Asparagus
is a perennial vegetable that can successfully thrive in a garden for decades
if properly planted and maintained. Asparagus is actually one of the very first
springtime crops to yield harvest, so when properly planted and cared for; you
can enjoy an abundant crop of spears for up to 30 years!
A favorite
in North American diets, perky green asparagus stalks can add a delicious
bright crunch to daily meals, in addition to B and C vitamins, iron and plenty
of calcium. Even though maintenance isn’t difficult, planting asparagus does
have its delicate intricacies, which we’ll outline below so you can plan
accordingly!
Growing Asparagus
First,
you’ll want to get your hands on asparagus crowns. While growing asparagus from
seeds is possible, it becomes more difficult because of their extreme delicacy
and overall stubbornness to take root. Instead, opt for one-year-old crowns.
This gives you a head start over seeds. Crowns are actually just dormant roots
and are available at local garden centers and reputable nurseries in early
spring. We recommend an all-male asparagus variety if your primary goal is to
have a high yield. Since female plants produce seeds, much of their energy is
expended there.
Next,
you’ll want to prepare your new asparagus bed. Whether you’re isolating
asparagus on a raised bed or digging a trench in the ground, ensure the removal
of any signs of weeds or potentially harmful grasses. Asparagus does not
compete well with others for growing space and unfortunately, it won’t survive
at the first sign of competition.
Prepping the Soil
To ensure
long-term fertility, you’ll want to create non-acidic soil that is well drained
and nutrient-rich. You can fortify the soil with compost, a vegetable
fertilizer, rock phosphate or organic
greensand.
Planting Asparagus From Roots
To plant
the crowns, you’ll want to dig trenches approximately a foot wide and six
inches deep. If you’re utilizing a sandier soil, dig down eight inches. Place
the crowns two feet apart and cover them with an additional two to three inches
of soil—approximately two rows of asparagus crowns will nicely fit into a
4-foot wide bed. You want to space your crowns to produce larger spears. Water
them deeply right after covering them.
Maintaining Asparagus – 1st Growing Season
You’ll
want to keep your asparagus bed moist through its first growing season. To
ensure moisture conservation, you can spread a light layer of mulch over top.
As your asparagus grows, you’ll want to fill furrows with soil. Overall,
maintain wet soil for the first eight inches. Be gentle since you want your
asparagus to develop a strong root system.
Maintaining Asparagus – 2nd Growing Season
You won’t
want to harvest the asparagus the following year after planting. Instead, allow
them to grow into a small bush. If it’s brown, you’ll want to remove the old
stalks and any new signs of weeds. Periodically check the pH level of the soil with
a soil
test kit and squeeze some lime to maintain proper
levels. You’ll also want to water biweekly through any dry weather.
Maintaining Asparagus – 3rd and 4th Growing Seasons
If you
see spears larger than four inches, you’ll want to harvest them. Utilize a
knife and while holding the spear in one, cut it off about one inch below the
soil line. Avoid deep cuts because you’ll end up damaging the crown. Follow a
two, four and 6-week harvest sequence. You’ll want to harvest stalks every two
weeks in the second year, four weeks the third growing season, and finally six
weeks after the fourth growing season. Every fall season that follows, remember
to remove any brown brush.
Asparagus
needs a whole lot of love to get started, but the annual rewards make it
worthwhile!
Have you
had any luck growing asparagus? Leave any additional helpful tips below!
