How tall asparagus plant

Stop harvesting when the emerging spears are small and the tips become loose and open; it is also advisable to stop harvesting once the weather has become too warm.

At the beginning of the harvest period, spears may be ready 2 or 3 times a week. It is possible they could grow up to 10 inches per day, so they will need to be checked daily during peak production. They are tastiest when just about 6 inches tall and tight at the tip, not spreading. There are two schools of thought on cutting. One is to cut the spears off with a sharp knife just at ground level to avoid damaging any underground roots. A simpler method is to snap the spears off at ground level.

Asparagus is similar to corn in that quality deteriorates quickly after picking. For the best flavor, pick it just before it is to be cooked. The spears can then be drained and refrigerated in plastic storage bags for approximately 7 days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Watermelon Growing and Harvest Information.

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Which tiller is best for you? What to do with your surplus crops:. Start Your Seeds Indoors. Top Articles. Dill Growing and Harvest Information. Amaranth Growing and Harvest Information. Pea Growing and Harvest Information. Where to Grow Asparagus A member of the Lily family; Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that thrives almost anywhere in the continental United States Zone , except where summers are exceptionally long and humid.

The University of Maryland suggests transplanting asparagus plants 12 weeks after planting from seed. The ideal optimal temperature for asparagus seed germination is between 65 degrees Fahrenheit When transplanting established asparagus crowns, put them out in early spring when they are still dormant.

Keep in mind that these temperatures refer to soil temperature, not air temperature. If you want to find out the soil temperature, use a probe-type thermometer to check. This probe from A. Leonard can check soil pH, fertility, and temperature. If the thermometer reads a temperature that is too low, then you have some options.

One option is to wait until the sun warms up the soil. To speed up this process, clear away any debris such as leaves or grass clippings from the soil surface. Also choose a location for planting that gets plenty of sun, so that it can warm up the soil faster. If you are worried about a short growing season, you can also use a cloche a plastic or glass cover.

A cloche will trap some heat and warm up the air and soil near your asparagus seeds. A cloche can be made from a plastic water bottle to retain warmth and humidity in the soil for seeds or seedlings as they grow. Just cut out the bottom of the bottle and put it over the spot where the seeds are planted.

According to Virginia Tech, asparagus plants grow best at a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit Asparagus need regular watering, so keep the soil moist. This is especially important in sandy soil, which drains quickly and does not hold water for long.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension, asparagus plants will not show signs of drought stress. For this reason, it is important to check the soil carefully and keep it watered. Putting mulch on top of your soil will help to retain moisture, especially during periods of hot, dry weather. If you find that you have a problem with dry soil, check out my article on how to treat dry soil.

On the other hand, over watering your asparagus plants or any plants for that matter can lead to root rot and eventual death. For more information, check out my article on over watering your plants. If the soil feels dry 2 or 3 inches below the surface, then go ahead and water. Otherwise, wait to water. Try to water early in the morning, rather than at night. This allows the water to soak into the soil before evaporating. The best part is, you can make your own compost from kitchen scraps and yard waste.

For more information, check out my article on making compost. The University of Minnesota Extension suggests adding a balanced fertilizer at a rate 1 to 1. Avoid fresh manure or fertilizers with high nitrogen content, since both of these can burn your plants!

For more information, check out my article on over fertilizing your plants. After adding compost and fertilizer, you can also put mulch over the top of the soil. This will help to help to retain moisture and insulate against heat.

When planting asparagus, start by digging a trench to plant them in a row. See recommended varieties below. If you are starting asparagus for the first time, we would plant 5 to 10 asparagus plants per person 15 to 30 feet of row. As said above, newly-planted asparagus plants may take 2 to 3 years to truly get started and produce, so patience is needed!

In addition, asparagus plants are fairly fast producers, sending up new spears every few days for a few weeks in the spring. One of the biggest concerns in the asparagus bed is simply weeds. Hand pulling should be done on a regular basis in spring and early summer. Cultivate lightly to avoid damaging emerging asparagus spears.

The application of four to 4 to 6 inches of straw in summer also is effective in controlling weeds. Asparagus comes in few different colors: purple, white, and green! Asparagus plants are either male or female. Female plants produce berries; males plants do not expend energy on berries so they can be up to three times more productive than female plants.

For this reason, growing male asparagus plants is often preferred. White asparagus is not a variety, but simply asparagus grown in the absence of sunlight to prevent chlorophyll from developing. White asparagus is slightly sweeter, but has less fiber than green asparagus. Purple asparagus is bred to be purple in color, but turns green when it is cooked. Purple varieties tend to have thicker spears, but fewer of them.

Watch our video on how to properly clean and trim asparagus. A simple and easy favorite when it comes to asparagus is fresh roasted asparagus. Or try this simple, delicious asparagus soup. I have a small garden patch of asparagus started from seed coming up to two years from planting Spring I am in Ontario, Canada.

Well yesterday we had our first snowfall of the season Nov. Would it be good to cut it down now in preparation of the 3rd year of growth in the spring, or wait just a bit longer to see if the current stems and frawns turn color? Hi Wayne, You have some strong plants! You are correct to wait- it is best to cut back the asparagus plants once all of the foliage and stalks have turned yellow or brown.

This will give you a better harvest next year. Be patient! We hope this helps. Although they are 2nd year crowns, they will still need time to settle in and grow out their roots after planting. We would still recommend waiting years before harvesting any significant number of shoots, just so that your plants have a good chance to get established first! So, we want to start an asparagus bed and all the things we've been finding say you have to plant in early spring or fall. Can we get a bed ready and plant in June to just get the root systems started, or will that just be a waste of seeds?

We live in zone 6b St. Louis, MO. If you know of any resources to address this question, I would be so appreciative. I'm on year 2 of growing my asparagus and I have shoots coming up. I'm not going to harvest but do I just let them grow and die off, then trim back in the Fall? Just want to be sure:. Yes, precisely! Their job is to absorb as much energy as possible during the warm part of the year. The snow melted and some of my crowns have been exposed including the roots.

There are roots deeper down in the dirt I suppose but the top little cluster is exposed. If I place more soil on it, do you think it will continue to grow? I looked closely and there are tiny finger like parts close to the center but surrounding the center of the crown that looks pretty fresh.

Thank you. Asparagus roots can reach as deep as six feet, so the plants have a strong foothold. A few inches of compost should be fine. I planted an asparagus bed about 30 years ago. It is still producing spears but not enough. I want to plant 2 year old crowns this year. Would it be OK to plant them in the same location as the original plants? One source suggests that an old asparagus bed should not be replanted for three years. Before you try something else you might try to rejuvenate your existing plants.

Asparagus is a heavy feeder; it likes and needs rich compost and aged manure, as well as proper pH 6,0 to 8. I am so pleased I planted a new raised asparagus bed with about 15 crowns about 7 years ago north of Denver, CO so I could resemble the bed my grandparents had in upstate NY. Each asparagus plant needs 18 square inches of space, and asparagus is challenging to grow and must establish itself for three years before you can start enjoying your harvest.

However, if you are up for the challenge, your asparagus will come back year after year, offering you fresh spears to enjoy all season. Once you have decided how many asparagus plants to grow, select a location that gets at least eight hours of sun each day, and make sure the plants won't eventually be crowded out or have the sun blocked by trees or other plants you are considering, advises the University of New Hampshire.

While you won't be planting asparagus in the fall, it is important to prepare the soil. Asparagus likes well-drained, loose, fertile soil. Till the ground at least 1 foot deep and work in plenty of manure or compost. Most people opt to purchase asparagus crowns. These must be planted as soon as you receive them, so planning your order and preparing your soil is important.

If you prefer, you can start seeds in pots indoors about six to eight weeks before the last frost, advises the University of New Hampshire.