Growing Asparagus
The Basics of Growing Asparagus
Growing asparagus is not particularly difficult. In general, you'll want follow some basic gardening practices of having good soil, well prepared soil, and a good watering and maintenance (cultivating and weeding) program. Asparagus is not particularly fussy; in fact it grows wild without too much prompting.
Asparagus is a perennial, and when properly cared for can be harvested for many years, perhaps 15 or 20, before a new planting will be needed. You can start asparagus in your vegetable garden either from seed, seedlings, or from roots. All will eventually give you the same results, but starting from roots is the preferred method.
There's a good reason for this. When you start asparagus from roots, you leave the plants alone for the first year, not harvesting any of the stalks, but letting them grow to their full height. This allows the stalks to provide nutrients to the root system, which needs to grow to be able to provide an adequate crop the following year.
If you start your asparagus from seed or seedlings, you'll have to wait two years, and sometimes three, for the root system to grow to its required size. If you harvest too soon, all you'll get is a crop of very spindly stalks, instead of the more robust stalks, as thick as your fingers.
When a stalk is allowed to grow, the plant can become 3 to 4 feet high, sometimes higher, and spreads out with delicate branches. When you begin to harvest your asparagus, the stalks will become noticeably thinner after a few weeks. This is a sign that the root system is becoming exhausted, unable to sustain a crop of asparagus stalks having the desired thickness. This means it's time to stop harvesting, and allow the thin stalks grow to maturity, so they can provide needed nutrients to the root system in preparation for the next year's harvest.
Because of its growth habits, here is something to take into account when growing asparagus. It can do double duty as an ornamental, since when the plant is allowed to grow to its full height, it is a rather attractive plant. You might wish to give some thought as to where it should be placed in the garden. You might want your asparagus plants to be seen as something other than just another vegetable row, especially as asparagus is a perennial.
The most work in growing asparagus occurs with the first planting, especially when you are starting the plant from roots. You'll need to dig a trench, or trenches, about a foot wide and 8 to 10 inches deep. The roots are then placed in the trench at 18 inch intervals, and covered with 2 inches of soil. When stalks begin to form, dirt is added to the trench as the stalks grow, just make sure not to cover the stalk tips. Eventually, the trench will be filled in, and you're ready to enter the much simpler maintenance mode.
Asparagus is a tasty and highly nutritious vegetable. Growing asparagus can be especially rewarding, knowing you have a perennial which will give you big rewards, year after year.