Latest Asparagus Stories
By Michael Mills, The Philadelphia Inquirer Jul. 4--Question: What you would suggest to keep the weeds/grass out of my asparagus bed? We have had the bed for a few years and would prefer something other than constant weeding. - Helen File Answer: What's the main difference between asparagus and such crops as spinach, green beans, okra, corn and watermelons? Asparagus is a perennial, and the others are annuals. Those with ornamental gardens may be thinking, "Yeah, so what's the point?" For...
U.S. scientists said soil on Mars appears to be alkaline enough to support plant life. Samuel P. Kounaves of Tufts University said soil found by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Phoenix Mars lander has enough nutrients to grow a plant such as asparagus, The New York Times reported Friday. We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life whether past, present or future, Kounaves told reporters. The sort of soil you have there is...
By JOHN JOHNSON JR By John Johnson Jr. Los Angeles Times The first chemistry results from Mars' northern plain reveal an environment more hospitable to life than some scientists had predicted, one that might allow future colonists to grow crops as familiar on Earth as asparagus and green beans. Strawberries, though, might be tougher, Phoenix mission scientists said Thursday. "We're flabbergasted by this data," said Sam Kounaves, the lead scientist on the wet chemistry experiment for the...
Latest Asparagus Reference Libraries
The Scarlet Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is native to Europe but is now widely found in North America. Larvae damage cultivated lily and Fritillaria plants. Photo by Keith Edkins The beetle family Chrysomelidae, or leaf beetles is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera. Leaf beetles are recognizable by their tarsal formula and distinguished from long-horned beetles (family Cerambycidae) by their short, filiform antennae. Adult and larval leaf beetles feed on all...
PHOTO CAPTION: The common asparagus beetle Crioceris asparagi is an important pest of asparagus crops. Photo by Keith Edkins 2003 The Common Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi) is an chief pest of Asparagus crops both in Europe and in North America; asparagus is its only food plant. The adult beetles and the larvae strip the needle-like leaves off the asparagus fronds which deprives the plants of the ability to build food reserves for future years. They also damage the shoots, thereby...
The beetle family Chrysomelidae, or leaf beetles, is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera. Leaf beetles are recognizable by their tarsal formula and distinguished from long-horned beetles (family Cerambycidae) by their short, filiform antennae. Adult and larval leaf beetles feed on all sorts of plant tissue. Many are economically important pests of agriculture, for example the colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), the asparagus beetle (Crioceris...
