Could you please advisse me on from where we can obtain planting material for asparagus.HI
Asparagus
A good heavy sod plowed under is good, as it makes a bottom for the roots to feed on. It requires strong, coarse manure under it; and as large stalks are the requisite in order to obtain high prices, the roots should have plenty of room to spread. The roots, after 6 or 8 years, will have grown 8 to 12 feet in all directions and 3 to 4 inches thick, all matted together. If planted closely, small, spindling shoots will result. By planting a good distance apart, as many shoots cannot be cut from the same ground, but the sprouts being larger, more bunches will be secured. These heavy ones sell more readily, and at twice or three times the price of the light weights, and cost less to cultivate, cut and bunch.
For marketing you will have to approach the processing industry or export them. BUt please ensure a buy back arrangement before you cultivate the crop.
Aloe vera
Aloe has wide adaptability and can grow in various climatic conditions. It can be seen growing in warm humid as well as under dry climate. It is intolerant to extreme cold conditions. The plant flourishes well on dry sandy soils at localities with lower annual rainfall of 50 to 300 mm and needs to be protected against frost and low winter temperature.
3.2 Soils
The plant can be grown in a variety of soils ranging from sandy coastal soils to loamy soils of plains. It is sensitive to water logged conditions. The crop also comes up well in light soils. It can tolerate higher pH and high Na and K salts. Growth is faster under medium fertile, heavy soils such as black cotton soils. It grows well with thicker foliage in well drained, loam to coarse sandy loam soils with pH ranging from 7.0 to 8.5.
3.3 Varieties
Commercially important subspecies are Aloe barbedensis, A. chinensis, A. perfoliata, A. vulgaris, A. indica, A. littoralis and A. abyssinica. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR, has released varieties like IC111271, IC111269, IC111280 etc. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, has also released a variety, AL-1, for commercial cultivation.
Propagation
It is propagated by root suckers or rhizome cuttings. For this purpose, medium sized root suckers are identified and carefully dug out without damaging the parent plant at the base and directly planted in the main field.
It can also be propagated through rhizome cuttings. In this case, after the harvest of the crop, the underground rhizome is also dug out and made in 5-6 cm long cuttings which has atleast 2-3 nodes on them. Rooting is done in specially prepared sand beds or containers and after it starts sprouting, transplanting is carried out. On an average, about 25000 suckers are required for a nursery of 1 ha size (10000 for 1 acre nursery).
Spacing and plant population
Normally a spacing of 90 cm x 45 cm is followed. This accommodates about 25000 plants per hectare.
Harvest
The thick fleshy leaves are ready for harvest from the second year after planting. Large healthy outer leaves at the bottom of the plant are to be harvested by cutting close to the base of the plant at an angle. Normally, four harvests are taken in a year by removing three leaves per plant at a time. Harvesting is labour intensive. It is carried out in the morning and / or evening. The leaves will regenerate from the scar and thus the crop can be harvested up to five years after planting. Apart from leaves, the side suckers, which can be used as planting material, is also sold.
Again for marketing please have a buy back arrangement
REgards
Ashwini