Asparagus in New Mexico

edhopper 4/11/2014, 7:20 pm

I am new to square foot Gardening. I live in Albuquerque N.M. I was just wondering, will asparagus grow well in a 6 in. deep box with weed fabric under it, or will it freeze in the winter here in Albuquerque. Do asparagus roots need to go deeper than 6 in.

**sanderson** 4/12/2014, 2:47 am

Edhopper, Welcome to the SFG Forum! $glad you\'re here$

I will let someone else answer this question, as I do not grow asparagus. I think the beds with asparagus have to be taller. But again, it's one of the very few things I don't grow in SFG with 6" MM. Corn in a 6" tall box is unbelievable!

Goosegirl 4/12/2014, 7:09 am

edhopper! As to your question on asparagus, it is not your standard annual veggie that does well in 6" of MM. It is a perennial which will be in its spot for 20+ years so give it what it likes and it will make you very happy! It likes to be planted deep, so it would be better to leave out the weed cloth of a 6" box and plant it right at the bottom, or make your asparagus box deeper. Hard frozen winters are not an issue with asparagus. It grows wild in the ditches her in SD, where the ground freezes solid several feet down in the winter. A soggy bog will kill it, but not -30F!

Are you trying it from seed, or are you planning on starting with crowns?

GG

edhopper 4/12/2014, 11:56 am

I am starting with crowns from Burpee. 25 ea of Jersey Supreme and Pacific Purple. What I have planned is to dig 1ft down into my own soil( which is terrible, hard clay, sand and gravel), then i thought I would add the weed barrier to the bottom and put in a redwood box 12 inches tall, and then fill the hole with mels mix. The asparagus bed would be 20 ft long 3ft wide and 1ft deep and have 50 plants. Do asparagus roots need to go deep, or can they spread out along the weed cloth at the bottom. Also do you think i need the redwood box or should I just put down weed cloth and fill the hole with mels mix.

Goosegirl 4/12/2014, 12:29 pm

What you are planning sounds like a good strategy. 12" is plenty deep for the asparagus. With the crowns placed 6" above the weed cloth, but still 5-6" or so below the surface will give them plenty of room. As for the box, that just depends on how you want it to look. Boxed up will keep it neat and tidy looking.

GG

edhopper 4/12/2014, 1:21 pm

Thanks for your info and reply.

**camprn** 4/12/2014, 1:32 pm

Agreed. Asparagus will do better in it's own specially prepared bed.
http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/melon_patch/2003/mar03.html

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Asparagus in New Mexico