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Planting
In early spring, apply 5 pounds of 10-10-10 per 100
square feet and incorporate thoroughly in the soil.
Plant in furrows which are 6-8 inches deep, depending
on your soil type. 8 inches is the best depth, for
most soils, but 6 inches is recommended for heavy
clay soils. We recommend bone meal or super phosphate
and lime incorporated thoroughly at the bottom
of the planting furrow.
Set
plants 12 inches apart in the row and space the rows
4 feet apart. Lay crowns along the bottom of the furrow
and cover with 2-4 inches of soil. Do not add compost
until plants are growing (Stage 3).
As the spears grow up through the soil and expand
into fern, gradually fill in the trench. Using this
method helps to keep down small weeds. Within six
weeks, the furrow should be completely filled. (see
illustration)
No compost until Stage 3.
Fertilizing
In the establishment year in addition to the spring
fertilizer application, side dress in early August
with 1 pound of 10-10-10 (or equivalent) per 100 square
feet and lightly work into the top inch or two of
soil.
Bed Maintenance
In the early spring of the 2nd year, cut the old ferns
down to ground level. Control weeds all season and
irrigate as needed. Be on the lookout for asparagus
beetles. These insects can cause considerable damage
to an established bed. Aphids and the asparagus miner
are also pests to check for. For chemical weed and
pest control recommendations, contact your local Cooperative
Extension office.
In
early spring of each succeeding year, follow the same
routine except increase the fertilizer to 2 lbs. of
10-10-10 per 100 square feet. Side dress again after
harvest with 2 lbs. of 10-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. Test
your soil pH every 3-4 years to maintain a pH of 7.0-7.2.
Broadcast lime according to the soil test results
and recommendations.
Harvesting Spears
Research shows that you can begin to harvest asparagus
the year after establishment, cutting all the first
spears that appear for a period of 7-10 days. (Once
spears begin to get spindly, stop harvesting.) The
second season is similar, except that you can harvest
all the spears that appear for a period of 4 weeks.
By the third year, you can cut for the full season,
which is usually about 8 weeks long.
Be
careful not to damage emerging spears when cutting
below the soil surface. An alternative to cutting
is to snap the spears. Make sure you snap stalks off
close to the soil surface so as not to leave stubs
of asparagus. Stubs can be potential entry points
for pests and diseases. Always maintain good growing
conditions after harvest, keeping the planting weed
and insect free. Do not remove any ferns. They will
die back naturally in the fall. Mulching the dried
ferns in early spring with your lawn mower will reduce
weed pressure. With a little care you should enjoy
an asparagus bed for many years.
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