Asparagus

Asparagus

Asparagus is a stem vegetable.

Names

Scientific
   Asparagus officinalis
English
   Asparagus
   Garden asparagus
   Green asparagus
   Sparrow grass
   White asparagus
Dutch
   Asperge
   Groene asperge
   Witte asperge
Spanish
   Espárrago
   Espárrago blanco
   Espárrago verde
French
   Asperge
   Asperge blanche
   Asperge verte
German
   Gemeiner Spargel
   Gemüsespargel
Italian
   Asparago

Taxonomy

Genus
   Asparagus
Family
   Asparagaceae
Order
   Asparagales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Asparagus is native to Europe and western temperate Asia.

Distribution:

Highest production of asparagus is in China, Peru and Mexico. Other important producers are Germany, Thailand, Spain, USA, Japan, Italy, France and The Netherlands.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Asparagus is a flowering perennial plant.

Leaves:

The plants have strong main stems with branched, feathery foliage. What looks like leaves are actually needle-like modified stems.

Climate and weather:

Grows in temperate climate.

Height:

Plants are 100 to 150 cm tall.

Spacing:

Usually planted in rows with 45 to cm between plants and 150 cm between rows.

Propagation:

Asparagus can be grown from seed or by dividing and planting the crowns.

Harvesting:

Shoots have to be harvested when young, before the buds start to open, otherwise the shoots soon turn woody.

Uses:

The young asparagus shoots are usually cooked and eaten as a vegetable. In Asian-style cooking, asparagus is often stir-fried. Asparagus is sometimes used as a medicinal plant because of its diuretic properties.

Did you know that?

Asparagus can be green or white. Growing white asparagus involves using a blanching technique while the shoots are growing. The shoots are covered with soil as they grow so that they are not exposed to sunlight. As the photosynthesis cannot start, the shoots will remain white.

Crop categories

Vegetables
Stem vegetables
Food crops
Temperate crops

Pictures