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Now and then , I give a young plant a try because I listen other gardener rant about it . I hear about a tasty herbaceous plant they ’d been growing called asafetida that pressurize the flavour of your cookery and can treat a blanket ambit of ailments .
Then again , I also hear many gardeners find the smell abominable , but nothing ’s staring . I was intrigued .
Known as both “ Devil ’s Dung ” and “ solid food of the Gods , ” asafetida is one plant that will get your friends speak . I hope you ’re ready to be adventuresome because this works is deserving a effort .
What is Asafetida?
Asafetida , also spell asafoetida , is native to central Asia and has been used for 100 of years in cooking and medical specialty . These day , it ’s cultivated in Afghanistan , Iran , and most recently , India . It ’s an important part of Indian culinary art .
Asafetida is a big herb compare to some others out there . It can grow up to 10 foot magniloquent . The foliage looks a short like parsley , only giant . That ’s not surprising since both parsley and asafetida are part of the Umbelliferae mob .
It ’s known as a monocarpic plant , which stand for it die once it flower . The good news is it takes several eld to flower , and it will ego - seed in the right conditions .
you may get a lot of employment out of one plant because it is so large and long - lived . Asafetida is not only used as a culinary herb ; it ’s also a laxative , a respiratory aid , and may even be a key ingredient of Worcestershire sauce ( the original recipe is a closely guard secret ) .
It ’s also said to aid in irritable gut syndrome and , back in the 1800s , it was prescribed for anxiety .
Although it smells like shitty fish when crushed , the smell go away when asafetida is cooked , so do n’t occupy about that too much .
How to Plant Asafetida
Asafetida grow in USDA Growing Zones 3 - 8 as an annual and 9 - 11 as a perennial . It course raise in hot parts of the world and is n’t cold tolerant .
point for a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5 . Most stain types except clay will do , as long as it ’s well - draining . Because the plant develop a long taproot , the soil ca n’t be toilsome and compact . Asafetida does n’t like squiffy foot and prefers moist to slightly dry . I find sandy grunge is best .
Plant in full sunlight . This is not a tint bed plant and it will really scramble to flourish out of the sun .
Planting Seed
The germ for asafetida can be concentrated to find because it ’s not the most well - known plant . you may find feasible seminal fluid from online retailer or those who specialize in herb and spiciness used in Asiatic or Middle Eastern cooking .
Sow seeds in former springiness straight into the garden . Aasafetida does n’t transpose at all well . It ’s susceptible to transplant jolt , as are many flora that develop long taproots .
Do n’t set about to divide the plant like you’re able to with other herb . I try this and killed both divisions . Again , this plant has a single , long taproot , so it does n’t divide well .
Plant seed on the surface and cover softly with sandy soil before tamping down firmly . Plant about two feet aside to give the tap ancestor great deal of room . Keep the grease slightly moist until sprouting . Once the plant pushes through the surface , body of water only when the first inch of stain is dry .
Caring for Asafetida
This plant life is jolly ego sufficient and I find it does n’t need much sustenance unless it start to struggle because of a lack of nutrients or too much ( or too little ) water .
Fertilizer
Asafetida rent care of itself as long as the soil has nutrients for it . As with most flora , dig in well - rot manure or compost before constitute the come , and you should only have to urine after that for the repose of the class .
At the kickoff of the next season , water with smooth plant food deeply to appropriate the taproot to pull the food for the new development .
If you find the plant life sputter , with slow , scrawny growth or yellowing leave-taking , try a little tomato plant limpid fertilizer and Epsom salts .
Water
I learn from my mistakes the first clip I tried growing asafoetida . I watered the industrial plant at the same time as my other herbaceous plant and vegetables , but it was too much .
weewee well , but do n’t water again until the ground is dry at least several inch below the surface . I sleep together this is the inverse of how we think about watering some herbs , but regard the natural environment of Asafetida . It does n’t rain down a destiny .
Staking
Keep an oculus on whether you think stake is required or not . I had four Asafetida in a row . Three stood strong while the 4th needed to be staked because it keep tilt on the closest one .
If you live in a impractical country , take staking as the plant grows to give it time to rise the deep tap root .
you could also put a tomato coop in place when you plant the seed so that the flora can maturate up and through it .
Companion Planting for Asafetida
Some mass bump the scent of asafetida offensive , but I did n’t mind it to be honest . I was conscious of what I plant around it , but after much trial and mistake see that perennial herbs that do n’t require big amounts of water supply grew well and did n’t take on the odor of asafetida .
Just be wary that when you harvest the leaves of the other herbaceous plant , you will brush up against the asafetida and if you squash it , the smelling will appear .
Try :
As you could see , there is plenty to plant with asafetida , especially if it ’s space well . Put shorter plants in front of the taller asafoetida .
Just keep in idea that it will cross - pollinate with other Umbellifers , so if you set it will dill or fennel , any seeds you get wo n’t be true asafoetida .
Common Problems and Solutions for Growing Asafetida
This is quite a audacious plant , though it ’s a cousin of cultivated carrot and can stand some of the same problems that carrot have .
Wireworms
These pests are more common when you convert a grassy sphere to a vegetable or herb garden , as I did for my asafetida . They fee on the roots , stem , and pocket-size seedlings at the beginning of the season .
Use neem oil grease drench , specially when you first convert the state to a garden .
Slugs
As asafetida grows , they become more and more unpalatable to bullet and snails . When they are young seedling , they are likely to be eat . Use slug shot when you plant the germ and when the seedlings emerge .
Flea Beetles
worsened in spring and summer , when the adults use up the leaves , and the larvae rust the roots , flea beetles can damage an asafetida plant to the point of killing it .
Our guidewill help you spot and get free of these annoyig blighter .
Fusarium Wilt
This is a unwashed problem for many gardeners , especially in North America . Read our detailed post onfusarium wilthere .
Harvesting and Using Asafetida
A give-and-take of warning . If you are pregnant or adjudicate to get pregnant , stay away from asafetida . As with all herbs , blab out to your health professional before eating or using it in a formula .
Do n’t let the smell of the unprocessed asafetida put you off . It will be neutralized when you cook it .
Harvest and cook the young leafage and shoots and then boil them . After a few minutes of simmering , the olfaction disappear and the plant is much more toothsome . Then , fry the leave and root in a minuscule salt and butter .
The most coarse way of using asafetida is to harvest the roots , dry out them and grind them into a powder to utilise as a spicery . Despite the fresh tone , the flavor of this dry out powder is mild , like garlic or scallion . If you wish vegetarian dishes , asafetida gives a thaw , comforting flavor .
apply asafoetida to give a lift to cheese , ball , or Pisces dishes where chopped onion or leek will be too bulky . It ’s an all important component if you like to wangle Indian cuisine .
Theresin or gumis also usable , but it requires a lot of processing , so it is n’t feasible for the average home gardener .
This is one plant that I come up very useful in my survival of the fittest garden because it keep growing time of year after time of year and few pests will touch it because of the smell . It ’s utile for so many things , there are almost too many to note .
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