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Post by SpringRain on May 2, 2019 16:31:21 GMT -5
tom 🕊, thanks for the helpful advice!
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Post by tom 🕊 on May 2, 2019 16:52:45 GMT -5
I have asparagus plants that did not do well last year and I think they need more soil over them. Does it hurt to bury the crowns again? Is your soil pH right? "Asparagus grows well in high-pH soils and poorly if the soil pH is below 6.0. Test the soil before planting the beds and add lime if needed to adjust the pH to 6.5 to 7.5." I had mine growing in sandy soil and thought it was acidic so gave it limestone. Have you seen the fields of asparagus around Swedesboro, NJ? They appeared to me to be in sandy soil. Volunteer asparagus seems to like wet land, though. |
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Post by tom 🕊 on May 2, 2019 16:58:27 GMT -5
Is anybody growing their asparagus in a permanent raised bed? I’m finding it more and more difficult to control the weeds in my asparagus bed, and wondering if a raised bed might be my best solution. Wouldn't more mulch -- leaves, grass clipping, etc. -- solve the weed problem? |
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Post by tom 🕊 on May 2, 2019 17:01:15 GMT -5
thanks for the helpful advice! You are welcome, but better than me would be your local extension service. |
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Post by binnylou on May 2, 2019 17:07:23 GMT -5
Last fall, I put down corn gluten and a thick cover of straw. Along with some organic granular fertilizer. The straw looked pretty clean but I'm seeing weed growth that is new to the asparagus bed along with the grass. So yesterday, I removed the straw, took the weed whacker to the asparagus bed and then put the straw back in place. Luckily, the asparagus is still hiding.
I really think the only mulch I should be using is leaves. They usually don't have weed seed.
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Post by binnylou on May 9, 2019 12:47:24 GMT -5
Finally, spotted asparagus yesterday. Three spears seen, but not quite big enough to harvest.
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Post by Mumsey on May 9, 2019 18:11:12 GMT -5
Cut 7 spears today. Only 5 made it to the house. I always invite a friend over for the first picking. We eat raw asparagus and drink beer! That will happen in the next day or two.
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Post by Mumsey on May 19, 2019 5:30:35 GMT -5
None of my asparagus has made it to the cooking stage. I have been cutting it, save it for 2-3 days, then invite friends over for beer and raw asparagus!
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Post by binnylou on Jun 18, 2019 11:12:01 GMT -5
I think asparagus season has come to an end at our garden. I have just enough in the fridge for one more meal. I didn’t put any in the freezer this year. We just enjoyed it. It was wonderful.
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 18, 2019 18:58:16 GMT -5
I'm letting it go now too. Had to put up a rope to keep it from leaning over on other stuff. But it will provide good afternoon shade for celery. The last of it is in the oven roasting right now.
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Post by James on Jun 24, 2019 11:22:09 GMT -5
Once the plant is established it will send out shoots in the spring. You should cut every shoot up until the first day of June, then cut no more. Fertilize, water and let the shoots grow up and let that growth stand all season till frost in the fall. Now you can trim it and dispose of the tall growth. (compost heap) It is during this summer that the plant will send down stores to the roots that will send up next years spring crop.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 5, 2019 12:40:30 GMT -5
Wouldn't more mulch -- leaves, grass clipping, etc. -- solve the weed problem? This asparagus bed has had a LOT of mulch applied to it, in hopes of controlling weeds. Now that we have a new wood chipper, I'd like to apply more mulch to the asparagus bed. Is there a limit as to just how much mulch can cover the crown? In nature, the ferns would fall and collect debris and continue to build over the crown. I'm just wondering if there is a point where I've put too much mulch on the bed. I may be thinking that if I put mulch over a Peony plant, I'll inhibit the flowering of the Peony. |
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Post by tom 🕊 on Oct 5, 2019 12:54:34 GMT -5
Is there a limit as to just how much mulch can cover the crown? I don't know, but because of the aggressive grown of asparagus spears, I'd think that several inches of mulch would not be too much. Heavy mulching might delay the emergence of spears. |
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