Asparagus has been gaining popularity once again as people are discovering the fascinating process of how these little green stalks actually grow. There are actually 300 varieties in the asparagus family, but the most well-known and widely consumed is garden asparagus. Besides making a delicious addition to meals, asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse — rich in vitamins like K, essential for blood clotting, as well as vitamin C and folate.
The Mysterious Growth of Asparagus
Asparagus is an herbaceous perennial vegetable that can be cultivated as a long-term crop, with a lifespan of up to 20 years. There are two primary methods of growing asparagus: from dormant plants called crowns or from seeds. For optimal results, it’s advisable to refrain from harvesting asparagus during the first couple of years, allowing the plant to establish its root system.
Once established, you can enjoy homegrown asparagus each spring for many years. The harvesting process is simple — cut individual spears when they’ve reached about 6 to 10 inches tall.
From Seed to Spear
Asparagus plants can be either male or female, with male plants generally producing more spears of better quality. After the harvest, the plants develop fern-like leaves and go through a dormant phase during winter, only to emerge during springtime, ready to be harvested again.
Female asparagus plants have an added visual appeal, as they can produce red berries in the fall. As of 2021, China is the world’s largest producer of asparagus. Peru, Mexico, and Germany rank second, third and fourth, respectively.
Closer Look at Its Growth Process
While some species of asparagus are poisonous if consumed, they’re still used for decoration and floristry due to their appealing green foliage. In some parts of the world, white asparagus is grown by keeping the spears away from sunlight, resulting in their characteristic color.
These spears are either grown entirely in the shade or remain underground, preventing the development of chlorophyll and the green color associated with traditional asparagus.
The Hunger Games Prequel Drops Its First Teaser Trailer
Fans of The Hunger Games trilogy have waited for a very long time and it seems that the time to decide which district they belong to is back again. The teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes may finally be out, but the questions remain! Let’s dive deep into the games again to see what we can expect from this one.
The Story of the Prequel
The prequel provides the fans with the backstory of Coriolanus Snow, the power-hungry president of the original trilogy. Suzanne Collins’ novel showcases Snow during the 10th annual Hunger Games wherein the young Snow will mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a girl from District 12. Lucy Gray sings, attracting the attention of everyone, and it makes Snow think that he might be able to guide and train her to make things work in their favor. They both love showmanship, which they combine with the newly found political astuteness and run the race against time to survive.
The Trailer
The ominous 2-minute teaser doesn’t show any film footage. Instead, it offers a golden snake creeping toward a gold songbird as they come to life from their frozen state with the Snow falling off their bodies. Though the teaser doesn’t give much information, the graphic imagery of the snake and the songbird is sure to stick in your mind.
The Cast
The film will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who has previously directed three Hunger Games movies. Tony Blyth of Billy the Kid fame is all set to play young Snow while Rachel Zegler, who won hearts as Maria in the new West Side Story will play Lucy. The expectations are high after the first teaser and the wait till November 17, 2023, is about to become more exciting. As for watching Coriolanus Snow turn into his later self on the big screen, we definitely volunteer!