Wild Asparagus/ Shatawari: Description, Planting Information and Uses

                     Wild Asparagus/ Shatawari

Asparagus is called Shatawari in India. This is also known as wild asparagus. This a perennial shrub generally used in Indian dishes to increasing taste and flavour. Leaves are 6-32 mm long and 1mm broad. The plants are both male and female. The male plants do not produce flower and fruits.The flowers are bell shaped, greenish white to yellowish in colour. The fruit is red berry 6-10 mm broad, which is poisonous to humans. Asparagus can live for 20 or more years and can reach upto height 100–150 cm.

Common Name: Asparagus, Shatavari
Botanical Name: Asparagus officinalis
Family: Asparagaceae
Life Cycle: Perennial
Plant Height: 2-3 ft
Foliage Colour: Green
Flower Colour: White
Temperature: 20-30 degree c
Soil pH : Alkaline soil(7-8)
Light Requirements: Well drained
Soil Type: Well drained
Advantages: Easy to grow

Planting

Asparagus can be grown from seeds. But maximum, roots are used for planting.
The plant likes rich, well-drained, non-acidic soil.
Remove other existing plants from the planting area, including roots.
Now loose the soil to a depth of 6 or 8 inches over the entire planting area with a tiller or digging fork.
Spread 2 to 3 inches of compost over the planting area and mix it into the soil.
If the soil is acidic, add sufficient lime to bring the pH up to 7 and mix it into the planting area.
Asparagus roots should be at least 2 feet apart, allowing two rows to fit in a 4 foot wide bed.
Now add three cups of all-purpose organic vegetable fertilizer into the soil/compost mixture. To give the asparagus an extra boost, add a cup or two of green sand (the fertilizer high in potassium) to the digging soil.


Health Benefits:

1. Asparagus is good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium , zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, selenium, chromium, dietary fiber, and protein.
2. It is a treatment of joint pain.
3. It is a good source of vitamin E and thus helps to maintain hormone imbalances in women and men.
4. It also increase sex desire by stimulate the sex hormone.
5. Another important thing is Asparagus removes dryness in the lungs and throat, constipation, nerve pain ,skin treatment, AIDS, cancer, and diseases caused by parasites.
6. It contains vitamin B6 and folate, which can help boost feelings of arousal.
7. It is used for preventing stones in the kidney and bladder and or anemia.

Heena/ Mehendi Plant: plant description, planting and uses

                             Heena/ Mehendi Plant
The henna tree, also known as mehendi plant, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, is a flowering plant and a tall shrub or small tree, standing 1.8 to 7.6 m tall (6 to 25 ft). The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are elliptical in shape and average dimensions are 1.5–5.0 cm x 0.5–2 cm. Henna flowers have four sepals and a 2 mm, with 3 mm spread lobes.Henna fruits are small, brownish capsules, 4–8 mm in diameter, with 32–49 seeds per fruit.It is the source of the dye henna used to dye skin, hair and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool and leather.

In the north and western parts of India, mehndi (or henna painting) is a very important part of the wedding ritual and ceremony. As the story goes, the deeper the color obtained on the skin, the longer the love between the couple will last, hence the belief that a proper mehndi application is tantamount to a prayer to the gods for everlasting love and a successful marriage.

Botanical name: Lawsonia inermis

Family :Lythraceae

Plant height : 4-6 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White with yellow

Temperature: 22°C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Planting

Even though you may grow henna plant indoors with the assurance of direct sunlight, . This is because henna plants grow better in hot climates. The minimum temperature needed for a henna plant to grow and nourish well is

Henna plant likes direct sunlight. The minimum sunlight is needed for a henna plant to grow is 22ºC. So it is always preferred to grow in outdoors.

Propagation from seeds:

Sow the seeds in soil, which is commonly having the characteristics suitable for planting cactus. If want to grow in indoor then sow the seeds in a pot, and keep it in direct sunlight. Then may transfer it to the ground after the process of germination.

Stem cuttings are commonly used to plant a henna plant. Cut the stem at the node and insert it ta few centimetres down into the ground or into the pot. Remember to keep some leaves above the surface.

It is recommended to keep a well-drained soil for the proper growth of the henna plant. Allowing the soil to get dried in between each watering cycle will allow the plants to grow well. Generally, watering is needed only when the soil is dry.

Fertilizers: Applying fertilizers will help to get a good leaf supply. Use the leaves of the plants for making dye once the plant starts to produce thorns.And also use fertilizers by mixing with water or mixing with soil.

Uses:

Henna is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for dandruff, eczema, scabies, fungal infections, and wounds.
In manufacturing, henna is used incosmetics, hair dyes, and hair care products, and as a dye for nails, hands, and clothing.
As a medicinal plant henna is used as an astringent, anti-hemorrhagic intestinal anti-neoplastic, cardio-inhibitory, hypotensive, and a sedative. The Henna extracts exihibit antibacterial, antifungal, and ultraviolet light screening activity.