Can i plant asparagus spears

They may be future stalks; let them be. You could lay on some mulch and prepare to set stake poles and string around the bed like a simple fence so that when the ferns become top heavy they do not fall to the ground. I have a wonderful asparagus bed that is years old. I have little fern like things coming up around each crown. Separate and very different than the spears of asparagus.

Are they weeds or part of the plants? I have a half dozen plants in my garden they are doing well and we were able to harvest some this is the third year. My issues is the ferns, they are so tall they fall over and cover the path and what is growing the next row over.

Can I trim them back some? You would do well to leave them. Run string around the poles and around the asparagus bed not the plants at about four feet high or higher, there is no magic formula to keep the ferns off the ground. When you cut the ferns later in the year, put away the poles and string for next year. It is early. If you added that much material you added days to the emergence calendar. I bet you will see spears within 10 days.

That being said, IMO, the time to add compost to the bed is fall, not spring. The Asparagus bed I have has plants of 2 and 3 years of age. We had a decent harvest last year but I felt they needed more soil. So this spring around the 1st of April we added approximately 3 to 4 inches of soil mixed with compost and also added a heavy layer of straw.

It is now the last day of April and I do not see any asparagus coming up. What could I have done wrong? I recently planted asparagus crowns for the first time. The first spear to come up from any of them was brutalized by wind and frost and most likely my well-intentioned, but poorly executed insulating row cover.

Now it's a pitiful bent thing. I tried to support it with twine and stakes which I've heard are recommended later in the season for ferns anyway , but it looks like it is beyond hope. For now, just support it with stakes and twine as best as you can.

The plant should send up more spears soon enough! Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Asparagus. By Catherine Boeckmann. When to Plant Asparagus Plant asparagus crowns in the early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Many gardeners plant at about the same time as potatoes go in the ground. Starting with asparagus crowns, however, eliminates the year of tedious weeding that comes with starting from seed, and will speed up production overall.

Start seeds indoors in spring and set out the seedlings when they are 12 to 14 weeks old, just after your last spring frost. Soak seeds in water for up to 24 hours before sowing. Sow seeds in moistened peat or seed-starting soil in flats or peat cups. Once plants reach 12 inches in height, harden them off outdoors for a week. After the last spring frost, transplant the young plants to a temporary garden bed. Once they mature in the fall, identify the berry-less male asparagus plants and transplant them to your permanent planting site, removing the less-productive female plants.

Choose a site that gets full sun. Place the asparagus bed toward the edge of your garden, where it will not be disturbed by the activity of planting and re-planting other areas. Ensure the bed will drain well and not pool water.

Asparagus does not like to have its roots get too wet. If you do not have a site with good drainage available, consider growing asparagus in raised beds instead. Learn how to make a raised garden bed here. Asparagus thrives in neutral to slightly acidic soil pH of about 6. Eliminate all weeds from the planting site, digging it over and working in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost, aged manure, or soil mix.

Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting. The soil should be loosened to 12 to 15 inches in depth to allow the asparagus crowns to root properly and not be disrupted by rocks or other obstacles.

How to Plant Asparagus Plant crowns deeply to protect them from the cultivation needed for annual weed control. Dig a trench of about 12 to 18 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep. If digging more than one trench, space the trenches at least 3 feet apart. Soak the crowns briefly in lukewarm water before planting.

Make a 2-inch-high ridge of soil along the center of the trench and place the asparagus crowns on top of the mound, spreading their roots out evenly. Control by hand picking; spray or dust seriously infested asparagus plants with an insecticidal soap.

These methods also control the spotted asparagus beetle, which is reddish brown with six black spots on each wing cover. Asparagus miner is another foliage-feeding pest; it makes zig-zag tunnels on the stalks.

If your asparagus bed does become infected by disease organisms, your best option is to start a new bed in a distant part of the garden, using newly purchased or grown plants. If young spears turn brown and become soft or withered, they may have been injured by frost. Cover spears with mulch or newspaper when freezing nights are predicted. Product Reviews. Home Ideas. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. The Rise of the Cleanfluencer. Getty Images. How to Grow Asparagus From Seed It takes patience to start your asparagus patch from seed, but there are advantages to gain from the extra wait.

Get More Tips. ValentynVolkov Getty Images. Greenland Gardener homedepot. Let them grow to their fullest. Throughout the Summer, keep watering them. Keep an eye on pests and diseases.

We hope you will have a better crop in your garden next year. There are many reasons why asparagus for home gardening is a brilliant choice. You can enjoy growing it for years once established. And you could always share its benefits with your neighbors, relatives and friends.

Asparagus is a vitamin-rich vegetable with antioxidant properties. It decreases blood pressure and reduces inflammation. Apart from having antiviral effects, it improves your digestion. To conclude, we can grow asparagus from store-bought crowns. All we need to do is to follow the above given step-by-step guide.

These crowns can bear spears in one year only. Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy. Know if Your Area is Suitable Asparagus grows anywhere. Buy Asparagus After you have confirmed that asparagus can grow in your area, you need to buy asparagus crowns.

Female asparagus uses its energy to produce seeds more than spears. Buy a variety of asparagus that resists rusting. For example, you could get Mary Washington or Jersey. Pick up healthy crowns that are large and gray-brown. The stem should be bright green. There are white and purple asparagus available in the market that are yummy. In case you want purple asparagus, shield your crowns from the sun with soil. Thick asparagus can be tough to grow. So, buy comparatively thinner stalks.

The bracts must be tight, not plump. Always go for uniform asparagus plants in size and color. Allow the spears to become ferns and build the strength of the crowns. The second spring after planting crowns, if the plants were strong and healthy during the previous growing season, begin to harvest when the spears are six to eight inches long. In the first year of harvest, only pick asparagus for two weeks.

After that, allow the spears to develop into ferns. In the following years, harvest asparagus up to July 1. Some gardeners will not harvest during the second year at all, preferring to allow the plants to build more strength before finally beginning to harvest in the third year. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Home Yard and garden Find plants Vegetables Growing asparagus.

A quick guide to asparagus An asparagus plant can last 15 years. Choose its spot in the garden carefully. Planting at the right depth is important. Good soil moisture is important at planting for good root and fern growth. Begin harvest two years after planting crowns, three years after planting seeds.

Harvest spears until June 30, and then allow the large feathery ferns to develop. Soil pH and fertility for asparagus. Open all Close all. Soil testing and fertilizer Asparagus grows best in well-drained soils with a pH between 6. Selecting plants. Male and female plants There are female plants and male plants.

This means the plants are dioecious. All produce edible spears. Only plants with all female flowers produce red, inedible berries in summer. Female plants grow larger spears. Male plants grow a greater number of smaller, uniform spears.

Most hybrids, such as Jersey Giant, are plants with only male flowers that produce no seeds. Plants with all male flowers do not use energy on developing seeds and fruits.

Male asparagus plants tend to live longer and produce more spears. Female plants can produce undesirable weedy seedling asparagus plants. Varieties that do well in Minnesota Varieties recommended for Minnesota include: Millennium: A newer variety from the University of Guelph.

It is very vigorous and high yielding. The Jersey varieties are popular and very high yielding. These are open-pollinated varieties. Yields are lower than the Jersey varieties, but they are very cold hardy. Location A planting of asparagus can last 15 years or more, so choose the spot for an asparagus bed carefully. Choose a fertile, sunny, well-drained site with soil that holds moisture well. Starting crowns. Starting seeds Asparagus is typically planted as crowns, rather than seeds.

However, gardeners wishing to try starting asparagus from seed may follow these recommendations: Choose an area of the garden as a nursery bed. How to keep asparagus healthy and productive. Watering Soil moisture is important for good root and fern growth in asparagus. Controlling weeds.