Asparagus is one of the first vegetables of the season after the end of winter, and their arrival in the markets heralds the beginning of spring. How to grow these tender and nutritious plants in your garden? Start with seeds or, for faster results, with crowns. When they take root, asparagus plants produce shoots every spring for 12 to 25 years.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Preparation
Step 1. Find out if asparagus grows well in your area
This vegetable grows best in areas with cold winters, during which the ground freezes, or in very dry summers. It is a hardy and adaptable plant, but it is much more difficult to grow in climates with mild winters and humid summers.
Step 2. Decide whether to plant seeds or crowns
Asparagus seeds take three years to grow before giving a crop. During the first season the seeds germinate and sprout from the ground, after which they need two years to sink their long, spongy roots deeply. By planting crowns, you will skip the first season and the plant will start growing directly from the root formation stage. In this case, two years will be enough to produce a crop.
Step 3. Asparagus seeds have a low chance of germination, so it is difficult to know how many plants you will get
However, the seeds that take root will give life to resistant plants, which will be longer lasting and more productive than those born from the crowns.
There are two-year-old asparagus wreaths, which should allow you to harvest the sprouts in the year following their planting. However, the asparagus transplant process can damage plants if they have already produced roots, and they will generally need two full years in the same soil before they begin to bear fruit
Step 4. Choose the planting point for your asparagus
Asparagus can continue to produce shoots - edible stems - for 25 years, so choose a spot that you can dedicate to these plants for a long time. The zone should have the following characteristics:
- Full sun. Asparagus grows best when hit by the sun. Since they grow in the early stages of spring, you can plant them near leaf-producing trees later in the year. Just make sure the plants aren't shaded by trees or buildings.
- Well-drained soil. The land should be loosely packed and allow for excellent drainage. If you planted asparagus in marshy ground, they would rot.
- Space for a raised flower bed. This is optional, because asparagus also grows well in the ground, but it will be easier to keep weeds out and drain the soil from the bed if it is raised.
Step 5. Buy asparagus seeds or crowns
You can buy them at garden stores, nurseries, or on the internet. You can find the seeds all year round, and the crowns generally in the first days of spring, just before they should be planted.
- Asparagus plants are dioecious, meaning each plant is male or female. Female plants use energy to produce seeds, therefore they guarantee a lower yield than male plants. Some asparagus species have been modified to produce only male plants. If you choose one of these varieties, you just need to plant half the crowns of a mixed variety.
- Asparagus seeds are not separated by gender, so you will need to weed out the female plants after they have grown.
- Choose a rust resistant variety, such as one of the many "Jersey" or "Mary Washington" species.
- If you buy crowns, choose the healthier looking ones, with a gray-brown color, large and fleshy. Plant them the day after purchase.
- Purple asparagus and other special varieties are available in nurseries. You can make white asparagus by hiding the sprouts from the sun with soil.
Method 2 of 5: Growing Asparagus from Seeds
Step 1. Plant the seeds indoors
In the first days of spring, plant the individual seeds in small specific pots for germination. Place the pots in bright light, wet the soil every day, and keep the temperature at 25 ° C.
Step 2. Lower the temperature when the seed germinates
Bring it to 21 ° C.
Step 3. Place the seedlings outdoors
When they have reached 30 cm in height, and the weather outside is springtime, it is time to plant them outdoors in a flower bed for ripening. Make holes of about 10 cm to keep them growing.
Step 4. Remove the female plants
When they start producing flowers, you will be able to tell which plants are male and which are female. Male plants produce large and long flowers, female ones smaller. Pull up female plants and use them to make compost.
Step 5. Transplant male plants to the permanent bed
Let the male plants complete their growth cycle and spend the winter in the ripening bed. During the following spring, the year after germination, they will have reached the same maturity as the one year's crowns, and will be ready to be transplanted into the permanent bed. Follow the steps below to continue growing the plants.
Method 3 of 5: Planting One Year Crowns
Step 1. Prepare the ground
Pull out all weeds and grass, making sure you don't leave roots in the soil. Turn the soil upside down and use a rake to spread compost, compost, or bone meal to a depth of 25 - 38cm.
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Dig ditches to plant. They should be 15 - 30cm deep and about 30cm wide. If you are planting multiple rows, space the ditches 0.6 - 0.9m apart.
Plant Asparagus Step 11Bullet1 -
Make ridges in the ditches. Mix the soil you dug with organic compost and spread 5 - 7 cm of the enriched soil in the central part of each ditch to create a ridge.
Plant Asparagus Step 11Bullet2 - You can also add rock phosphate, a mineral powder that promotes root growth.
Step 2. Soak the crowns in a bucket of warm water or compost solution (enriched with plant nutrients)
Let them sit for 15 minutes before planting them.
Step 3. Plant the crowns
Place them in the center of the ditches, at a distance of 30 - 45 cm from each other. Plant the roots on the sides of the ridge.
- Cover the roots and crowns with potting soil for 5 to 7 cm.
- Water the area well when you are done planting.
Step 4. Continue filling the ditches
As the asparagus begins to grow and the soil settles, add more soil on top of the crowns. Put 2 - 7 cm of earth over the crowns every two - three weeks, until the ditches are completely filled.
Step 5. Use mulch on the plants
Sprinkle 10 - 20 cm of mulch around the plants after filling the ditches. This will keep weeds away and the soil will retain more moisture.
Method 4 of 5: Caring for Plants As They Ripen
Step 1. Water the plants regularly
Asparagus plants reach maturity after two full growing seasons. In the meantime, always keep the soil moist.
Step 2. Remove the weeds
Asparagus plants will die if they have to compete for nutrients with weeds, grass and other plants. Take good care of the soil as the plants reach maturity. When adult, their deep roots will naturally prevent weeds from appearing.
Step 3. Fertilize and mulch the plants
In the spring, fertilize the asparagus plants with a liquid fertilizer to help them grow. During the winter, protect the plants from the cold by covering them with straw or other mulch.
Step 4. Watch out for insects and diseases
Asparagus plants are vulnerable to crioceris, which feed on the fern-like leaves of asparagus during the summer and spring. These insects also lay their eggs on the leaves. If you see bugs or their eggs, remove them.
Method 5 of 5: Collect the Asparagus
Step 1. Collect the sprouts
After three years, or two if you've planted wreaths, it's time to enjoy your crop. Cut the shoots a few days apart using a sharp knife or scissors. As plants produce more shoots, you may need to harvest them more often.
- Sprouts are ready to harvest when they reach 6 inches tall, and the tips begin to soften.
- Limit the first harvest to two to three weeks, harvesting the shoots every few days, and being careful not to completely strip a plant. After harvest, the plants will have to devote their energy to building stronger roots.
- The following year, increase the harvest period to 4 - 5 weeks. In subsequent years, you can increase it to 6.
Step 2. Prepare the plants for the following year
At the end of the growing season, do not continue to harvest the shoots and allow the plants to reach their natural height. Keep the asparagus bed free of weeds and insects during the summer. In the fall, prune the plants and remove the foliage from the area so the insects don't spend the winter in the asparagus soil.
