Asparagus: Mary Washington (Heirloom) (Asparagus officinalis)

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This member of the lily family originated in the Mediterranean countries; the ancient Greeks and Romans greatly favored it. According to legend, Julius Caesar required his asparagus to be served with melted butter. By the 16th century, the kings of England and France had claimed it as their special delicacy, causing the vegetable to be nicknamed the "food of kings." Louis XIV of France had his own supply growing year round in greenhouses, since he greatly enjoyed it. In the Renaissance, asparagus was considered an elegant vegetable and often found at the tables of the wealthy. Asparagus came to America with the colonists, and has since grown wild all over the United States.

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General Information
Soil Preparation & Start Indoors
Transplant Outdoors & Start Outdoors
Crop Care
Harvesting & Storage
Seed Saving
Culinary & Medicinal
Companion Planting
Nutrition & Health Benefits
Other Uses

Scientific Name: Asparagus officinalis

Native Range: Europe and temperate Asia

Ease of Growing: Moderate

Grown as: Perennial

Maturity: 60 Days

Hardiness: Hardy. Asparagus doesn't like very hot humid areas or very mild winters.

Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring

Growing Season: Long

Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm. Asparagus likes a sunny spot. It can take some light shade, but won't be as productive. These plants should be sheltered from strong winds and well away from large trees or shrubs, with their vigorous feeder roots.

Outdoor Growing Temp: 45°F - 85°F

Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 45°F. Asparagus can be planted out in early spring, as soon as the soil is in workable condition. However there is no rush, as it will take up to three years before you get a good harvest. Some people say late spring (after all danger of frost is passed) is actually better, as the plants grow faster in the warmer soil and there is less danger of rot.

Start Indoors: Yes

Start Outdoors: Yes

Light: Full Sun. Min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm). Give the plants full sun and shelter from strong winds. Keep them well away from large trees and shrubs and their hungry roots.

Water: Medium. The plants are fairly drought tolerant, but produce better if watered regularly. This is particularly important for young plants. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep rooting.

Soil Moisture: Medium. Well drained.

Feeder: Moderate. Asparagus is a fairly hungry plant and responds well to additional nutrients.

Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Needs lots of space.

Small Gardens?: No

Containers?: No

Attracts beneficial insects?: No

Maintenance: Low

Plant Height: 48-60"

Plant Spacing: 18"-24"

Sow Depth: 0.5"-1"

Hardiness Zone: 4-9

Produces: 8" asparagus spears.

Garden Uses: Grow asparagus in the vegetable garden. Foliage can be used in floral arrangements.

Soil Preparation

Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5, Ideal 6.5-7.0. Asparagus isn’t a particularly fussy plant, but it will produce more food if given optimal soil conditions. The ideal soil is deep, fairly light, rich and well drained, with lots of organic matter to help it retain water. In poorly drained soils the roots may rot over the winter. If you want to grow Asparagus in soil that gets wet in winter, plant it in raised beds.

Soil Preparation:
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., 1 time: Asparagus is in the ground for a long time so prepare the soil well. Loosen it to a depth of 24", so you can remove all perennial weeds, debris and tree roots. Also incorporate a generous amount of a standard mix amendment. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:

4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)

Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.

Compost (Nitrogen), 4" 1 time: Asparagus is in the ground for a long time so prepare the soil well. Loosen it to a depth of 24" so you can remove all perennial weeds, debris and tree roots. Incorporate as much compost or aged manure as you can spare because you won't be able to do it again.

Bone meal (Phosphorus), 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft., 1 time: Incorporate a source of phosphorus--such as bone meal or rock phosphate--into the soil along with the compost mix.

Start Indoors

Seed Sowing Depth: 0.5" to 1.0". Sow the large seed 1/2" in cool soil and 1" deep in warm soil.

Soil temp for germination: 50°F to 90°F, optimal 60°F to 75°F, optimal 70°F

Total weeks to grow transplant: 6 to 8 (Spring/Summer), 6 to 8 (Fall/Winter)

Transplant Outdoors

Young Asparagus plants are often grown in a nursery bed for a year because it is easier to look after them in a smaller area and you can discard any inferior or damaged plants. You can also plant them directly in their permanent place, but one small seedling every 24" means a lot of empty space in your garden for the year.

Plant outdoors once all danger of frost has passed.

The traditional planting procedure is to dig a hole or trench 18˝ wide and 12˝ deep. Put a small mound of compost in the trench and spread the root out flat over the mound. Cover the root with a 2˝layer of a soil mix (3 parts soil to 1 part compost) and water thoroughly. As the plants grow, slowly fill in the trench with more of the same mix. The books say don’t bury them to the full depth right away, as this can cause rot.

More recent thought is that this careful planting isn't necessary. It is now said that a shallow 5 to 6" deep hole is better, you can then just put the roots in the hole and fill it up loosely.

Cold, Cool, Warm: Asparagus likes a sunny spot. It can take some light shade, but won't be as productive. These plants should be sheltered from strong winds and well away from large trees or shrubs, with their vigorous feeder roots.

When outdoor temp: 45°F to 85°F, optimal temp 60°F to 70°F.

When min soil temp: 45°F. Asparagus can be planted out in early spring, as soon as the soil is in workable condition. However there is no rush, as it will take up to three years before you get a good harvest. Some people say late spring (after all danger of frost is passed) is actually better, as the plants grow faster in the warmer soil and there is less danger of rot.

Spacing: 18"-24", (1 per 2'x2') plants per sq ft. The recommended spacing is 18 to 24" apart, depending upon the fertility of the soil. It has been found that wider spacing produces more shoots and they also tend to be larger. In tests it was found that plants spaced 24" apart produced twice as many spears as plants that were closer together. This can give you the same harvest while using fewer plants.

In a 5' wide bed you might plant three rows, with 18" between the rows and 18" between the plants.

Support: No

Start Outdoors

When Cold, Cool, Warm: Asparagus likes a sunny spot. It can take some light shade, but won't be as productive. These plants should be sheltered from strong winds and well away from large trees or shrubs, with their vigorous feeder roots.

When outdoor temp: 45°F to 85°F, optimal temp 60°F to 70°F

When min soil temp: 45°F. Asparagus can be planted out in early spring, as soon as the soil is in workable condition. However there is no rush, as it will take up to three years before you get a good harvest. Some people say late spring (after all danger of frost is passed) is actually better, as the plants grow faster in the warmer soil and there is less danger of rot.

Seed Depth: 0.5"-1". Sow the large seed 1/2" in cool soil and 1" deep in warm soil.

Spacing: 18"-24", (1 per 2'x2') plants per sq ft. The recommended spacing is 18 to 24" apart, depending upon the fertility of the soil. It has been found that wider spacing produces more shoots and they also tend to be larger. In tests it was found that plants spaced 24" apart produced twice as many spears as plants that were closer together. This can give you the same harvest while using fewer plants.

In a 5' wide bed you might plant three rows, with 18" between the rows and 18" between the plants.

Support: No

Crop Care After First year:
Asparagus is an independent plant, but if given even a moderate amount of care, it will be much more productive. A well cared for Asparagus bed should last for thirty years or more, but it can deteriorate quickly if neglected or over-harvested.

Water Needs: Moderate. The plants are fairly drought tolerant, but produce better if watered regularly. This is particularly important for young plants. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep rooting.

Fertilizer Needs: Moderate. Asparagus is a fairly hungry plant and responds well to additional nutrients.

Side Dressing: Compost (Nitrogen), 2 inches, 1 time. Asparagus is shallow rooted and its feeder roots are near the surface, so the best way to feed it is with a compost mulch (or aged manure).

Side Dressing: Compost tea, 0.25 gallons per plant, 1 time. Give the plant a liquid feed of compost tea (or liquid kelp - Asparagus loves seaweed) again in midsummer.

Watering: Water, 0.5 inches, 2 times a week Asparagus is much more productive when given adequate water, so keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy. Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.

Weeding: every 4 weeks. Hand weed when plants are young so you don't damage the shallow roots. The double digging should have removed all perennial weeds. A mulch is helpful to keep down weeds.

Side Dressing: Compost tea, 0.25 gallons per plant, 1 time. Give the plant a liquid feed of compost tea (or liquid kelp - Asparagus loves seaweed) in spring.

Support: No

Harvesting

Ripening:
Look for tight tips of medium diameter. Harvest before they get thick and woody.

Avoid the temptation to harvest from a new bed too soon. Leave one year old roots until their 3rd year in the ground. Start harvesting 2 year old roots in their 2nd year in the ground. In both cases you should only harvest sparingly the first year (only for 2 weeks). The longer you wait, the stronger the plants will get.

When and How: Cut & Come Again

When: Wait until the plant's third year to harvest Asparagus grown from seed. The spears start to emerge when the soil is 50˚F, and are best gathered when about 4 to 6" shows above the ground and they are still tightly closed (though you get more if you wait until they are 8" long). Don’t harvest too many spears from a single root in one season as you can weaken it. Cut from a bed for 6 weeks and then leave it to regenerate. Stop harvesting earlier if the spears start to look thin.

How: Cut the spear underground, just above the crown with a sharp knife. Or snap them off as low down as they will break.

Storage

Asparagus can be canned, but it requires a pressure canner, as it does not have enough acidity to prevent the growth of bacteria, and ordinary boiling water bath canners don't reach the temperatures high enough to kill the spores. It can also be pickled, which can be done with a regular boiling water bath canner.

Storage Req: Canning
Storage Temp: 40-75°F
Storage Length: 1-180 days

Asparagus freezes well and this is the best way to store them for any length of time. Blanche the stems and then freeze them on a cookie sheet, keeping the stems separate. Once they are frozen, you can put them into freezer bags.

Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 0-32°F
Storage Length: 1-360 days

The shoots will keep for up to a week and a half in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-10 days

You don’t really need to save Asparagus seed as it is a perennial, but it is easy enough to obtain. The plants are insect pollinated, so to keep a variety pure there should be no other Asparagus varieties (or wild plants) within a mile. The plants are dioecious and only the female plants produce the red berries, each containing 6 seeds. If you grow only males, you won't get any seed.

Don't allow the plants to produce seed unless you need it, because it takes energy away from vegetative growth.

Seed Viability in Years: 2 - 5 years
Germination Percentage: 70%

Culinary

Taste:
Sweet, mild, nutty and delicate.

Culinary Use:
Asparagus is served whole and can be steamed, boiled, roasted or grilled, although the problem with boiling Asparagus is that it leaches out many of the valuable nutrients. It is actually much better and advisable to steam or roast it. It is best to eat the asparagus as soon as you harvest it, to retain the richness in flavor.

Young shoots: raw or cooked. Considered a gourmet food, the shoots are harvested in the spring. We find them very acceptable raw in salads, with a hint of onion in their flavor. They are normally boiled or steamed and used as a vegetable. Male plants produce the best shoots. Do not over-harvest the plant because this would weaken it in the following year. The shoots are a good source of protein and dietary fiber. Roasted seeds are a coffee substitute.

Medicinal

Asparagus has been cultivated for over 2,000 years as a vegetable and medicinal herb. Both the roots and the shoots can be used medicinally, they have a restorative and cleansing effect on the bowels, kidneys and liver. The plant is antispasmodic, aperient, cardiac, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative and tonic. The freshly expressed juice is used. The root is diaphoretic, strongly diuretic and laxative. An infusion is used in the treatment of jaundice and congestive torpor of the liver. The strongly diuretic action of the roots make it useful in the treatment of a variety of urinary problems including cystitis. It is also used in the treatment of cancer. The roots are said to be able to lower blood pressure. The roots are harvested in late spring, after the shoots have been cut as a food crop, and are dried for later use. The seeds possess antibiotic activity. Another report says that the plant contains asparagusic acid which is nematocidal and is used in the treatment of schistosomiasis.

Source

Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Companion Planting

Allies: According to companion gardening lore, planting parsley or tomatoes with asparagus will invigorate both crops. Sprays or interplantings of parsley, tomatoes, and basil may discourage asparagus beetles.

Companions: Interplant early crops, such as lettuce, beets, or spinach between the rows in spring. In Colonial times, grapes were sometimes trellised between the asparagus rows.

Enemies: None Known.

Problems

Asparagus Beetles and Japanese Beetles can be a problem.

Asparagus Beetles

Beneficial insects such as Assassin Bug's, Birds, Ladybugs, and Eulophid Wasps all prey on Asparagus Beetles.

Assassin Bug: Prey on Aphids, Leafhoppers, Asparagus Beetle eggs and larvae, small flying insects, and up to medium-sized Caterpillars.

To attract Assassin Bugs to your garden try growing: field crops, ornamental trees and shrubs. Spined assassin bugs are often found on goldenrod and other wildflowers.

Birds: Birds often eat Asparagus Beetles and larvae, which appear during nesting season when birds need more protein.

Ladybeetles, Ladybugs, or Ladybird Beetles: Ladybeetles are probably the most well-known of beetles that eat aphids. There are many species, and both the adults and larvae eat aphids. Convergent lady beetles and the seven-spotted ladybeetles are abundant species in the environment. Eggs are found in clutches, yellow and football shaped. Larvae have an alligator-like appearance, and are black with orange markings. Pupae are sedentary. Ladybeetles are commercially available but purchasing is not generally recommended since the adult stage tends to fly away once released. Introductions may be more effective in greenhouses and high tunnels. Diverse plantings can help recruit resident ladybeetles to an area.

To attract Ladybugs to your garden you will need to grow: Angelica, Calendula, Caraway, Chives, Cilantro, Cosmos,
Dill, Fennel, Feverfew, Marigold, Statice, Sweet Alyssum, and Yarrow. You may also want to grow decoy crops to keep your ladybugs supplied with aphids to eat such as Early cabbage, Marigold, Nasturtium, and Radish. Without a food source, your ladybugs will be forced to leave which will leave your crops vulnerable.

Eulophid Wasp: Are the most effective predator which eats Asparagus Beetle eggs early in the season, and lays its eggs in asparagus beetle eggs in summer. This beneficial insect, which is so helpful with asparagus beetle control, was identified in Massachusetts in 1915 and is now found wherever asparagus is grown. It is not currently offered for sale commercially.

Japanese Beetles

Beneficial insects such as Tachinid Flies, Spiders, Praying Mantids, and Soldier Bugs prey on Japanese Beetles.

Tachinid Flies: Prey on Gypsy Moths, Japanese Beetles, Cutworms, and Squash Bugs.

To attract Tachinid Flies to your garden try growing: Carrots, Dill, Coriander, and Buckwheat.

Spiders: Prey on a wide range including Bed Bugs, Aphids, Roaches, Grasshoppers, Cabbage Looper, and Fruit Flies.

To attract Spiders to your garden you will need to grow: tall plants for weaving Spiders, mulch for predatory Spiders.

Praying Mantis: Preys on a wide range including Caterpillars, Moths, Beetles, and Crickets.

To attract Praying Mantis to your garden you will need to grow: tall grasses and shrubs, Cosmos, Marigolds, and Dills.

Spined Soldier Bugs: Prey on larvae of Mexican Bean Beetle, European Corn Borer, Diamondback Moth, Corn Earworm, Beet Armyworm, Fall Armyworm, Cabbage Looper, imported Cabbageworm, Colorado Potato Beetle, Velvetbean Caterpillar, and Flea Beetles.

To attract Spined Soldier Bugs to your garden try growing: Alfalfa, Apples, Asparagus, Beans, Celery, Cotton, Crucifers, Cucurbits, Eggplant, Onions, Potatoes, Soybeans, Sweet Corn and Tomatoes.

Nutrition

Asparagus has been called a superfood for its nutritional content. It is rich in vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as soluble fiber, selenium, folate and rutin (an antioxidant).

The Health Benefits of Asparagus

Homocysteine: An abundance of vitamin B in asparagus helps in maintaining healthy levels of homocysteine, which is produced in the blood when an amino acid (methionine) breaks down in the body. Vitamin B, especially folate, B6 and B12 are essential for converting homocysteine into cysteine, which then gets converted back to methionine as per the normal methylation cycle. Deficiency of vitamin B in the body can elevate the levels of homocysteine in the blood. Raised levels of homocysteine can pose a threat of serious ailments like the damage of blood vessels, venous thrombosis in which clotting of blood happens in the veins, and atherosclerosis, which can all further lead to cardiac disorders. In addition to this, vitamin B is also responsible for the metabolism of starches and sugars in the body and therefore helps in maintaining healthy levels of blood sugar.

Pregnancy: The high folate content in asparagus aids in reducing the danger of low birth weight and birth defects during pregnancy. Folate is essential for the neuronal growth of the fetus. It also helps in reducing the complication of edema or retention of water in the body tissues owing to its diuretic effect.

PMS: An asparagus extract can be used effectively for easing pre-menstrual bloating. The presence of essential nutrients helps to combat depression and fatigue, as well as reduce menstrual cramps. Asparagus also helps in controlling blood loss and maintaining hormonal balance during menstruation.

Fertility: The root of asparagus racemosus is widely appreciated in Ayurvedic therapy and is famously known as shatavari, which means ‘one who has 100 husbands’. Shatavari has aphrodisiac properties and is used to regulate the hormones and cure male and female sexual disorders. It has anti-anxiety properties and helps in curing physical and mental debility in males. It also helps in enhancing the libido and boosts sperm count and its motility. In females, asparagus has been proven to be effective in menopausal syndrome and anemia. Shatavari has been trusted as a galactogogue and is also valued for its effectiveness in improving the quality and quantity of the breast milk, while boosting the appetite of nursing women. Research studies conducted on animals have demonstrated positive effects on the genitals and the mammary glands of the subject females who consumed adequate amounts of asparagus.

Digestive Health: Asparagus contains significant quantities of the nutrient inulin. Inulin is a kind of complex carbohydrate that is commonly known as prebiotic. It does not get digested until it reaches the large intestine, where it is fed upon by a kind of good bacteria like Lactobacilli. This aids in the improved absorption of nutrients and the reduced risk of stomach cancer and allergies.

Asparagus is also a good provider of dietary fiber and has laxative properties that help in the smooth functioning of the bowels, keeping bloating and constipation at bay. Along with healthy digestion, fiber also helps in lowering the cholesterol levels of the body. Asparagus is widely recommended in Ayurvedic therapy for its effectiveness in curing diarrhea, dysentery, and dyspepsia, which is a feeling of abdominal uneasiness including burning sensations or navel pain occurring during or after eating. Studies have shown that asparagus racemosus has been proven to be just as effective as the commercially available modern drugs in treating dyspepsia.

Anti-Tumor Properties: Asparagus racemosus, or wild asparagus, contains a certain variety of phytonutrients known as saponins. Studies have demonstrated that the saponins obtained from asparagus possess anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Along with the chemo-preventive efficiency, asparagus also helps in elevating the levels of glutathione, an antioxidant and a detoxifying compound which plays a major role in aging and helps in the prevention of many diseases like HIV, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s disease, anemia, cancer, diabetes, and various cardiac disorders.

Diabetes: The anti-inflammatory nutrients present in asparagus help in reducing the risk of chronic health ailments, including type 2 diabetes. This beneficial effect is also attributed to the presence of the mineral chromium, which plays a vital role in regulating the blood sugar levels of the body. Studies conducted in this regard have shown significant results and have proven that asparagus helps in keeping a check on blood sugar levels, improves insulin secretion, and provides an anti-diabetic effect.

Hangovers: Asparagus extract contains essential amino acids that may prove effective in curing hangovers. A hangover refers to the unpleasant physiological effect caused due to substantial consumption of alcoholic drinks. Its symptoms include anxiety, fatigue, stomach disorders like nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Research studies have demonstrated that leaves and shoots of asparagus contain good amount of inorganic mineral content, which also aid in the protection of the liver cells from the toxic effects of alcohol.

Cataracts: Asparagus is a source of vitamin A, which is essential for good vision. Due to the presence of antioxidants, it helps in defending the retina from the damage caused by the oxygen-free radicals. The presence of the amino acid glutathione in asparagus also helps in reducing the risk of eye ailments such as cataracts and night blindness.

Rheumatism: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. Studies have shown that the consumption of folate-rich food like asparagus, which also possess anti-inflammatory properties, may help relieve the pain and ease the overall poor functioning in the body associated with arthritis.

Rutin: Asparagus is also a rich source of rutin, a flavonoid that possesses anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat hemorrhoids and prevent the clotting of blood. It also enhances the permeability of capillaries, strengthens the blood vessels and protects them from becoming fragile. Rutin also prevents the hardening of arteries by reducing the viscosity of blood and helps in easing hypertension, reducing cholesterol, and maintaining cardiovascular health.

Tuberculosis: Asparagus racemosus is also known for its effectiveness in curing bronchitis and tuberculosis. It improves the efficiency of the functioning of lung tissues and helps in treating throat infections as well.

Neurodegenerative Diseases: Neurodegenerative diseases are genetic or periodic conditions affecting the neurons of the human brain. The body does not normally have the ability to replace the damaged neurons. Studies have provided evidence that asparagus racemosus is effective in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. These beneficial effects are attributed to the presence of phytoestrogens in asparagus racemosus that have certain neuroprotective effects.

Anti-depressant drug: Scientific research has shown the efficacy of asparagus racemosus as an anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drug. It helps in enhancing the memory, increases the production and secretion of estrogen, and has a revitalizing and calming effect on the nervous system.

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that affects the brain and leads to recurrent convulsions or seizures. The brain transmits abnormal signals as a result of irreversible changes in the brain tissues. The roots of asaparagus racemosus can be used as an anti-epileptic and helps in curing the symptoms of epilepsy.

Urinary tract infections: Research studies show that asparagus racemosus possess anti-urolithiatic effect, which helps to cure urinary tract infections. Due to the vegetable’s diuretic properties, consumption of asparagus increases the frequency and volume of urination. This helps to detoxify and flush the toxic waste out of the body. According to the research, the anti urolithiatic effect can be attributed to the presence of antioxidants and essential vitamins C and E.

Asparagus is also known to give a peculiar, pungent smell to the urine, which is completely normal. This is because asparagus breaks down its constituents of ammonia and sulphur into volatile chemical compounds that actually help the body to detoxify.

Blood Cholesterol: Studies have supported the fact that the wealth of anti-oxidants in asparagus has the potential to treat oxidative stress, along with other disorders such as hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. These diseases indicate the presence of high fat and cholesterol content in the body, which can further pose a major threat for fatal conditions like cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis.

Culinary Usage: Asparagus has a delicate flavor and can be eaten raw, grilled, or roasted. It can be added as an ingredient to pickles, salad recipes, and various soups. The shoots of the asparagus plant are relished as an appetizer and are prepared in many different ways around the world. Asparagus requires minimal cooking, which gave birth to a famous Roman saying, “As quick as cooking asparagus”, for anything that has to be done quickly.

A Few Words of Caution:
Asparagus is also referred as rasayana herb in Ayurveda and offers an immense range of health benefits with a few exceptions or side effects, which are listed below.

Gas: Asparagus contains a carbohydrate known as raffinose. In order to digest this complex sugar, the human body needs to ferment it. During this process of breaking down the carbohydrate, gas is often produced and subsequently released from the body.

Pregnancy and Lactation: Asparagus alters the hormonal balance and has been traditionally used for birth control. During pregnancy and lactation, it is usually considered safe to consume a normal amount of asparagus, but not to opt for medicinal doses without consulting a doctor.

Allergic Reactions: Asparagus can cause allergies to those who are susceptible to allergic reactions to onions, leeks, and other members of the lily family.

Kidney stones: Asparagus contains purines. Purines break down to create uric acid which can accumulate as a result of a high purine content in the body. This is not favorable for people suffering from uric acid-related complications like gout or kidney stones. It is recommended to avoid or restrict the intake of purine dense foods like asparagus for patients of those conditions.

Source

The plant contains asparagusic acid, which has nematocidal properties.

Suggested Varieties

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Native to India and ancient Persia, basil has a long history as one of the most revered of herbs. Ancient legends give basil a strong religious connection, stating that it possesses healing powers. In many cultures basil is a symbol of love, and given as a token of affection or engagement; other meanings include protection and truth. In Greek and Roman cultures, however, basil represented hate and misfortune; because of this, gardeners would often shout abuses at their plants to help them grow. It seems that no one could agree on the properties of basil, with divided opinions on whether it had medical benefits or whether it contained poison. Since English royalty preferred basil and used it for both culinary and cosmetic purposes, chefs sometimes call it "the king of herbs." In addition to being popular with the ruling class, basil was commonly used throughout England and loved for its scent; many people included it in their gardens, added it to their bouquets, and used it to freshen the air in their houses. Medicinally, oil of basil is often used in treatments as diverse as depression and anxiety, the common cold, a cough or sore throat, or insect bites and stings. Medicinal doses of basil are unsafe for pregnant women, though culinary use is fine.