Re: SFG Asparagus?

rrsmith60 3/19/2012, 8:25 pm

Hi Eva D,

As you can see in the image I deal with a lot of slope, the outer box is used to help level the primary box. Yes, I do get grass between but because I grow organically (no round-up) and I’m a bit lazy I don’t worry much about it.

I’ve never grown roses so can’t say there.

When I planted, I laid the crowns on there side (flat) and covered with 2” of Mel’s mix. I wouldn’t worry about planting too many per square foot, the strong will survive.

FYI, with the “weird” warm winter we’re having my Asparagus are beginning to break dirt here in Kentucky.

AvaDGardner 3/20/2012, 1:09 am

Hey Ron...if you understand planting the crowns on cones (or a 3D triangle), roses are the same way...it's just a 18" tall & wide cone!

One of my fellow plotters had 3 asparagus plants. He didn't know if he had Jerseys or not, nor they are a long term plant. He pulled out 2 of them beause they weren't producing enough (this was probably their 4th year). I looked at his remaining plant tonight, the fern has funny little flower buds on it (it's too cool to be open right now).

Is that normal? They aren't coming out of a sprout.

rrsmith60 3/20/2012, 7:26 am

If your “fellow Plotter” has Jerseys, they're a hybrid and can be both male and female. They both flower, but the female produces a lovely red berry. The female plants do produce a bit less, but usually a slimmer asparagus. I’ve always grown Hybrid Jersey’s and thus no experience with other varieties or “heirlooms”.

My farming neighbor, who grows Italian heirloom asparagus for her CSA program, said they pull all females due to their low/no production and their need to maximize yield. However, they don’t pull the females in her Hybrid Jersey Knight patch.

I’m sure all out there in gardening land have their own opinions of how to approach the pull or not to pull asparagus issue.

For me, I let the men and lady Jerseys live in harmony swaying in the breeze fern in fern.

Ron

PS: the robbins love the red berries...

AvaDGardner 3/20/2012, 12:51 pm

That's interesting...I wonder why they keep the female Jerseys. Unless you were raising them from seed, I thought they only sold male Jerseys. Being a farmer, I guess he must!

My fellow plotter (we're in a community garden) has no idea what he planted. I'll have to watch his flowers and see if they berry or not. He had 3 plants about 3 feet apart, and pulled 2 because they didn't do much last year. The plants looked like dead straw, even after our mild winters. The one he left has greened up, obviously.

Would a male plant even flower?

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