Re: Asparagus

**sanderson** 4/10/2019, 4:01 am

Can someone who is experienced with asparagus answer this post?

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t22538-root-systems-growing-asparagus#287585

GloriaG 4/10/2019, 6:10 pm

We planted our asparagus in a circular bed of MM about 5-years ago. I purchased all male asparagus, so I don't have to worry about it spreading.

The first two years I didn't harvest, the next two years I harvested quite a lot. This year I'm harvesting only a little to allow the the bed to "rejuvenate".

I leave the dried up "fronds" on the plants and add a lot of leaf mulch in the winter. In spring, I cut the fronds, pull back some of the winter mulch and add a bit of organic compost (manure, worm castings, bat guano, etc.)

At this point the spears are about thumb thick and strong.

For me, it works very well.

has55 4/10/2019, 7:42 pm

I ate four spears this morning. If your temp is like Dallas this article by dirt doctor will be helpful. My asparagus is surrounded by 16 inches of cinderblocks. I might not have the same trouble as blackjackwidow, but that info got me thinking. I might move it to the back yard in a large open area since it will live 20-30 years.

ASPARAGUS

**Scorpio Rising** 5/5/2020, 8:42 am

So I planted 25 Jersey Knight crowns on April 5th, and I was out there looking at things last night (do other people just go look at their gardens?) and I noticed these skinny vertical things sticking out of my asparagus bed—it’s little asparaguses!!!!! Or asparagi perhaps. I’m so excited to see that out of the deal looking bare roots I had planted.

So I have to wait 2 years to harvest? I know not this year.

countrynaturals 5/5/2020, 9:53 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:So I have to wait 2 years to harvest? I know not this year.

This is my 4th year and my asparagus yield is still small. I thought I was doing everything right, but now I'm thinking I was too stingy with the mulch, compost, and fertilizer. Sad

Lavish those babies with whatever they could possibly want.

OhioGardener 5/5/2020, 10:04 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:(do other people just go look at their gardens?)

You mean there are people who do not do this? I never thought of that! Very Happy

OhioGardener 5/5/2020, 10:12 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:So I planted 25 Jersey Knight crowns on April 5th, and I was out there looking at things last night (do other people just go look at their gardens?) and I noticed these skinny vertical things sticking out of my asparagus bed—it’s little asparaguses!!!!! Or asparagi perhaps. I’m so excited to see that out of the deal looking bare roots I had planted.

So I have to wait 2 years to harvest? I know not this year.

The rule of thumb we used on the truck farm (now called Market Garden) is that the first year you could harvest asparagus spears for two weeks, the second year you could harvest spears for three weeks, and the third and subsequent years you can harvest them for four to six weeks. After the harvest period, whether two weeks or 6 weeks, lets the fronds open to feed the roots.

Emily49 5/5/2020, 2:05 pm

We are thinking of starting a bed. Is it too late to put some in this year? What do the crowns look like, and can we get some from a relative's established beds? What would be the best time for that? How do you tell male from female?

OhioGardener 5/5/2020, 2:56 pm

Emily49 wrote:We are thinking of starting a bed. Is it too late to put some in this year? What do the crowns look like, and can we get some from a relative's established beds? What would be the best time for that? How do you tell male from female?

It is very easy to dig an Asparagus root and divide it into multiple plants each with a crown. The main thing to remember when digging an established plant to divide it is to dig a wide and deep area in order to get as much of the root as possible. I provided a link below to a good article on dividing the roots. The only way to tell the difference between male and female plants is when the adult fronds are developed - the female plants set seeds, but the male do not.

Transplant and Divide Asparagus

**sanderson** 5/7/2020, 11:55 pm

OhioGardener wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:(do other people just go look at their gardens?)

You mean there are people who do not do this? I never thought of that!

I tour the garden several times a day unless it is over 100*F. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow . . .

**donnainzone5** 5/8/2020, 11:51 am

Like Sanderson, I conduct surveillance on my garden at least twice daily. Included is daily dandelion patrol.

I know, I know, bees love them, and I leave the ones being enjoyed by pollinators. However, my garden offers a great many pollinator attractants, so I don't feel guilty.

**sanderson** 2/17/2022, 6:57 pm

Bump

Anyone trying asparagus in a SFG bed or table top?

**donnainzone5** 2/17/2022, 7:25 pm

I've had a small SFG asparagus bed for several years now, 2' x 4' x 12".

It outgrew its raised bed and intruded upon the adjacent iris bed. Based upon experience, I now think it best to plant asparagus in a dedicated bed with room to expand, both in depth and width. Mel's Mix, of course, remains the preferred planting medium.

OhioGardener 2/18/2022, 9:07 am

donnainzone5 wrote: Based upon experience, I now think it best to plant asparagus in a dedicated bed with room to expand, both in depth and width.

Asparagus roots grow very, very deep in an established bed - 10' to 15' deep. When I have dug plants to divide them, I have never reached the end of the roots. But, they also grow sideways in order to form new crowns. I have, over the years, tried to dig out all the female plants in order to have an all-male bed, but I may not live long enough to get there.

**sanderson** 2/18/2022, 2:03 pm

OhioGardener wrote:. . . I have, over the years, tried to dig out all the female plants in order to have an all-male bed, but I may not live long enough to get there.

OhioGardener 5/8/2023, 9:47 am

May is National Asparagus Month, are you enjoying all of the fresh Asparagus spears appearing in the garden? I love to snap one off and eat it right in the garden. Very Happy

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3727

lisawallace88 5/10/2023, 8:04 am

What is the benefit to an all male asparagus bed? Versus a "co-ed" asparagus bed? I would have thought that both were needed for reproduction?

On a side note-just because it's funny-we had a dog that after a tour in Germany, we named Spargel. The German nieces and nephew though it was hysterical that we had named the dog Asparagus!

OhioGardener 5/10/2023, 9:17 am

lisawallace88 wrote:What is the benefit to an all male asparagus bed? Versus a "co-ed" asparagus bed? I would have thought that both were needed for reproduction?

Male Asparagus plants are more productive and last longer than female plants. Female plants spend much of their energy to produce flowers and set seeds. The more male plants you have in the Asparagus bed, the more shoots you will be able to harvest. If you have female plants, cut off the stalks that start to bloom so that the plant can retain its energy in the roots.

On a side note-just because it's funny-we had a dog that after a tour in Germany, we named Spargel. The German nieces and nephew though it was hysterical that we had named the dog Asparagus!

We used to have a Golden Retriever dog that we had to fence out of the Asparagus patch because she would snap off the shoots and eat them as soon as they sprouted out of the ground. She just loved fresh Asparagus! Shocked

**sanderson** 5/11/2023, 4:11 pm

Bought some CA grown asparagus. Next best thing as I do not have an asparagus bed nor room for one. Very Happy

OhioGardener 4/17/2024, 6:17 pm

Rohrer Seeds is having an end-of-season sale on their Asparagus plants at 40% off. The sale price does not appear on the description or order page, but it automatically updates on the cart and and checkout pages. One of the two varieties they offer sounds interesting: "Purple Passion asparagus is a bit nuttier and sweeter than white or green asparagus as it has about 20 percent more sugar content."

https://rohrerseeds.com/collections/asparagus-roots

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