"Growing Asparagus" Growing asparagus in your vegetable garden will bridge the hungry gap! Asparagus spears are ready for eating early-late spring.
In northern europe the rule of thumb is not to pick after summer solstice (June 21st) - by then your salad crops should be ready for eating.
Growing asparagus in soil with a ph of 6.5 to 7.5 is preferred. It's worth testing your soil before planting. If all elements are in order asparagus will keep on producing spears for 15 years or more, so it's worth while preparing well.
Dig soil deeply and work to a fine tilth. Mix in sand and any organic matter you need to make up the ph. The land must be well-drained. Asparagus, like most garden vegetables, will not tolerate wet feet, and the roots will rot quickly if the soil is water-logged
Growing asparagus from seed is time consuming, but can be done. It will probably be closer to five years before you harvest your first crop though.
Asparagus spears shouldn't be cut from plants less than three years old so if you buy three year old crowns you should get your first meal the following year.
For UK deliveries. Type 'asparagus' into the search info box on the homepage - normal delivery month for asparagus crowns is March.
Space the crowns about 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart in each row. Rows should be at least 2 feet apart (60 cm) Water well. Warm moist soil is the best medium for growing asparagus although asparagus can be drought resistant. After planting, the asparagus spears should start to show through the surface of the soil in about a week or two. DON'T CUT spears in the first year of planting. Growing asparagus requires a little patience as well :-)
Keep weed-free throughout the first growing year, and later of course! Leave the plants do grow in their first year. Allow the ferns to die back on their own, and remove in early spring the following year. NB Dead stalks can be sharp, protect your hands with strong gloves. In subsequent years, cut the ferns back in the autumn or when they start to die. Then cover the bed with seaweed or other organic matter. Remove any un-rotted material very early spring and add more soil and sand to raise the bed. The crowns get bigger every year and the bed will need raising accordingly. At this point, asparagus crowns can be divided and re-planted if required. Watch for asparagus beetle in late summer and autumn. The beetle feeds on the ferns and the crop is reduced the following year so if you can get rid of them - it's best to! Gardens Alive have a variety of organic pest control products online here Pest Control
Cut the asparagus spears when they are 7-9 inches long. Some asparagus growers cut the spears just under the surface of the soil with a sharp knife. Others believe the roots can be damaged by cutting too low, The best way is to cut as close to the surface of the soil as possible. Use a sharp knife. Cut in the morning and wash in ice-cold water to remove any heat in the spears or they go floppy! Asparagus can be succesfully frozen and will also store in the fridge for 1 or 2 weeks. Although as with most garden vegetables, it is much nicer to eat the crops on the day of harvesting.
Growing asparagus used to be considered a 'luxury' crop. It certainly is luxurious in vitamins! Asparagus is a hardy crop and will provide years of delicious meals for you and your family.
Happy Gardening! More Asparagus Reading
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