- Type
- Leafy Greens
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Season
- Spring
- Sowing
- Transplant
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
Folate and asparagine in tender spring spears
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable grown for the young spears that push up in spring, and once a planting is established it produces for many years. The spears carry folate, the amino acid asparagine, and the flavonoid rutin, and they're best blanched or grilled. One thing worth noting: asparagus shares a genus with cheonmun-dong (Asparagus cochinchinensis), a plant used in traditional Korean herbal medicine, but it is a different species. It's more accurate not to assume that edible asparagus carries the same medicinal effects attributed to cheonmun-dong.
Year-Round Calendar
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 3
- 4
- 4
- 5
How to grow
- Light
- Somewhere sunny
- Soil and depth
- 40cm deep or more with good drainage. It stays in the same ground for over ten years
- Spacing
- 40cm
- Watering
- Steady
- Feeding
- Twice a year, spring and autumn
- Harvest
- From the third spring. Cut the spears at the base as they come
What makes the difference. Take nothing for the first two years and let it build its crown. That is what buys you the following decade
Why this one is harder. Three years before a crop, and it holds the ground for a very long time
This page describes how a crop is grown and used. It does not claim health effects for any food, nor is it intended to prevent or treat disease. Component and study notes are references only and do not mean the same result occurs in people. Consult a medical professional about health concerns.
Health Benefits
Nutrition (modern). Asparagus is a spring vegetable rich in folate, the amino acid asparagine, and the flavonoid rutin.
Distinct from the herb. The traditional Korean herbal medicine cheonmun-dong is a different species within the same genus and should not be confused with edible asparagus.
Nutrition
- Folate (Vitamin B9) — Supports blood formation and cell function
- Asparagine and rutin (Amino acid and flavonoid) — Help with fatigue and provide antioxidant action
Pairings
○ Olive oil (grilled) — Brushing the spears with oil and grilling them brings out their sweetness and aroma.
○ Bacon and eggs — Wrapped in bacon or served alongside eggs, it makes a satisfying breakfast.
○ Blanched in salads — A quick blanch keeps the spears crisp and adds a crunchy texture to salads.
Source: Rural Development Administration (Nongsaro)