Perennials
Vegetables like
Asparagus, Rhubarb, Globe Artichoke, Jerusalem Artichoks, Sea Kale, HorseRadish are grown
in many home gardens particularly in cities and towns.
Asparagus
(Asparagus officinalis)
The Asparagus is one
of the most delicate, wholesome and lucious perennial plant of the garden. Its erect
branching stems, 15-180 cms in length, which are known as spears are used in soups and
other products. Asparagus beds once established will continue to produce for many years.
It is a good diuretic and is also used in Cordiac dropsy and gout.
The edible portion
contains Moisture 93gm, Protein 2.2gm, Fat 0.2gm, Carbohydrate 3.2gm, Fibre 0.7gm,
Ash 0.7gm, Ca 0.025mg, P 0.039%, Fe 0.93mgm, Cu 0.14mgm, Vit A 1400 I.U., B1
180 mgm, B2 130 mgm, C 40 mgm per 100 gm of fresh leaves.
It is indigenous to
Europe and Siberia from where it has been introduced to other parts of the world.
It belongs to
Liliaceae family.
The varieties are
divided into two groups one with purple spears and the other free from purple colour. The
cultivated varieties are
- Argentevil Early a selection
form the Dutch purple type.
- Argentevil Late Dutch type.
- Connivers Colossal an American
light green type.
- Marther Washington an American
variety with roundish tipped bud.
- Palmetto Argentevil type pea
green in colour.
- Suttons Giant Fresh
Argentevil type with stout buds.
The recommended
variety of I.A.R.I is Perfection.
- Soil, Climate and
Rainfall
The best soil suited
for its cultivation is light and medium loams or sandy loam soils, well supplied with
organic matter. However, under proper treatment it will thrive in any well cultivated
soil. It can even be grown in heavy clay soil with deep cultivation and well drainage. The
optimum pH required for growing asparagus is between pH 6.0 and 6.7. Asparagus can be
grown on soil, which has a salt content, too high for many other crops.
8-10 kg of seeds are
necessary for an hectare. The seed is sown in early spring or during winter and takes 3 to
4 weeks to germinate and 8-10 weeks to produce Crowns. The rows are spaced at
about 1.5 to 2 meters and 45 to 60 cm distance is kept within rows.
The cultivated
asparagus is a dioecious plant, e.g. male and female flowers are produced on separate
plants. In addition to dioecious plants, a small percentage of seedlings develop
hermaphrodite plants.
Low growing vegetables
may be grown as intercrops between the asparagus rows to compensate the expenses in the 1st
and 2nd year. Cole crops, Beans, green crops etc. can be grown, provided enough
nutrients are applied for both crops.
- Manures and Fertilizers
Fertilizer
application of 2 cwt. of ammonia, 1 cwt. of muriate of potash and 4 cwt. of superphosphate
per acre besides 20 to 30 tons of well decayed dung. Highest yield on light soil from an
application of 120 lbs each of nitrogen and phosphorus and 180 lbs of potash per acre,
Others recommended that after the spears are harvested 25 to 35 cart-load manures together
with 100 kg each of Murate of potash and superphosphate should be applied to the soil.
Some growers believe that asparagus being a sea shore plant needs common salt (Sodium
Chloride) for success in growing.
- Irrigation
In the summer
season the crop needs irrigation once a week, while irrigation is not necessary from
August to January.
- Weed control
Weeds between the rows
can be controlled by proper cultivation. Frequent shallow hoeing keep down the weed
population. After the harvest of spears a thorough cultivation should be done destroying
all the weeds. The broad-leaved weeds can be controlled successfully by means of 2,4
D before and after the harvest, avoiding spray to asparagus tops. Several other
herbicides have also been used successfully to control weeds.
- Disease, insect pests
and their control
- Asperagus Rust
(Puccinia asparagi)
It is the most
serious disease. The disease appears as reddish yellow spots on the trunk and on the
trunk. It reduces the total yield and sometimes plants are killed.
- Fusarium wilt
This disease is
caused by a fungus (Fusarium sp.) in the soil. The affected spears develop a brown
discolouration and gradually wilted and stunted. This disease although not common may
severely affect a whole plantation where it occurs.
- Violet Root Rot
This is a fungus
disease caused by Helicoboridium purpureum. The leaves of the disease plants turn
into yellow and dropping. All the disease plants along with roots should be carefully
collected and destroyed.
- Asparagus Beetles
The young shoots are
damaged by adults and larvae. One per cent rotenone dusted on the spears will kill the
beetles. This dust is also effective againest the larvae.
Harvesting is done
from the 3rd year onwards. However, if the plantation is vigorous, the 1st
cuttings may be done from the 2nd year after the crowns are set out. The 1st
harvesting should be done within 2 to 3 weeks.
Yield of plantation in
full harvest is on an average about 3500 to 4000 kg per hectare each year.
Horse
Radish (Armoracia rusticana)
Introduction
It belongs to the
Cruciferae family and botanically known as Armoracia Rusticana. There are several
forms, and although the wild types usually produce small white flowers, they seldom
develop seed. Although seed is formed it is never used for propagation. Leaves and roots
of horse-radish were used as food in Germany, USA., UK. and Holland. However, it is not a
very popular vegetable in India. The pungent roots of House-Radish are mixed with salt and
vinegar and eaten as an appetizer with other foods. The pungency is due to the presence of
an allylisothiocyanate and butyl thiocyanate similar to the mustard oils, occurring in
combination with the glucoside sinigain.
- Soils and soil
preparation
A deep, rich loam or
sandy loam soil is suitable for growing house-radish. It does not succeed in heavy soils
or waterlogged conditions. On hard soils the roots are much branched and irregular in
shapes. The roots grow luxuriantly in light and medium soils with plenty of organic
matters. Low temperatures do not impair the growth of the roots and the crops. A
well-prepared and thoroughly pulverised soil is necessary for production of straight and
strong roots.
The plant is
propagated by root cuttings. The cuttings are obtained from the side roots, which are
trimmed off in the preparation of roots for market. It is also propagated from crowns. The
propagation roots for market. It is also propagated from crowns. The propagation roots
should be 10 to 20cm long and the size from 65cm to 1.25cm in diameter. The long cuttings
are best. The cuttings are planted during winter in furrows made with a plough. The
cuttings are planted in a slanting manner 7.5cm to 10.0cm below the surface soil. The soil
around the cuttings is then well packed. The distance of planting is about 25cm to 32cm
apart in rows and row to row is kept at 7.5 cm to 10.0cm apart.
The soils should be
given a dressing of well-rotted farmyard manure (F.Y.M) before ploughing. Green manuring
and commercial fertilizers can also be used. Fertilizers containing about 50 lbs each of
nitrogen and potash and 70 to 100 lbs of phosphorus per acre are sufficient. A fertilizer
high in potash seems essential for proper development of roots. A larger yield is obtained
when the roots are trimmed then when they are allowed to grow without being disturbed.
The roots are
harvested by ploughing the whole bed and the tops and the side roots are removed. Cuttings
are then made from the basal roots and the marketable products sold or stored. The
marketable roots after harvest are cleaned, washed and packed. The root for sale should be
straight 20cm to 25cm long and 3 to 5cm in diameter. The roots can be stored in a cool,
moist storehouse or can be kept in good condition for several weeks in moist sand.
25 to 100 quintals per
hectare.
Mint
(Mentha sp)
The mint is a
well-known perennial herb. It is found all over in village and towns. The leaves are used
for flavouring soups, sauces, and beverages and as chutneys. It acts as a digestive and
carminative and carminative. It has also antidotal properties and is used to counteract
poisons. The mint juice stops vomiting and nausea. Elephantiasis and varicose veins are
improved by prolonged use of grounded mint leaves. It is indigenous to European continent
and the Mediterranean area. In fact, a number of types are wild and cultivated mint types
are grown in India. However, the pepper mint and spear mint are the important commercial
types for extraction of essential oil. The mint leaves (M.Spicata) contain per 100 gm
fresh leaves Moisture 83.0%, Protein 4.8%, Fat 0.6%, Fibre 2.0%, Carbohydrates
8.0%, Mineral matter 1.6%, Ca 0.02%, P2 0.08%, Fe 15.6 mgm Vit A 27009 U, Vit C 50mg per
100gm.
The important mint
types are described below and all belongs to family Labiatae and genus Mentha. About 30
species have been recognised.
- Mentha Spicate Linn
It is the spearmint.
It is perennial, producing leafy stolons. The plant is smooth, erect and reaches a height
of 60cm. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, acute, sessile and irregularly toothed. The
flower spikes are long, narrow and terminal. The flowers are pale violet. It is very
aromatic and is considered as best mints for flavouring.
2.
Mentha Piperita Linn
It is common
peppermint. It is an erect, branched perennial. Leaves are elliptical to lanceolate,
nearly glabrous, serrate, gland-dotted with long petiole. Flowers terminal and pale violet
in colour. Its oil is extracted by distillation and is used in medicine and bakery
industry.
Soil and Climate
Mint is grown all over
India during winter and spring and practically it can be grown in all kinds of soil with
good drainage. The crop cannot tolerate water logging. Mint can be grown on a wide range
of soils but prefers sandy loams and loams which are well supplied with orangic matter and
which have perfect drainage.
The soil should be
deeply ploughed, about 34 to 40 metric tons of F.Y.M or compost should be applied per
hectare before ploughing. As the mint remain in the same soil for a number of years,
subsequent manuring and tops dressings with fertilizers are necessary. Every year at the
close of the rainy season, the inter cultivation should be done to loosen the soil and
weeding should be done completely.
Mint is propagated by
division of roots or by cuttings of runners or stolons. The best material can be obtained
from the stock plants, which are less than 3 years old. The cuttings are planted in rows
22cm apart and 15cm between plants. The time to plant either in October-November or in
March. In hills it should be planted in April. During winter the crop require atleast two
irrigations per week and four irrigations during summer. During heavy rains the plant
wither but new leaves reappears after the rains.
Mint is mostly
harvested during winter and spring but leaves are available throughout summer also. Cut
the shoots of about 70 to 100 millimeters long during early part and 150-200 millimeter
long when the crops mature. To prevent drying the bunches are usually immersed in water or
water is sprinkled over it. |