"Kate Dicey" > wrote in message
...
> o8TY wrote:
>
> > I am looking for ancient Greek or Roman references to the blanching of
> > plants whilst still growing in ground.
> >
> > I know this was done for celery and asparagus but have yet to find exact
> > references/quotations.
> >
> > Any help greatly appreciated.
> >
> >
> As far as I remember, it has nowt to do with cooking! You pile the
> earth up round the stems of things like leeks and celery and asparagus
> to keep them tender and pale. My dad was an avid gardener, son of a
> professional, and this is what he was taught to do. This is why things
> like this used to be grown in raised beds. The plants were grown in
> half filled beds, early in the season, and then as they grew, the beds
> were filled up, covering the new growth of stem to keep the light from
> it. It was referred to as blanching in some areas.
>
> Here's a bit more about it:
> http://www.innvista.com/health/foods...les/aspara.htm
>

Yes my query has nothing to do with cooking, but with making certain plants
turn white by deliberately reducing their exposure to light.

Ultimately I am hoping the references/quotations will relate to the colour
scheme of the Corinthian capital invented around 450BCE.

I have read what the Roman writers Pliny and Cato say on the matter, but am
looking for more, especially the earlier Greek sources such as Theophrastus
or Aristoteles.