Growing Asparagus
Planting Asparagus
Asparagus is easy to grow and really doesn’t need anything special except a place where you can grow it for many years because it is a perennial vegetable that can thrive in the home garden for 15 years or more when well cared for. Asparagus plants should grow for at least 1 season in the garden before they are harvested. (Our 2 year crowns, available only in the fall, will be ready to harvest the next spring!)
Asparagus is most productive on deep, well-drained, sandy loam soil, but it will do well on other soils if it has good drainage. Many people grow it in large raised beds where it will thrive in nice soft soil with lots of mulching every year. The crown itself (the bud type thing at the top of the long spaghetti leg roots) is what will sprout the asparagus spears. Asparagus crowns planted close together will produce smaller, thinner spears and spacing them further apart will produce larger spears. Mulching well will keep the flavor sweeter and milder.
The First Growing Season
Asparagus should be planted in the early spring or in the fall when temperatures are cooler. Before planting, add compost and organic fertilizer to amend the soil. If pH is below 6.0, lime should be added to correct pH. Dig a V-shaped furrow, 6 inches deep. Plant crowns with the buds up in the bottom of the furrow, and cover them with 1 – 3 inches of soil. Space the crowns 12 to 16 inches apart within the row. Allow at least 3 feet between the asparagus rows or the next closest vegetable crop.
As the asparagus begins to grow, gradually fill in the furrow with soil. (Be careful not to cover any of the asparagus foliage.) The furrows should be filled to ground level by the end of the first growing season. Add organic fertilizer (about 1/4 cup per plant of granular) spreading the fertilizer on each side of the asparagus and cultivate it lightly into the soil. Good soil moisture is important during the first growing season. Irrigate or water your asparagus enough to wet the soil 8 inches deep every week.
The Second Growing Season
DO NOT harvest the asparagus spears that grow from 1 year crowns during their first season. Allow all of them to grow into brush which looks like dill or a ferny bush. Late in the fall of the first growing season, after the brush has turned completely brown, remove the brush (old stalks) and any weeds. (Note, in the fall, we have 2 year old crowns of Mary Washington asparagus that can be harvested in Spring of the following year.)
Early next spring, sprinkle some lime as needed to maintain the proper soil pH. (about 1 lb for a 10 X 10 bed) Add compost and organic fertilizer again. Thorough watering (1-2 inches of water) slowly applied every two weeks during dry weather is sufficient. Remove the brush each succeeding fall after it has turned brown.
Each succeeding spring, before the asparagus emerges, add lime if needed and add compost and organic fertilizer. Rake the fertilizer and lime into the soil gently, 1 to 2 inches deep. Take care not to damage the asparagus crowns.
Harvesting Asparagus
Use a knife to harvest spears. Use one hand to hold the top of the spear you are harvesting. Cut the spear off about one inch below the soil line. Be careful not to cut too deep – it will damage the asparagus crown.
Harvest all the spears that come up during the harvest season. A good general rule for length of harvest season is the 2-4-6 week sequence. Harvest for 2 weeks the second year the plants are in the garden, 4 weeks the third year, and 6 weeks the fourth and all following years. Each succeeding fall, remove any brush after it has turned brown.
If you harvest asparagus that will be eaten later, wash the spears and place the cut ends in about 2 inches of water. Like fresh flowers, they will keep in the refrigerator for several days.remove the brush (old stalks) and any weeds.
