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kids
Fun facts and
Science Experiments Below!!!
Fun Facts About Asparagus!
- A whole country with great hair! Asparagus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic and to stimulate hair growth.
- Flower Child. Asparagus is a member of the lily family.
- Talk about a growth spurt! Asparagus can grow 10 inches a day.
- It went great with wild bison. Asparagus is believed to have originated in Northern Europe 2500 years ago.
- It’s Greek to me. The word, ‘asparagus’ comes from the Greek language and means ‘sprout’ or ‘shoot’.
- Life ever after? Asparagus will continue to grow after it has been harvested.
- Thomas Jefferson cultivated asparagus in his gardens at Monticello.
- AKA: Names for asparagus around the world: speargrass, spargel, esparrago, asperge, asparago, espargos. (need the countries)
- Have we been properly introduced? The scientific name for asparagus is Asparagus officinalis.
- Because she was tall and slim? One of the first varieties of green asparagus cultivated in North America was named after Martha Washington, wife of George Washington.
- Patience, patience, patience! Asparagus plants take three years to start producing after they have been planted.
- Who needs aspirin? Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that asparagus pocessed properties for healing toothaches and bee stings.
White Asparagus Photosynthesis Experiment:
To demonstrate photosynthesis, one can use white asparagus!
Buy a bunch of white asparagus, trim the ends slightly, and place in a shallow cup of water. Place cup with asparagus in a cool but sunny place in your home and day by day you will see growth and a change in color. Since white asparagus comes from the same plant as green asparagus, it will begin to look like the green asparagus once photosynthesis begins to take place. The experiment will take between 3 and 6 days depending upon sunlight and temperature.
Please see the photos below of how white asparagus is grown without light. Also, see photos from the experiment.
Asparagus Fern
A Field Full of White Asparagus
Each Spear Must be Hand Dug From the Ground Before the
Tip Reaches the Sunlight
Day 2
Day 4
Day 6
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