#Growing asparagus
2 messages in this thread
Hello Bill,
As Howard mentioned, the library files are on their way…until then a
couple of tips on starting asparagus roots.
To plant, dig a trench 10 inches deep and 12 inches long for every crown to
be planted. Fill the trench with 2 inches of amended soil and set the root
on top with the crown up, and spread the roots. Cover with 2 inches of
amended soil and water well. After several weeks shoots will appear, fill
the trench with soil taking care not to cover shoot tips. Continue filling
the trench every few days as the tips grow until the trench is filled. Do
not harvest the first year. The second year you can harvest but do not
deplete the roots. As soon as you notice the stalks becoming thin, it is
time to stop harvesting.
Alison
An added tip. I very heavily mulch my asparagus bed with pine bark
mini-nuggets. It is an attractive mulch and works to keep the beds
weed-free. However, it is critical to pull back the mulch and add compost
and composted manure or a similiar fertilizer at least once a year as
asparagus is a heavy feeder–I will supplement with a liquid fertilizer in
the peak of the summer. Also, keep an eye on the soil's pH.