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Asparagus officinalis

Useful properties, cultivation and application recipes asparagus


Botanical characteristics of asparagus

Asparagus officinalis is a perennial plant with a strong rhizome, which grows horizontally. The plant belongs to the Lily family. On erect branched stems that do not grow higher than five feet, are small leaves. From the axils of these leaves have tufts of threadlike strands (cladode), which perform the function of leaves. The flowers, which are 2 pieces connected in the axils on pedicels that are bisexual. The fruit of the asparagus – berry red, the shape of which is a ball.

Asparagus blooms from late spring to late summer. Ripening occurs in the first days of autumn. Asparagus is a plant that is found throughout Russia, the Caucasus and Kazakhstan. It prefers to grow on the floodplains, between bushes, forest edges. Asparagus is grown for medicinal and decorative purposes.


Growing asparagus

Asparagus is usually grown seedlings. Seedlings can be planted in ridges, and can be in pots depending on the desires of a person.

Seedlings for ridges grow at the end of may. To do this, sow seeds in open ground. After 3-4 weeks the seedlings will appear. If you want to accelerate the emergence of asparagus, enough to soak the seeds for 6 days in warm water changed every day for a new one. To maintain the correct temperature capacity, which contains the seeds, put on the battery. After this, the seeds need to put on a damp cloth for 4-7 days. The cloth should be covered with a package of cellophane – he will not let her wither. Soaked seeds germinate after 2 weeks, but the seeds which were still in a wet rag, germinate faster – on the 7th day. For seedlings you need to prepare the ridge: they make a rotted manure or compost. The soil you want to dig and produce loosening. The seeds are planted at a distance of 7 cm from each other. Bury the seeds about 2 cm into the soil. When sprouts appear, it should be thinned, leaving the strongest plants.

On the ridges of the seedling will grow 1-2 season because she grows slowly. During the period of seedling growth it is necessary to constantly water the plants and to make nitrogenous fertilizer. In late summer the plant should grow about 4 shoots and rhizome. In winter, fertilize the asparagus. In October, the plant dies aboveground part, and then need to fill in the planting plants peat.

The seedlings, planted in pots, giving a more powerful and adapted to the winter the plants. To plant the seeds of need as well as in ridge sowing produced only in may, in small pots. The seeds are plantedbe careful not to damage the sprouts. The pots for the seedlings fall asleep manure, peat, sand or vegetable mixture. Seeds need to be watered, gradually hardened. Seedlings can be planted in the ground in early summer.

After harvesting, the asparagus, the soil should be processed. Do hoeing, watering and making complex fertilizers. Also in the soil making the peat or humus.

The beneficial properties of asparagus

Asparagus produces a strong diuretic effect. The plant reduces blood pressure, slows heart rate, improves liver function and increases heartbeat. Thanks to its rich chemical composition, asparagus has a laxative, analgesic and sedative properties. The plant is used as good anti-inflammatory and blood purifying remedies.

The asparagus contains a decent amount of asparagine, so the asparagus improves kidney. It can help relieve fatigue. Asparagus promotes the excretion of phosphate, urea and chlorides.


The use of asparagus

Asparagus stimulates the immune system of the body, relieves spasm of blood vessels, reduces the headache. The plant rejuvenates the body and makes it stronger. Infusion of rhizomes of asparagus is used to treat pain in joints, diseases of the skin, the kidneys and inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. The plant is used in nervousness, impotence, atherosclerosis and tachycardia. Asparagus stimulates the appetite, improves digestion, helps with whooping cough, diabetes and rheumatism.

Infusion of the root of asparagus when you cough. To make it, take 10-15 grams of asparagus root and ground it into powder, pour raw materials Cup of boiling water and leave to infuse for half an hour in a water bath. After straining the infusion, taken three times a day a glass. This infusion has a diuretic and antipyretic effects.

Decoction of asparagus. Taking asparagus, crushed them to powder. Now take 1 tablespoon of this powder and pour a glass of water. Put the remedy in a water bath for 20 minutes, then remove from the water bath and insist 40 minutes. Accept the finished broth 50 ml for rheumatism or pains in the joints.

Broth asparagus with arrhythmia. It is prepared in the following way: take 1 tablespoon crushed root of asparagus and pour a glass of boiling water, then put on fire to boil and keep for 2 minutes.Further in the hot broth add 2 teaspoons of dry herb asparagus, remove the medication from heat and wrap in a towel for 2 hours. The finished decoction take 2 tablespoons three times a day. Drink the broth only for half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month.


Contraindications to the use of asparagus

To use asparagus has no contraindications, but do not forget the idiosyncrasy, as it is the place to be.