Asparagus growing

How to grow asparagus, best asparagus recipes…

Asparagus are harvested by hands, and because of high wages this very delicious vegetable is too expensive and almost inaccessible! But when ones stabilized in your garden, asparagus will give the fruit a year after year with very little effort and with almost no costs. Feather like green foliage is used in floral arrangements, but cut it tightly if you want to have a good crop next year.

POSITION AND SOIL

Choose an open sunny position and good soil that has good drainage. The best are light soils, which tend to sandiness. For a very difficult soil, add sand to improve drainage. In the fall turn over the soil thoroughly to remove all the roots of weed and add whatever more mature compost and manure you can. Once planted, the culture may stay there for twenty years, so it is therefore wise to ensure that the culture gets a good foundation without permanent weed.

SOWING AND PROPAGATION OF ASPARAGUS

At the end of April sow a seed 5 cm deep to grown new plants. When seedlings are large enough to handle put them in intervals of 15 cm. Always use fresh seed. If the seed is older than one year, it loses its germination. Usual way is to buy crowns that are one or two years old and plant them in spring as soon as possible. This will save you a whole year of development. Do not let crowns dry up – if you have to wait several days before planting them, put them in a moist peat.

ASPARAGUS GROWING

Dig a trench 20-25 cm deep and 30 cm wide. Then at the bottom, form a low ridge7.5 cm high. Put crowns in the intervals of 38-45 cm so the thread-like roots lie on both sides of the ridge. Then cover the plant with 5 – 7.5 cm thick layer of soil, and then gradually, while digging to destroy weeds, fill the trench with soil. If you grow more than one line of plants then the lines should be at a distance of 120-150 cm. When the leaves fully emerge, it may be necessary to put a few stakes between plants and to connect stakes and branches with some rope or wire to support plants. This way you can prevent a wind from breaking your plants. In autumn trim the leaves to a height of 5 cm above the ground. In fact, it usually needs to be done immediately after the first frost when the leaves are yellow and before berries of female plants drop to the ground. If you allow berries to fall on the ground, they will appear as scattered crowns that will be difficult to distinguish from the grown plants. If the leaves are cut too early, the exuberance of the sprouts will be reduced next year. Every fall and spring apply 2,5-5 cm of soil on each side of the lines. The higher the depth of soil that covers the branches, the longer white part of the stem. If you prefer green stem, then reduce the covering. Put complex fertilizers on the lines in the amount of 60-85 grams per square meter. Cover the surface with mature compost after mid-June to counter the weeds, retain moisture and improve soil and growth of asparagus in the coming years.

ASPARAGUS HARVESTING

Year after planting you can cut one asparagus from each plant. The following year, all the asparagus can be cut for a period of four weeks, a third year (when the plants are four and five years old) asparagus can be cut for six weeks. Stop with cutting in late June, to provide plants an opportunity to gather strength for the coming year.

Helpful Tip

Be sure to regularly harvest asparagus, the best every day, to get delicious crops. If you don’t want to prepare them immediately, put them in a cold water for some time before storing them in a cold place. If they stay for too long, they will become flabby, stale and bitter.

Cut asparagus when they are 10-15 cm above the ground. Always cut them before the top starts to open and transform into the crop foliage that creates branches. This means that asparagus should be cut about every three days in cold time, and almost every day when the weather is hot. The old kitchen knife with a broken point is the perfect tool for cutting. Sharpen the broken end and slightly intrude it near asparagus so you can cut around 5-10 cm below the soil surface. When you acquire the skills, it is possible to bend a crop toward yourself and to break the crop of the plant with your hands.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH ASPARAGUS

If you see that the leaves and branches are eaten by some gray larva and their parents, common asparagus beetle, spray them with some licensed insecticide.

Note

Asparagus is a perennial plant and is not subject to crop rotation, which makes it unsuitable for growing in a garden smaller then 3 x 4 m. The best would be that you find a place elsewhere in the garden for yours asparagus.

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Oct
02

The Importance of Pest Inspections

Posted by admin under home

If you are in the process of buying or selling a home, it is important to understand what a FHA pest inspection is.
Not only do lenders require that a thorough inspection be done of the home for leaks, power related issues, structural problems, and a host of other items; but they also require a licensed FHA inspector to search for insects within the dwelling. The reason for this is to protect both the buyer and the bank itself, because if extensive damage is discovered after the closing date the new homeowner is faced with a difficult dilemma. They can either invest a large sum of money for repairs that were already supposed to be completed by the seller or they can give the home back to the bank while suffering a loss of their initial deposit and any payments already made. More often than not the second scenario will occur so the FHA has developed strict guidelines when inspecting a structure for insects.

When the FHA inspector visits a residence, he is there on behalf of the bank. Regardless is his fees were charged the buyer or the seller, his primary responsibility is to give an honest opinion of how much money would be required to restore the home to a perfect, like-new condition. He will inspect every square inch of the home inside and out, and any deficiency spotted, regardless of how large or small, will be noted for all involved parties to consider. His finding are often used as a type of bargaining chip during the final closing on the property as both sides decide on a fair amount that should be set aside to repair all the deficiencies.

When the inspector is searching for insect damage, he will likely search a number of places. If your home has a basement or crawlspace he will search it for cracks within the foundation that could allow insects easy entry, and he will also inspect the underside of the wood used to make your sub-flooring. Since this are of the home is more likely to be damp from humidity these boards make a prime location for termites to nest, and each board will be inspected individually to ensure it does not require maintenance or treatment. Next the inspector will walk through the main floor of the home and study where watch wall meets the ceiling and the floor, and he will also inspect any hardwood floors or carpeting for any signs of insect activity. The attic is checked in a similar fashion, and this area requires a bit more time because of the amount of exposed wood that needs to be viewed. The attic floor and rafters will also be searched for bird or squirrel nests, or any other species that may have taken up residence within the home unannounced. A similar inspection will be conducted along the exterior of the residence to check and make sure the roof and structural beams do not show signs of infestation from ants, termites, or beetles.

Regardless of who paid for the FHA inspection, you have absolutely every right to be present while it is conducted. Feel free to ask questions, and remember that the person doing the inspection would have an ample knowledge of construction and building codes. Trust his advice. Any offer on the home should be contingent on a proper FHA inspection, and this includes that the home be free of pests.

Find out more: http://bearbottompestcontrol.com.au/

Today we’re bringing you a salad recipe with turkey ham, strawberries, and of course, our favorite vegetable – asparagus. This salad will be perfect for hot days when you want something refreshing and cold, which doesn’t take much time to prepare. So here it is, enjoy it!

Ingredients for 4 people

9 ounces fresh strawberries
25 ounces of white asparagus
8 slices of turkey ham
1.5 ounce of butter
7 ounces of Lambs lettuce salad
4 tablespoons of balsamic cream
salt

Preparation

First we peel the white asparagus, cut off the hard bottom and cut them diagonally. We slice the ham into strips, and clean and wash lamb’s lettuce and strawberries. We put the butter in a pan and wait until it melts. Then we add the sliced asparagus and ham, sprinkle it with salt, mix it and cook over medium heat. During this time, we halve the strawberries, and rearrange the lamb’s lettuce over the plates. After 5-6 minutes we remove the pan from the heat, put the ham and asparagus on top of the Lambs lettuce salad, decorate this with halved strawberries, sprinkle it with balsamic cream and serve.

And that’s it, enjoy your meal!

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While Colorado may have a short growing season, fresh fruits and vegetables are found across the state at many local farmers markets. Food sometimes varies seasonally, but there’s no doubt it’s a better way to shop for food for your family. Here are a few of our favorite Farmer’s Markets in the front range Colorado with a few useful tips to know when shopping.

Fort Collins

Fort Collins Farmers’ Market is located on the south end of town at Harmony and Lemay in front of the Ace Hardware. This local Farmer’s market is described on their website, fotcollinsfm.com as ‘a quaint market with regular varieties of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs, this market also offers an array of vendors offering honey, soaps, pasta, salsa, teas and more, all for purchase.’ One of the best aspects of this one is that it is not as crowded with vendor booths as other Farmer’s Markets, making it a local favorite. Their website currently even has a $1 off coupon… be sure to print it before you leave home!

Other Northern Colorado Farmers’ Markets not to miss in the region are the Larimer County Farmers Market, and Drake Road Farmers Market.

Boulder

You know its Farmer’s Market Saturday in Boulder… the city is buzzing! This popular farmers’ market is located just South of Pearl Street in Boulder’s downtown at 13th between Arapahoe and Canyon. Much of the produce selection is organically grown right here in Boulder County. Come hungry on Saturdays to enjoy tasty pastries and food created by local chefs.

Recently it has been announced that the popular and often crowded Boulder Farmers’ Market will no longer allow dogs. While its always nice to bring Fido out on the weekend, it’s simply too busy and overwhelming for many dogs.

For those looking for a more relaxed market, be sure to visit on Wednesday afternoons, where the same produce selection is available, but less traffic.

Denver Metro

As the largest metro area in Colorado, you would expect several Farmers’ Markets in metro Denver-and that expectation is true! A few located on the west side of town are Southwest Plaza Farmers’ Market, The Market at Belmar, Littleton Farmer’ Market, and Denver Urban Homesteading and Farmers’ Market. Each of these are unique with different opportunities for entertainment while you are there. The Southwest Plaza market has organic dog food treats and locally made BBQ sauces… Just perfect for summer BBQs. The Market at Belmar is in ‘downtown Lakewood,’ the newest redevelopment in town, with live entertainment. The Littleton market has a nice selection of arts and crafts along with the organic produce. And the Denver Urban Homesteading Market has the city’s only year round indoor market… and they accept credit cards too!

Even if you are an avid gardener with a community garden plot or a section of your yard dedicated to fresh fruits and veggies, you will still find a wider variety of herbs, fruits and veggies than you could possibly grow on your own! Your family will eat healthy all year long!

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Dec
25

Asparagus – Your Way To Health

Posted by mark under asparagus

Asparagus is considered as one of the most healthful food on the planet and helps many ailments. Compared to other vegetables and fruits it has much more nutrients it supplies. Ten ounces, which is the same as one box of frozen spears, have just 68 calories and 9 grams of protein. Asparagus is an excellent food for loosing weight. It gives you a variety of minerals such as calcium, zinc, copper, selenium and manganese – like a vitamin pill.

Asparagus is populated with antioxidants and other substances that have been shown to prevent tumors and cancers, especially lung cancer, cervical cancer, colon and rectal cancer. Furthermore, it contains the rutin and glutathione that are very important in healing blood and liver vessels. Beside that, it is very rich in folic acid, which is essential for a healthy cardiovascular system. Folic acid is also important in pregnancy because it prevents birth defects. Eating asparagus has benefits in preventing symptoms of PMS, e.g. premenstrual swelling and bloating.

Food solution for PMS

Another value of asparagus are diuretic and alkaline properties. That induces cleansing the body by simulating urination and helps prevent or dissolve kidney stones. This can cause strange smell of urine, but don’t worry, it just means that your kidneys functioning very well.

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Ingredients for 4 people:

16 asparagus stalks
7 oz canned tuna
2 onions
20 pitted black olives
1/3 oz butter
1 tablespoon sugar
1 lemon
1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper

Preparation:
First of all clean the asparagus and cut them into pieces three inches long. Cut the onions into rings. Heat the butter on a frying pan, add sugar, a pinch of salt, asparagus, lemon juice and then mix and simmer on low heat for 5-6 minutes. Meanwhile, pour a spoonful of olive oil in bowl, add some balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix. Add the pieces of tuna on the pan, stir and remove from heat. Put tuna and asparagus on a plate, pour over dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, decorate with rings of onion and olives.
Serve :)

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May
13

Asparagus with lemon juice

Posted by mark under asparagus recipes

Asparagus is healthy in itself and in combination with lemon it is even better

# Preparation time: 15 min
# Energy value: 70 kcal / 291 kJ

Nutritive value:

Protein 5 g
Vit. A 35%
Vit. C 25%
Ca 6%
Fe 25%

Ingredients for 4 people:

* 1 kg asparagus
* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preparation:

Asparagus should be cooked over steam – in a basket over a pot of boiling water. Cover them and steam for 5 minutes or until they become soft (in the length of steaming is the difference between cultivated and wild asparagus). Rinse them with cold water and carefully dry them. Mix oil and lemon juice and pour it over the asparagus. Put pepper and salt on it if desired, and serve at room temperature.

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May
05

Asparagus salad with ham

Posted by mark under asparagus recipes

Try this easy to prepare recipe for quick, healthy and refreshing asparagus salad with ham.

Ingredients

asparagus (1,1 lb)
3 tomatoes
3 hard boiled eggs
ham (5 oz)
an onion
salt
vinegar
lemon rind
teaspoon of sugar
6-7 tablespoons of light mayonnaise
chives
parsley

Preparation

Wash asparagus and cut them into pieces 1 inch long. Boil them in water containing salt, sugar, vinegar and lemon rind.
Squash the eggs with a fork (leave 3 slices for decoration), slice the ham, onion, parsley and chives, then mix it altogether with mayonnaise.
Carefully stir cooked and chilled asparagus into this mix and put it all in a bowl.
Decorate the salad with slices of hard boiled eggs and chill it well before serving.

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Apr
11

After Party Vegetable

Posted by mark under asparagus

Asparagus cures hangover and preserves liver

What can we do in case of hangover? We can drink a lot of water, take a rest, but we can also eat asparagus. A new study shows that amino acids and minerals in the extract of asparagus may relieve drowsiness and protect liver cells from toxins in alcohol. Extracts taken from the leaves and shoots of asparagus have been analyzed in the laboratory at the Institute of Medical Sciences at the South Korean National University. The research has shown how asparagus affects on human and rats liver cells.

“The analysis has shown a significant reduction of cell toxicity after treatment of extract from the leaves and shoots of asparagus”, confirmed the principal investigator B.Y. Kim and added: “These results provide evidence of how the biological function of asparagus can help reduce alcohol hangover and protect liver cells.”

Over time, chronic alcohol abuse causes oxidative stress that leads to liver damage, and excessive absorption of alcohol can result with headache, nausea, diarrhea and thirst.

Asparagus has long been used to fight cancer, fungal diseases, inflammation, and is also known by diuretic effect. It is also a good source of folic acid, potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C and thiamine.

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Apr
01

White asparagus with sesame

Posted by mark under asparagus recipes

Ingredients for 4 people:

1 kg (35, 3 ounces) of white asparagus
1 spoon of olive oil
2 tablespoons of sesame seeds

Mustard and onion sauce:

200 g (7, 1 ounces) of shallot (onion)
2 tablespoons of sunflower oil
pinch of sugar
1, 5 dl (5,1 fluid ounces) vegetable clear soup
pinch of saffron
1 spoon of mustard
salt

Preparation and serving:

Peel the white asparagus and cut off the woody ends. Tie them and boil in salted water for about 15 minutes, take them out and drain well. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce of onion. Cut shallot into rings and stew on sunflower oil. Sprinkle onion with a little sugar and stew until it fades. Pour everything with vegetable base soup, add saffron and leave it to cook slowly for about 15 minutes. Then add the mustard sauce and adjust flavor by adding salt. Sauce is ready.

Fry drained and cooked asparagus shortly in olive oil, sprinkle with sesame and fry until sesame receives golden color. Serve on a hot plate with the prepared sauce, onion and salted potatoes or as a side dish with meat. Water in which asparagus were cooked can use as a base of aromatic soup. If leftovers are cooked in it for the next 15 minutes it is rather stronger. Leftovers, of course, must be cleaned.

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