Marshall’s Guide To Growing Asparagus
I love asparagus grilled, steamed, sauteed, pureed, entreed or as a side, in salads, sandwiches, omelets. . .; well, you get the picture. Fortunately, this delicious vegetable can be grown in just about any area of the country, from USDA Climate zone 3 to 10.
Because asparagus is a perennial, it is often grown in the vegetable garden in a dedicated space where it can be left alone. But the plant is so beautiful, it can also be planted with other ornamental perennials. The lovely fern-like foliage is delicate and green in the summer and turns golden yellow in the fall. The main thing to remember is that the roots should be left undisturbed for the next few decades so your garden will prosper. So choose a permanent site.
Asparagus prefers full sun and rich soil that is well-drained with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Contact your local Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service for instructions on taking soil samples. For a nominal fee they will have it tested for you and provide you with helpful results. Make sure you specify the crop because asparagus require good levels of potassium and phosphorus in the soil.
Prepare the soil according to the soil test recommendations before you receive your asparagus so you can plant as soon as possible upon receiving them. Cultivate deeply. Incorporate lots of composted organic matter. It wouldn’t hurt to add a half cup of wood ashes and a half cup of bone meal to the site. Remove weeds. If you use synthetic fertilizer, incorporate it into the soil a couple of weeks before planting.
When the soil temperature has reached 50 degrees F, prepare furrows around 8 inches deep and 4 feet apart. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for a few minutes to rehydrate them. Plant the asparagus crowns about 12 inches apart and just above the soil surface. Water deeply.
Regular weeding is very important, but be careful not to disturb the asparagus crowns. Asparagus is quite drought tolerant, but adequate water is essential during plant establishment for the first two years. About 1 inch of water per week during the growing season should be sufficient. Remove and destroy top growth when it turns brown to avoid attracting harmful insects. Take a soil sample every couple of years to make sure the pH and nutrient levels are correct.
Resist the urge to harvest your asparagus spears for the first two years. The plants must be well-established in order to provide abundant crops later. The third year you will be rewarded for your patience when you may harvest a few spears for about a month during the spring. Always remember, even when your garden is well-established that you must leave enough spears to mature and strengthen your planting.
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Copyright Marshall’s Farm, 2008