Asparagus is a
shining gem of springtime in Southwestern Idaho. Packed full of nutrition and
boasting a delightful flavor, asparagus will give you 15 years or so of
production from one well thought out planting. When mature, one plant produces
about ½ pound of asparagus a year. It is an early producer, so you can plan on
fresh vegetables gracing your table much sooner than neighbors who haven’t
established asparagus in their garden planning. Getting this productive
perennial started growing in the right spot and with the right preparation, is
the most important step for the home gardener with regard to their plans to
grow asparagus.
Where to Plant?
Due to it being a perennial, planting it at the
side or center of your garden can be ideal so it doesn’t interfere with plot
preparation and cultivation of annual crops. It can grow to a height of 3 to 8
feet tall, so a bed on the north or east side of your regular garden plot in a
spot that gets approximately 7 hours of full sun each day is ideal. Because asparagus roots can be deeper than 6’, even raised beds are an option.
Consider that a 25’ to 50’ row will supply the typical family with enough
asparagus for regular use.
Site Preparation
Asparagus prefers deep, well-drained loam or
sandy loam with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. If the soil retains too much moisture,
asparagus can die from root rot. It will grow in soil conditions that are not
ideal, but the life of the plant and the production will be reduced. It is best
to begin site preparation in the fall by breaking up the soil to around 18”
deep and working in rich organic matter like mature compost or aged manure.
Simultaneously, add 4 to 5 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet.
Prepare an area that is 3’ to 4’ wide and as long as necessary to supply the
amount of asparagus you wish to reap from your harvest each year, after plants
mature.
Planting
You can start growing asparagus from seed or crowns. Most choose to start with one year old crowns to get to harvest faster.
Choose large crowns that have not dried out - male crowns are more productive than female crowns. Older crowns can be purchased, but
they are more expensive and much harder to plant successfully. If you are
working with prepared good soil, dig a trench 12” to 18” wide and 6” to 8”
deep. If you are working with heavier soil, use the more shallow depth. Spread
mature compost or aged manure in the bottom and cover with about an inch of garden
soil. Place crowns in trench about 18” apart, while spreading roots to insure
they lie flat. During the growing season, continue adding soil or aged manure
until the trench is full, being careful not to cover foliage.
Maintenance
For ongoing high spear yields, it is recommended
to fertilize before plants start growing each spring and again in the fall
after harvest using 1 ¼ pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet each
time. A deep watering once every couple of weeks during dry season is plenty
due to the deep root system. Weeding should be done somewhat regularly, but do
not cultivate deeply as you can encourage disease if crowns are damaged. Adding
a thick layer of mulch will help reduce weeds. You may use herbicides approved
for asparagus, but mulching and hand cultivating is favored. Take the time to
learn about dealing with pests like Asparagus Beetles and diseases
like Fusarium Wilt and Root Rot.
Harvest
The reward for taking
the time to plan and prepare your plot, and the patience you exhibit for
several years is the harvest! It is recommended not to harvest any asparagus
until the third year to allow the crowns to be mature. You may remove a small
harvest for approximately 3 weeks during the third year. You can harvest for 6
to 8 weeks for every year after that. Harvest in the morning when spears are
crisp. Spears should be 5” to 7” when harvested. Snapping the spears is advised
over cutting to avoid damaging emerging spears. Refrigerate spears promptly
after harvesting. An excellent, simple recipe for asparagus is Oven Roasted Asparagus