Today’s Garden Ideas

Asparagus is a wonderful vitamin-rich veggie that matures in early spring. Although it will take some time to establish, it will produce crops yearly for the next 20 years. Be sure to pick a special spot for your asparagus away from other plants so its roots will not be disturbed.

click on picture to enlarge

Purchasing & Planting

Asparagus can be grown from one-year-old crowns or seeds.

Seeds are the cheaper way to go but require a lot more effort. It will take at least 3 years before you can harvest the asparagus when grown from seed. There are all male varieties in crown form that will produce more spears faster. However, you still want to wait at least 1 year even with crowns before harvesting a crop. After 1 year only harvest a few spears. By year 3 you can dine on asparagus every night for 6-8 weeks in the spring.

When purchasing asparagus for planting buy one year old crowns that look healthy. Make sure the roots are firm and fleshy. Plant the asparagus immediately or keep it moist until planting. Do not purchase crowns with damaged roots. Also stay away from crowns over 1 year old. Older crowns do not transplant well.

To plant your asparagus chose a site with a fence or hedge that will protect the asparagus from the wind. Mix about 4 inches of compost into the soil. Dig trenches 7-8 inches wide and about 9 inches deep. Keep your trenches about 3 ½ feet apart. Mound about 1-½ inches of composted soil in the middle of the bottom of the trench. Spread the asparagus root crowns over the soil mound so the roots spread in all directions. Space the crowns about 2 feet apart. Add 2 inches of soil over the crowns and water. As the asparagus sprouts appear fill in the trench gradually until the soil is about 2 inches above ground level. Harvest your spears by snapping them off just below ground level. If you want to blanch your asparagus mound about 6 inches of soil over the asparagus spears that have just begun to emerge.

click on picture to enlarge

Growing Tips

Asparagus plants prefer full sun to partial shade. Asparagus spear yield will be greater if the plant is exposed to full sun. Asparagus plants also prefer rich well-drained soil that is somewhat sandy and rich.
If you live in the North plant asparagus in early spring. Wait until fall to plant asparagus in the south as the summer heat will stress the asparagus plant.

Be sure to only pick thick spears when harvesting. Allow thinner spears to grow tall. They will develop pretty fern-like stems that will nourish the asparagus roots for next year.

Asparagus beetle feed on the new asparagus growth. These beetles are small, orange and lack. They lay eggs in the soil or on the stems. The eggs are shiny and black. Handpick the beetles off the asparagus or use and organic pesticide.

Seasonal Care

For seasonal care mulch new and older asparagus beds after harvesting. Use about 9 inches of chopped leaves or straws. In summer keep the soil moist from spring through summer so the leaves can make lots of food for next year’s harvest. Feed the asparagus by spreading 1-2 inches of compost on the bed. In fall cut down faded asparagus foliage in fall and compost it. Mulch the asparagus beds with chopped leaves to protect them over the winter.

click on picture to enlarge

Varieties of Asparagus

Asparagus comes in many varieties. California 500 has thick light green spears. This asparagus does well in areas of mild winter like the West Coast. Hybrid Waltham asparagus produces high yields with dark green spears tinged with purple. Jersey Giant has high yields and large spears. These all male plants have an excellent flavor and are resistant to wilt and rot. Jersey Knight produces heavy yields and does well in hot weather. These all male plants are rust resistant. Larac F1 produces tender stalks that are excellent for blanching. Mary Washington asparagus are thick and purple tinged. The have high yields and are rust resistant. Purple Passion has burgundy colored spears with a sweet nutty flavor. Robert’s Improved is a vigorous high yield asparagus plant. The spears are very sweet early in the season. UC 157 has an excellent flavor with tender spears. This asparagus plant is good for mild-winter areas.

Quick Facts

Asparagus plants grow well in zones 2-9. They prefer full sun to partial shade and rich well drained soil. Asparagus can grow up to 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall. This plant will yield about 6 ½ lbs per year. Asparagus is a perennial that is harvested in the spring.