full of vitamins. However, there is a dish that contains meat products.
You just need to add a little boiled chicken fillet and spices to make an asparagus salad. You can eat it when you are hungry. Note that this salad is not inferior in attractiveness to popular vegetable dishes. You can also use other edible plants to create a dish. For example, nettles or dandelions.
For long-term storage shoots are washed, lightly dried excess moisture and then frozen. In this form, asparagus officinalis can be stored all winter and used for cooking. Asparagus officinalis is very tasty and nutritious. But at the same time it does not have sharp aromas and tastes. Many gourmets note that the taste of asparagus is similar to the taste of beans or baked pumpkin. The plant contains a large amount of dense fibers. They add a special crunch to the prepared dish.
Use in folk medicine
What are the benefits of asparagus officinalis? The properties of this plant are truly healing. Therefore, asparagus officinalis is often used by homeopaths and traditional healers. For example, folic acid, found in the juice of the green parts of the plant, helps the fruit to form correctly. That is, the juice is indicated for consumption during pregnancy. It also helps with diseases of the circulatory system; asparagine, contained in parts of the plant, promotes vasodilation and eliminates the formation of blood clots. Antioxidants found in asparagus are tireless helpers in the fight against aging of the body. Many ancient healers attributed to asparagus the ability to cure male diseases, such as impotence, early ejaculation. Therefore, even now doctors prescribe a diet with this plant to treat purely male diseases. For many guys, using asparagus is exactly how medicinal plant, helped me become a father. After all, the substances found in the green part of the plant, potassium salts and useful acids, contribute to the maturation of a large number of full-fledged sperm. A decoction of rhizomes also helps women during breastfeeding. Drinking one glass of this healing drink daily promotes milk production.
Traditional medicine recipes. How is medicinal asparagus used?
Let's look at a few recipes for disease prevention and treatment.
For cystitis you need to brew hot water one spoon of dry decoction of rhizomes. Take three times a day after meals.
Infuse 100 grams of young shoots of asparagus officinalis in one liter hot water. After drinking throughout the day. Take for at least three days. This way you can relieve tissue swelling and make your kidneys work.
A decoction of asparagus officinalis rhizomes helps to cope with exacerbation of gout, reduces arterial pressure, pulse decreases with increased heart rate.
An infusion of mature parts of the plant also helps with tachycardia. Chopped dry asparagus is brewed as tea. Then drink in small sips throughout the day. Take no more than 100 grams of infusion at a time. The course of treatment is 10 days, then a break for 2 weeks.
Even the berries of this plant are used in homeopathy. A decoction of 100 grams of fruit per liter of water can reduce increased excitability and improve sleep. When picking the berries of the plant, you must use protective gloves. Since substances found in the soft tissue of the fruit can cause irritation on the skin. The berry must be thoroughly dried before use in treatment. The fruits cannot be consumed raw.
How to prepare a vitamin mixture with asparagus? Mix dried asparagus stalks, rose hips and lingonberry leaves in 1:1 proportions. Brew as tea: 1 tablespoon of the collection per 0.5 liters of water. This vitamin drink will help cope with respiratory diseases and strengthen the immune system.
Asparagus officinalis is used successfully not only by doctors of traditional medicine, but also by traditional ones. The extracts and essences of this plant are used in the production of medical supplies in countries South America and China.
Contraindications to the consumption and use of asparagus
However, asparagus infusions also have contraindications. They can call allergic reactions, in the form of skin rashes and intolerance by the body. People with asthma and skin problems should not eat asparagus. The age of the patient is also a contraindication.
Infusions and decoctions of asparagus are not prescribed to children under 15 years of age. An overdose can lead to low blood pressure and a slow heart rate. All preparations from asparagus officinalis should be used only after consultation with a physician.
How to properly collect asparagus officinalis for making medicinal infusions and mixtures?
The collection of green parts and rhizomes is carried out in the spring months. That is, when the plant has not yet blossomed in full force and bloomed. The green part must be cut off morning hours when the dew disappears.
Then then chop into small pieces. Dry in a cool, dark place with easy access fresh air. Rhizomes for medicinal purposes are dug up in the fall, when the plant is fully ripe and the first frost hits. The roots must be dug up, washed thoroughly under running hot water, and all damaged parts must be cut off. Then the rhizomes are chopped into pieces 3-4 centimeters in size and left to dry. Although you don't have to dry the roots. Folding them into plastic bag, send to freezer. Then use it at any time fresh or for making infusions.
Frozen asparagus officinalis roots contain more nutrients than in those that were dried.
Another type of asparagus
However, do not confuse officinalis with ordinary asparagus. The latter grows throughout our country. Although many medicinal properties are also inherent in this plant. But it contains a large number of poisons in its substances, which makes it harmful for ingestion. Common asparagus is a plant that grows no more than 20 centimeters and does not have lateral shoots even at the end of summer. It also does not bear fruit.
A little conclusion
Asparagus officinalis, the use of which is quite widespread in both folk and traditional medicine, can be called a storehouse of useful substances and vitamins. Anyone, even a less experienced amateur gardener, can grow this plant.