Facts about Asparagus

1. 07

   In 1653, French botanist Louis Gerard documented that asparagus contains 92 percent water by weight, making it one of the lowest-calorie vegetables available.

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2. 06

   A single asparagus spear can grow up to 10 inches in just 24 hours during peak growing season, making it one of the fastest-growing vegetables in agriculture.

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3. 05

   California produces over 90 percent of America's asparagus supply, with most crops harvested in the San Joaquin Valley region during spring months.

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4. 04

   Blanching asparagus by covering young shoots from sunlight produces white spears that are milder and more tender than the green variety harvested in full sun.

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5. 03

   Eating asparagus causes about 40 percent of people to produce a distinctive sulfurous odor in their urine within 15 to 30 minutes due to the breakdown of sulfur-containing compounds.

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6. 02

   Asparagus plants can live and produce edible spears for 15 to 20 years once established, making them a perennial vegetable crop.

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7. 01

   The Roman legions valued asparagus so highly they established three separate growing regions across their empire by 100 AD.

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