Text 23561, 89 rader
Skriven 2009-04-23 20:23:00 av JIM WELLER (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av DALE SHIPP
Ärende: asparagus beds
======================
-=> Quoting Dale Shipp to Dave Drum <=-

 DS> I have never been tempted to try to cultivate asparagus
 DS> I'd heard the three year figure -- but
 DS> thought that they started with root clippings.  I'd not heard of
 DS> starting from seed. The other thing I remember is that you really need
 DS> a pretty rich soil bed to get them started.  Don't know how true that
 DS> is though.
 
I've done it a couple of times.

You do indeed want well drained, deep, fertile, loamy soil. If your
soil is heavy clay, you have to pre-condition it with peat moss, leaf
mold, or straw. You start building up the organic content of the
soil at least a year in advance of planting with green manure crops,
animal manure, straw, etc. tilling the soil deeply several times to
loosen it. Before planting new asparagus beds, you till in 2 pounds
of 10-20-10 fertilizer per 20 feet of row.

For established beds you scatter 1 pound of 10-20-10 fertilizer per 20
feet of row annually before growth begins in the spring. And add an
additional 1 pound of 21-0-0 per 20 feet of row after the last
harvest. It's low fertility that causes fibrous spears.

Soil pH should be 6.0 to 6.7 as asparagus grows poorly in acid
soils. Add lime periodically if necessary.

It takes three years to first harvest if you start with seed, two if
using transplanted root crowns. A good bed will last 20-30 years if
tended well. My parents planted their first bed before I was born
and only started a new one when I was in college. The second patch
was still healthy and productive when I sold the property for the
estate, not so very long ago.

First (and second year if from seed) growth is spindly and the root
system is still forming, so you don't try to harvest until two (or
three) years old.

Female plants reserve their energy for seed formation so their
stalks are skinnier than male plants.

My mother swore than horse manure was superior to any other
fertilizer and sought it out for her beds.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Spring Vegetable Paella
 Categories: Beans, Vegan, Mexican, Rice
      Yield: 6 Servings
 
      1 lb Asparagus; cut in 2" chunks
      3 c  Broccoli florets
      2 tb Olive oil
      1 c  Red bell pepper; chopped
  1 1/4 c  Zucchini; chopped
    1/2 c  Onion; chopped
      4 c  Cooked brown or white
           Long-grain rice
      2 c  Tomatoes; chopped, seeded
    3/4 ts Salt
    1/2 ts Saffron threads or
    1/4 ts Ground turmeric
     30 oz canned or cooked garbanzo
           beans; rinsed & drained
     10 oz peas

  Cook asparagus and broccoli florets in enough boiling water to
  cover in a 2-qt. saucepan, about 4 minutes or until crisp-tender;
  drain. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook
  asparagus, broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini, and onion in oil about
  5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is crisp-tender.
  Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring
  frequently, until hot.
  
  From: "Karen C. Greenlee"
 
MMMMM


Cheers

YK Jim


... Somewhere grass grows, paint peels & we are all 45 seconds older.

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