Add Asparagus to Your Home Vegetable Garden

Asparagus is a great addition to any home vegetable garden. Whether you mix them in with a salad or cook them your own special way, this perennial plant will yield you a great tasting vegetable for about 10 to 15 years.

Part of the Asparagaceae family, Asparagus is one of those rare vegetables that regardless of the climate you live in (for the most part), it will produce for you every year. It is a good low calorie source for Folate and Potassium and the stalks are high in antioxidants.

Asparagus dates back to as far as 3000 B.C. to Egypt. Historians believe it was originally used as a medicine. They have also found a recipe for cooking asparagus that dates back to the third century AD.

If you are going to add it to your garden, be prepared. Asparagus takes 3 years before you can actually harvest the first stalks. So you will need to be patient.

To get your asparagus up and running start your seeds indoors about 7 weeks prior to the final frost of the season. Check a frost zone map for your area to find out what that date is. Once you reach that 7 week date you can move the asparagus plants to the outdoors and to its new permanent home.

Your asparagus plants need room so when it comes time to plant them outdoors make sure you spread them out at least eighteen inches. This gives the plants' root system plenty of space to grow.

If possible plant them in an area that will receive at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. Although they will tolerate less than eight hours you are going to grow your asparagus for the next decade so put them where they will be happy.

Asparagus requires heavy watering and like most other vegetable plants you do not want to overwater so invest in a good 3 in 1 soil tester or moisture level tester. Between the rainfall you will receive and the watering schedule you will have, a soil moisture tester will ensure that you keep the water levels in the perfect range. As a side note, asparagus will grow much better if the soil pH range is in the 6.5 to 7.5 range.

When the third year rolls around harvest only those asparagus spears that are at least 3/8" (1 cm) in diameter and 6 to 8 inches long. You can choose to use a knife or garden scissors to cut the asparagus, but the best method is to simply "break" them off.

Asparagus is best eaten as soon as it is harvested, so if you aren't going to be consuming your asparagus anytime soon, just let them grow.

Finally, because I know it just has to be on everyone's mind, why does urine have a distinctive odor when you eat asparagus? Come on now....you are thinking about it. There are compounds in asparagus that when metabolized give urine that odor due to various sulfur containing products. There are six of them and they are, methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, bismethane, dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone.

You are now ready to go and tackle asparagus. If you love the taste of this vegetable like I do, go ahead and add it to your garden. Sure it will take you 3 years before you can get your first harvest, but you will be harvesting fresh asparagus every year thereafter for at least 10 years.

About the Author
Michael C. Podlesny is the administrator for the largest Vegetable Gardening page on Facebook.

Garden Asparagus - The Healing Qualities Of The Plant Revealed (Part 1)

Asparagus has been used in food and for medical purposes throughout history. The diuretic quality of the herb was used in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and other civilizations to deal with renal diseases, icterus, diseases of urinary bladder and sciaic neuritis.

A decoction made of asparagus root is used in traditional Chinese medicine as diuretic and tonic remedy to improve digestion, reduce temperature, improve blood structure, and treat gout, rheumatism, diabetes, pulmonary diseases, whooping cough and impotence.

Garden asparagus is a perennial with a strong and juicy rootstock. The plant has a branched stem that grows to a height of 2 meters. The tiny blossoms can be seen from May to July. The perianth is whitish or green-yellow. Fruits are red berries with black seeds.

Asparagus is grown as vegetable and ornamental. However, the plant grows wild in some places. You can find it in flood-meadow, sands, sea-coast, riverside and brushwood. You should collect sprouts 10-15 centimeters long and tops during the florescence of the herb. You can simply cut the upper part of the stem with branches. Rootstock and root should be collected at the end of vegetation. Remove the tops and wash them under running water. Afterwards, air-dry the herbs. New sprouts are used to get the juice or in food.

Asparagus root and rootstock contain various glycosides, asparagoside, asparagine, carotene, essential oil, coumarin and other biologically active substances. The tops, in their turn, are proven to contain asparagine, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids and other biologically active substances. New sprouts are rich in asparagine, ascorbic acid and carotene. Ripe fruits contain sugars, oil and other biologically active substances.
The herb possesses diuretic and anti-rheumatism properties. It is proven to reduce edema.
Asparagine and asparagus extract are proven to reduce blood pressure, intensify myocardial systolic function, slow down heart rate, expand peripheral blood vessels, increase diuresis and improve the functions of liver. In addition, the plant can be used as a light emollient.
Several nations use asparagus remedies to deal with various difficulties with urination, palpitation of the heart, epilepsy and rheumatism.
Fresh juice mixed with water (proportion 1:1) and the infusion made of new sprouts are intended for external use, as well. You can use these remedies for compress to treat eczema and skin inflammation.
The decoction made of berries and is used to treat impotence. In addition, you can use the new sprouts of the herb to deal with the disease.

Arta enjoys writing articles on diverse topics related to the health, beauty, exercises. Her website offers thigh high Converse sales and the best deals on girls converse sneakers to help to get the right ones. Grab your perfect Converse footwear at http://www.ThighHighConverse.com

Herb Garden, a medicinal product

Herbs are fantastic facilities which is known for its aroma, flavour, medicinal and cooking qualities. Many people use for cooking, as medicines and even copyright when using herbs for medical or spiritual purposes to the roots are often used. Many culinary herbs are full of leafy and green flavor and texture. Some plants can be used as a Spice and an Herb or Dill, coriander and other grown simply as a Herb.
Throughout history have been used for the purpose of medicinal herbs and some herbs used in very small doses will make glue but at very large doses can kill. You must ensure that you know what you are when choosing to treat someone with herbs. Chinese medicine is famous for its use of herbs and these doctors have studied for many years to understand the qualities and benefits of each available Herb.
Herbs can become part of everyday life is not only invented to grow and eat with but also many smell fantastic growing. Some herbs such as Mint and Mint is great to have for the prevention of pests such as flies, fleas and rats. When you crop pests herbs they will not enter your home and herbs are perfectly safe around children and pets. You will find that if you grow herbs, then add them to many different dishes to be mageirepseis. You will find they add great flavors in many different meals and will never Cook without them in the future.
Grow your own Herb Garden is very easy, you will see that most of your grow your crops more flourish. It is necessary to collect them at the right time and if you don't want to come to you for that day, then you can freeze dried herbs. Drying is a great way to ensure that none of our Herb Garden goes in the bin, and then you can enjoy them even after the season. You decide what to plant in your garden Herb will be entirely for selection. You may want to start with a small plant and only two herbs and as you will have more power then you can elevate your Herb collection.
You should consider how each grows herbs, their habits and what it is if some need more sunlight than others can affect everyone. Your option wisely herbs will ensure that you get the best from your herbs. If you go to a reputable Garden Centre will be able to advise herbs that will fit your garden and which ones will develop harmoniously. Once you start growing your own herbs will never return to shop purchase fur again. You will see that they will taste your cropped hairstyle and better and it is much easier to use. If you are interested much herbs, there are many websites and books that are available, which will examine the history and purpose of medicinal herbs.



POPA Woolsey writes about improving your physical and mental health in self-help Improvement-Health.com.
Learn more go to: Medicinal herbs