Check your plant every other day for harvest-ready spears. Spears grow quickly and may become too woody before you know it! Once an asparagus spear starts to open and have foliage, it's too tough for eating. Harvest spears when they
reach 8 to 10 inches in height and between 1⁄2 and 3⁄4 inch thick
.
Does asparagus grow back after you cut it?
After the end of the harvest season,
the spears should be allowed to grow
. A spear is really just a plant shoot, and the shoots will grow into the mature fern that recharges the crown for the next harvest season.
How tall should asparagus be before you pick it?
Wait until your second or third season to harvest. You can pick mature asparagus once they reach
8 inches tall
.
What is the best time of day to pick asparagus?
Although
morning is the best
time to harvest, the evening is also appropriate. Wait until near dusk, when the temperatures have fallen somewhat from the heat of the afternoon. This allows the spears to begin drawing up moisture before you snap them off.
Why are my asparagus spears so thin?
Thin asparagus spears appear for a number of reasons, but the root cause is ultimately the same: the asparagus crown lacks the rigor to create bigger shoots. …
Improper Feeding
– Asparagus are somewhat heavy feeders and need all the food they can get in order to build strong spears the following year.
What are the stages of asparagus growth?
When asparagus first emerges, slim, tender spears appear. These spears are what we harvest and this part of the life cycle lasts four to six weeks in the second year of planting, six to eight weeks
in the
third year, continuing at that rate for 15 to 20 years!
How do you pick asparagus so it keeps growing?
When the spears appear in spring, harvest them when they are 6 to 10 inches above the soil line, but before the flower buds are open. Simply
cut or snap off the spears at ground level
. Continue harvesting for six to eight weeks, but no later than July 1.
Do asparagus plants spread?
Remember, asparagus
roots will spread over time but diminish in production
. Divide them every three years or so for a non-stop harvest year after year.
What is the best fertilizer for asparagus?
Asparagus can be fertilized in early spring before the spears emerge. An application of 1 to 1.5 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as
10-10-10
, per 100 square feet should be adequate. Asparagus can also be fertilized after the last harvest in June. Using a nitrogen fertilizer, apply .
Why is my asparagus thin and spindly?
Over-harvesting, i.e. cutting spears more than six to eight weeks in a season or not leaving enough spears to mature. This leads to a lack of mature “ferns” needed to replenish the root system.
Letting the asparagus bed become choked by weeds
. Failure to fertilize and add lime as needed.
Should I cut the skinny asparagus?
Cut all the spears whatever thickness before the tips start to open up to form ferns
. (When the tips start to open the stems get tougher but thin spears with tight tips still taste delicious.) Harvest all the spears as they come up for 8 weeks and then stop.
Is Epsom salt good for asparagus?
The salt destroys soil structure, creates a crust on the soil surface and results in poor water penetration. Ultimately
it will kill the asparagus along with
the weeds. … Epsom salt is high in magnesium and some gardeners use it generously when growing roses, peppers and tomatoes.
What is the lifespan of asparagus?
Most asparagus plants have a
10 year life expectancy
. However, we have heard of cases where the plants live much longer. Asparagus plants are either male or female. The male plants are more desirable because they produce many more smaller stalks.
Should you cut asparagus after it goes to seed?
Don't harvest any spears the first season after planting
, which allows the roots to become established.
Does asparagus multiply?
When asparagus plants are growing in a sunny site with good drainage, proper irrigation, and adequate nutrients, the
plants multiply
and become crowded over time. … The ability of asparagus plants to multiply means that sharing the bounty is part of the fun of growing this perennial vegetable.
How often do you water asparagus?
Asparagus needs regular watering, especially while young; give it
1 to 2 inches of water per week during its first two growing seasons
; give older plants about 1 inch per week. If you give them a good start when you first plant them, and you'll have fewer problems in future years.
