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Asparagus is one of the most delicious, healthy and expensive vegetable crops. At the same time, every gardener can grow such a valuable curiosity in a garden plot. There are very few varieties that are zoned for Russia; Arzhentelskaya asparagus is rightfully considered the most common.
Description of Argentelle asparagus
Arzhentelskaya asparagus was entered in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1949. The originator was the Russian Seeds company. It has been grown for 70 years in Russia and neighboring countries.
An adult plant reaches a height of 2 m. The variety is characterized by cold resistance: thanks to its powerful root system, Arzhentelskaya asparagus is able to withstand frosts down to -30 ° C. The variety is early ripening, with high taste, undemanding to care. Young shoots are thin, snow-white, up to 1 cm in diameter, with cream-colored flesh with a slightly noticeable shade of yellow. Asparagus Argentalea has male and female flowers. The seeds of the culture ripen in August.
The disadvantages of the Arzhentelskaya variety include: low yield and short shelf life. In addition, when harvesting is delayed, the asparagus shoots quickly coarsen and become green with a purple tint.
Growing Argentel white asparagus from seeds
One of the ways to get new young plants of Argentelle asparagus is propagation with the help of seeds.
Due to the very low germination rate of seed, it is preferable to grow asparagus through seedlings rather than directly sowing seeds directly into the ground.
To "wake up" the seeds and soften the dense shell, they are soaked in melt water heated to 35 ° C for 2 - 3 days. To improve the effect, an aquarium compressor is used. Air bubbles help Argentelle asparagus seeds to "wake up".
The planting material prepared in this way must be wrapped in a damp cloth moistened with a rooting stimulator (for example, Emistim-M) and placed in a plastic bag, having previously made several small holes in it. Store the bag in a warm place. The seeds of Argentelskoy asparagus are periodically ventilated and moisturized. Instead of industrial stimulants, it is permissible to use folk remedies such as aloe juice or succinic acid.
The first roots will appear no earlier than 6 to 7 weeks. Therefore, the seeds are soaked in February, since at least 3 - 3.5 months pass from the beginning of the preparation of the seed to planting in the ground.
The best containers for growing Argentine Asparagus are plastic cassettes or cups. Before use for disinfection, they must be treated with any solution of a chemical preparation or held over steam.
The composition of the soil for growing Argentelska asparagus seedlings includes sod land, sand, compost and peat, in approximately equal quantities. In order to avoid the appearance of fungal diseases, the soil is doused with boiling water with the addition of potassium permanganate, and for their prevention, wood ash, chalk or activated carbon are added in an amount of 10 g per 2 liters of soil. After complete cooling, the soil mixture is filled into cups and cassettes. To drain excess water, holes are made in the bottom of the containers with a hot nail.
Plant the seeds of Arzhentelskaya asparagus to a depth of 1 - 1.5 cm. After that, the containers are covered with glass or foil and kept at a temperature of 25 ° C until shoots appear. To prevent the appearance of condensation, the crops are aired daily, and the glass is turned over.
When seedlings emerge, the Argentel asparagus seedlings should be moved closer to the light. However, they do not put it on the windowsill, since bright light is not necessary for seedlings, and cold glasses and the coolness coming from them can harm fragile plants.
When the seedlings of the Arzhentelskaya variety grow up a little and reach 8 - 9 cm, they may wither, since they are not able to withstand their own weight. To avoid this, it is recommended to install small supports. However, this must be done very carefully so as not to damage the fragile roots of plants. Alternatively, a mesh is pulled from above, which will not allow young seedlings to fall.
At this time, it is recommended to feed Argentelskaya asparagus with any of the complex fertilizers for vegetable crops. This will allow the furry trees to grow stronger and stimulate their growth.
As the seedlings of Argentelskoy asparagus mature, care is reduced to keeping the soil moist and loosening it slightly. As with all plants, asparagus is drawn towards sunlight. Therefore, every 4 - 6 days, the container with plants is turned 90 °. In order not to get confused, it is recommended to do it clockwise.
If the seeds of Arzhentelskaya asparagus were originally planted in a common box, then upon reaching a height of 15 cm they are dived into individual cups. It is important to carry out this procedure as carefully as possible, without damaging the roots: otherwise, very fragile plants may not take root.
After 3.5 months, the seedlings of Argentelskoy asparagus are ready for planting in the ground. By the beginning of June, it reaches 30 cm in height and begins to branch.
To avoid the death of young plants from winds and direct sunlight, they are hardened before planting in open ground.
The cultivation of asparagus, including the Arzhentelskaya variety from seeds, is presented in detail in the video:
Planting and caring for Argentelle asparagus outdoors
The garden bed where the Arzhentelskaya asparagus will grow is chosen in a sunny area. To protect the plants from gusts of wind from the direction of the prevailing wind zone, at a distance of 2 m from the plantings, it is necessary to create a curtain of corn or hedges: such fragile seedlings of seedlings will be protected from drafts and, at the same time, not shaded.
Preparation of planting material and site
Nutritious, but dense enough soil is not suitable for growing Arzhentelskaya asparagus. In silty or clayey soil, the yield of succulent shoots cannot be obtained. The plant needs a nutritious soil with good aeration.
In the fall, on the site of future beds, it is necessary to dig a trench 35 - 40 cm deep. Shredded branches of cut trees are laid at the bottom, which serve as drainage, and in the process of further decomposition - additional food. On top, soil is poured, consisting of peat, compost, humus, sod land and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1, respectively.
In the spring, the soil is loosened, a complex fertilizer is applied and a ridge is formed with a height of 12 - 15 cm.
Landing rules
For the convenience of extraction from the container, the seedlings of Argentelskoy asparagus are preliminarily watered, several hours before planting.
Carefully take the plant out of the container and shorten its roots by 3-4 cm, cutting off the "fringe" on the earthen coma. Prepared holes are watered with warm, settled water and the seedlings are carefully planted in a permanent place.
Since the Argentelskaya asparagus grows slowly in the first years, and takes up a lot of planting space, to save space, it is compacted with onions, radish, vegetable beans and other crops that are planted in the aisle.
Watering and feeding
Despite the seeming capriciousness of the exotic culture and the fear of gardeners that it will require a special approach, the plant is absolutely unpretentious. Caring for Argentine asparagus is not difficult at all.
From the first days of planting asparagus seedlings and for 2 weeks, watering is carried out daily. Then - every 3 - 5 days, depending on the weather. The water norm is 0.6 - 0.8 liters of water per bush. The soil for the Arzhentelskaya variety must always be kept moist. However, waterlogging of the soil should be avoided, as this has a detrimental effect on the plant.
Argentelska asparagus seedlings should be watered only for the first 2 - 3 seasons. During this time, they have a powerful root system that penetrates deep into the soil, after which the asparagus can independently provide itself with moisture.
Watering will be required only during strong and prolonged heat and when the shoots are ripe.
For Arzhentelskaya asparagus, drip irrigation is considered the best. It not only does not form a crust on the soil surface, but also penetrates better to the roots, which are very deep in an adult plant.
In the spring, when Argentel'skaya asparagus wakes up and begins to gain mass, it especially needs nitrogen. Mineral fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) are applied in the form of a solution in a ratio of 20 g per 10 l of water. Organic fertilizers are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15 and 1:20, respectively. Top dressing is carried out 2 - 3 times with intervals of 2 - 3 weeks.
In the middle of summer, a complex fertilizer is used to feed Arzhentelskaya. In the fall - phosphorus and potassium. The last dressing for the season is applied dry, distributing it evenly over the garden bed and slightly embedding it in the soil, after which the plant is watered. As an alternative to mineral fertilizers, wood ash can be used.
As you can see in the photo, Arzhentelskaya asparagus is a powerful plant, so it needs feeding throughout the entire growing period.
Hilling
To obtain delicate bleached shoots of Argentelskaya asparagus, the plant should be hilled as it grows. In addition, hilling will slow down the transformation of the young growth into a tough stem that cannot be used for food.
Pruning
Asparagus does not require any special care. When forming a bush, the plant is cut in the case of:
- the use of tender shoots for food purposes;
- removal of diseased and damaged branches;
- before wintering.
Asparagus looks very nice as an addition to bouquets. However, heavy pruning can weaken the bush, so caution should be exercised when doing this.
Preparing for winter
Asparagus Arzhentelskaya has good frost resistance. The variety grows even in the Urals and Siberia. Nevertheless, in order to protect the roots from freezing, the culture must be covered for the winter.
All diseased and yellowed branches should be removed first. Then huddle the plant, forming mounds 25 - 30 cm high. From above - cover with spruce branches or covering material, such as agrofibre or burlap.
In the spring, at a stable above-zero temperature, the covering material is removed from the plants.
Harvesting
The first crop of Argentelle asparagus is harvested only in the third year of the plant's life. By this period, the bush has formed 10 - 12 shoots. However, only 1 - 3 can be used for food purposes. Young stems are broken out or cut at a height of 3 cm from the soil level.After that, the asparagus is spud.
In adult plants, shoots are cut for 30 to 45 days. The plant is then allowed to prepare for wintering.
Store shoots in a damp cloth or tight bag in the refrigerator. A wide variety of dishes are prepared from Argentel asparagus. It is wonderful boiled and baked.
Diseases and pests
There are not so many pests of Argentelskaya asparagus. First of all, it is aphid that sucks the juice out of the plant. As a preventive measure, plants with a pungent smell, such as rosemary, basil, and sage, are planted in the aisles. You can also spray asparagus bushes with infusions of these herbs once every 10 days. If the plantings have already been attacked by pests, chemicals should be used that divide 3 groups:
- Contact action - destroying pests by penetrating them through the chitinous cover;
- Intestinal action - entering the esophagus, and then absorbed into the bloodstream and affecting the pest.
- Systemic action - when the plant absorbs the drug and stores it in its tissues for 15 - 30 days. Feeding on the sap of such plants, the aphid dies.
From the preparations of the folk method, infusions of garlic, wormwood are also used.
Among the specific pests of Argentel asparagus are the asparagus leaf beetle and the asparagus fly. The fight against them consists in dusting the plants with ash, hanging adhesive tape and spraying with Ikta-Vir, Mospilan, Aktaru preparations.
Fungal diseases rarely affect Argentelle asparagus plants. Exceptions are rust and root rot. Rust is fought with copper-containing preparations. To prevent root rot, Entobacterin or Glyocladilin is added to the soil.
Reproduction
In addition to propagating Argentel asparagus seeds, you can use the following methods:
- dividing the bush;
- cuttings.
In the first case, you need to divide the bush with at least one shoot, and then plant it in a permanent place. The advantage of this method is that it can be used at any time from spring to autumn.
In the second method, petioles are cut from last year's shoots of Arzhentelskaya asparagus and rooted in the sand. Each future bush is covered with a plastic bottle. This procedure is carried out from late March to early June.
Conclusion
Asparagus Arzhentelskaya is an unpretentious crop and healthy vegetable. Despite the fact that in the early years it requires increased attention to itself, the subsequent cultivation of the crop pays off with minimal care. The variety will not only allow you to enjoy exotic shoots, but also decorate the summer cottage with lush greenery.
