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Green and White Asparagus in Ukraine and the World

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Asparagus (sparrowgrass) belongs to the lily family and is a close relative of onion, garlic, turnip and gladiolus, although it does not look alike in appearance or taste. It is a green herbaceous plant, with curly or branched leaves.

2018.11.02 green white2Asparagus was cultivated by ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean region. The name "asparagus" comes from the Greek word "asparagos", which means "the young shoot". The Greeks appreciated the dishes from asparagus, but the Romans were the first to cultivate this delicious vegetable. In the 16th and 17th century, the fashion for asparagus dishes spreads and asparagus is planted in Northern Europe. It is during this period that asparagus takes name of "the royal vegetable", as asparagus becomes an important vegetable in the royal court menu. Asparagus gets to the USA with the colonists, but its cultivation begins not earlier than the 19th century. For Ukraine, asparagus is a new agricultural crop. Its cultivation has started in the last decade.

Asparagus is one of the most delicious, healthy and the most expensive vegetable crops. It is one of the first to mature in spring. Harvesting of young shoots begins in mid-April and lasts until mid-June. First two or three years after planting farmers take care of the plant, add mineral fertilizers, remove weeds, and loosen the soil. In the first two years you can collect a very limited number of shoots. In the first year harvesting is two weeks, the second - one month, and only the third year harvest lasts the whole season.

2018.11.02 green white3The technology of growing white and green asparagus is different, as white asparagus grows completely underground. Special ridges 25cm in height are made for white asparagus in spring. Then it is covered with a black film. Shoots of white asparagus get neatly dug off with hands or special scapula in such a way that soil returns back to the rows.

Those shoots that were left to grow above the ground become green asparagus. Green asparagus is cut with a knife as soon as it reaches 25 cm above the ground. Green asparagus fields in Europe and America are harvested with special equipment.

Asparagus production is a meticulous work, requiring patience and hard work all year round. Farmers of "Agro-Focus" cultivate asparagus with love and encouragement, so Ukrainian asparagus "Gourmet z Lyubymivky" has the best quality

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