Asparagus!

Have you ever thought of starting an asparagus patch?

The process of starting your own patch is easier then you may think! Once your patch takes off it has the potential to produce for over 100 years! We just received asparagus starts at Grove Gardens, and they look great! The variety is UC#157, developed at the University of California it has proved itself to be a great variety. We are very happy that the asparagus starts look so great this year, most of the starts that we received are just at a foot long. 

Follow along after the jump to learn more about starting your very own asparagus patch!

Asparagus Growing Information 

Highest yields are obtained in deep sandy well-drained soils, and heavy clay soils should be avoided. Fertilizer and organic matter should be applied to the soil before plowing to establish a new planting. Adding 8 to 10 lbs. of a 5-10-5 fertilizer per 1,000 sq. ft. of garden area is suggested. If generous applications of organic matter is applied, us only half as much 5-10-5 fertilizer.

Planting 

 

Crowns should be planted while dormant. This can be as early as late winter. They should be planted when the ground is workable between frosts. As long as the crowns are covered with about 2 inches of soil they are protected from any hard freezes. They can be planted until mid-spring as long as plump, healthy roots are still available. Quality one year old crowns are best.

Plant 12-15” apart in rows that are 4-5’ apart. Six to eight inches is the optimum depth for crown planting. Shallower planting depths cause production of spindley, thin spears, while deep-planted crown produce fewer spears of larger diameter. After placement in the furrows or holes, the crowns are covered with 2-3” of soil. The furrow is gradually filled in as shoots emerge. By seasons end the furrows should be entirely filled in.

Care

 

Established Asparagus beds, with little care, will remain productive for many years.
Tops should not be removed from asparagus plants until after killing freezes. The tops are essential in producing and transferring food to the roots for a vigorous crop the next spring. We recommend the leave the tops for winter mulch. This mulch will catch snow and protect the plants from severe cold while adding moisture.

Harvesting

 

During the establishment years, fern growth, plant vigor, and health should be optimized with very careful cultural management. The Extension Service recommends a light harvest (2-3 weeks) during the first season after plant establishment. A full harvest season may follow the next year; however, if at any time the spear size is reduced to pencil size, the harvest should halt.
Harvest starts in Kansas about the middle of April to the first of June. Spear growth depends on temperature. If it is warm the asparagus may need to be harvested every three days; if hot, harvest is necessary every day. Harvest while the tips of the spears are still tight.

Harvest spears when they are 6-8” long. A knife can be used to cut the spears below the soil surface. Cutting must be done carefully to avoid damaging the developing spears and the crown below the surface. The advantage to cutting spears is that if you are going to hold the asparagus for several days, the woody base restricts water loss, preserving the upper spear quality.

We recommend the gardener to hand snap their asparagus above the soil surface. Snapping severs the spear at the junction between the green tender tissue generally above the ground and the white woody tissue below ground. The advantage to snapping is that you won’t injure unemerged spears and you are getting a 100% edible product. Information gathered from Pendleton’s Country Market, Lawrence, KS “Asparagus Growing Information”

Come by and visit us! If you have any questions please let us know we would be happy to help you start your own asparagus patch!

See you soon!
your friends from,

Grove Gardens