How to Grow Asparagus

Thinking about growing asparagus this year? It's a garden treat that is increasing in popularity. Asparagus plants don't take up a lot of room, and with a little care your asparagus plants can last for years. To get started, look for predominantly male plants such as the Jersey Knight, as these provide the most spear production. Then, improve your soil by adding enough organic matter, such as well-rotted compost and sphagnum moss, so that it will stay damp, but not wet, for a while after watering. Dig a trench deep enough so the crowns (buds) are six inches below the ground level and space them 18-24 inches apart. Cover with a thin layer of dirt and as they grow, gradually fill in the trench.

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You shouldn't expect a good crop the first year. Let spears develop into a delicate fern like plant. Keep watered and be on the lookout for asparagus beetles or worms that like to eat the tender spears, as well as the plant. They can be seen as soon as the tips emerge in the spring. Treat with a pyrethrin based insecticide every 2 or 3 weeks, especially in the fall, so the beetle larvae do not have a chance to over winter. The constant stress from these bugs will cause the plants to develop stunted or crooked spears the next year.

If you've planted one-year-old spears, which is what most garden centers sell, you can harvest a few spears the following year. Ideally, you should wait until the third year for a decent harvest. If you harvest early, you can reduce the overall yield in the long term. A good online source of asparagus crowns is http://www.walkerplants.com

Allow some spears to grow into plants, and take care of them because the best spears in the spring are formed from the best plants. Poor growing conditions will result in smaller spears. Since asparagus plants will sometimes stay green into winter in our part of the state, cut them back to the ground in November to force dormancy.

Sometimes the spears will be a little crooked and this is actually quite normal, as one side of the spear will occasionally grow faster than the other. However, it the spears are so badly deformed that you don't want them on your plate, look for a source of injury such as wind or insects. If we have a cool spring, you may find that the first spears in the spring are tough. The subsequent spears that appear as the weather warms should be of better quality. To keep them tender after harvest, refrigerate immediately and keep slightly moist by putting a damp paper towel on the cut end.