Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a lovely, scrumptious, and wholesome perennial vegetable that, once a bed is formed, can yield spears for ten to fifteen years. It is a tough, cool-loving crop that produces spears when the soil temperature rises beyond 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. Because asparagus plants are dioecious, the male and female blooms are produced on separate plants. The favored male plants have a longer lifespan, emerge from dormancy sooner in the spring, and don’t produce fruit that would scavenge resources from the crown and roots. In the summer, the female plant produces red berries. Male plants are preferable since they are better at producing fruit, which reduces spear quantity and size. If the asparagus plant’s shoots or spears are not harvested, it will eventually turn into a fern.
Growing Conditions
Loamy soil that drains well is ideal for growing asparagus. If asparagus roots remain in wet soil, root/crown rot may form.
If the soil pH is less than 6.0, plants will not thrive and prefer a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. Send soil samples to the UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory before planting to find out about nutrient levels and whether limestone needs to be added. Since immature spears might be harmed by frost or mild freezes, plants should be situated in frost-free regions.
Little feeder roots serve as the source of nutrients and water for the asparagus plant’s underground root system, or rhizome. Crowns are the name for asparagus plants that are developed from seeds. When establishing plants from seeds, allow an extra year before harvest because it takes these seeds three to four months to germinate and become ready for planting outside.
For a quicker harvest, one, two, or three-year-old crowns with established roots can be obtained. But, one-year-old crowns are favoured as older crowns might have grown overly packed roots that might be harmed during harvest. Check purchased crowns for indications of bud development and the absence of illness or insects. The roots should be large, robust, and wet, not withered. If planting the crowns within a few days of purchase is not possible, keep them cool, moist, and away from freezing temperatures. Alternately, keep them from drying out by planting them in shady, cold, damp soil.
Cultivation
Water
During the first growing season, asparagus has to be thoroughly watered. Plants should receive weekly watering until the soil is wet to around 8–10 inches while the crowns are establishing. Plants may withstand some drought after they are established, but they require water during prolonged dry spells when they should receive 1-2 inches of water each week.
Avoid overwatering to avoid sod that is flooded. To stop disease from spreading to damp foliage, if at all possible, utilize drip irrigation.
Fertilizing
After the bed is established, it is a good idea to retest the soil every three years to check on pH and fertilizer requirements.
A modest top dressing of 1/2 to 1 inch of compost or manure at the end of the summer or in the spring before spears appear will be beneficial to asparagus. Asparagus does not require further fertilizer during the growth season. The pH or nutrient balance of the soil may be impacted by top-dressing the beds with compost or manure, though.
A two-step procedure is advised by experts at the UConn Soil Lab: add some compost, mix it in, wait a few weeks, and then test the soil to determine whether any amendments are required.
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