Asparagus is a perennial vegetable whose green and purple stalks elevate even the simplest spring dish. In addition to its culinary appeal, asparagus provides an excellent source of vitamin K and folate (essential for red blood cell formation). Plus, it’s a low-effort crop.
Asparagus is not a fussy plant once well-established. However, it’s essential to choose the right location for your asparagus patch because once you’ve put these plants in the ground, you really shouldn’t move them. Avoid growing asparagus in containers as constrained spaces reduce their lifespan.
Neither option will negatively affect the taste or quality of your harvest, so this decision comes down to personal gardening preference and timeline. Crowns are the roots of a 1-2-year-old asparagus plant, attached to a small base from which the sprouts will emerge. Asparagus seeds can take 21 days or more to germinate and then several weeks for the seedlings to emerge.
Once you’ve selected a good location for your asparagus bed, you’ll need to build a trench for your plants. Assuming you’re planting crowns, you can begin this process in March or April (as soon as the soil is easy to work with). Each plant will require a space 6 inches deep and at least 12 inches wide.
Use the mixture at the bottom of your trench to ‘hill up’ the soil and promote proper drainage. Place your pre-soaked crowns, crown side up, along both sides of the ridge. Since you’ve created raised rows at the bottom of your trench, you’ll be able to lay the roots at an angle most helpful for growth.
One of the hardest things about planting asparagus is resisting the urge to harvest your crop the first year after planting. Asparagus plants require two to three years to form deep roots. The strength of these roots is vital to cultivating a prolific and long-lasting asparagus patch.
Water the plants throughout dry spells during the summer, but be sure not to overwater as this can lead to root rot. One method of watering is to install a drip irrigation system to ensure your asparagus bed stays hydrated without getting damp.
If you’re wondering about companion plants for asparagus, one good choice is strawberries. They work well together when interplanted in the same bed.
Now that you have a successful harvest. You might be wondering how to propagate asparagus, which may be easier than you think. In the spring, trim back the old dead fern. Then dig up the main root ball and use a garden hose to wash the soil off. Read website article for complete details.
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