To keep your asparagus bed productive, don't be greedy. The first year after planting, you can harvest a few spears from each plant . Pick for about two weeks and then stop so the fronds can unfold and begin feeding the root system.
When should asparagus be cut back?
Ideally, asparagus should be cut back in the fall but it is important that you wait until all of the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This will normally happen after the first frost, but it can happen without frost in areas that do not receive frost.
What do you do after harvesting asparagus?
After harvest, fertilize your asparagus in early summer. You can top-dress with a balanced organic fertilizer, or scatter another inch of rich, weed-free compost over the decomposing mulch. Do NOT cut down the remaining ferns in summer or you will ruin your asparagus bed.
Should I let my asparagus go to seed?
Ferning out in asparagus is actually a good thing, as it indicates that photosynthesis is being promoted, therefore, nutrition production and absorption increases. ... As the asparagus ferns out, female spears produce green berries that eventually turn red. These berries/seeds, however, are unlikely to produce new plants.
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.
What happens if you don't cut asparagus?
Strong growth after the harvest ensures healthy spears the next season. Along with the ferny growth, female plants produce red seeds . These seeds drop to the ground and become new plants if not removed.
What can you not plant near asparagus?
- Alliums. Alliums like leeks, garlic, and onion sharing the soil with asparagus are said to stunt its growth. ...
- Potatoes. Asparagus, on the other hand, stunts the growth of potatoes when they share the same space.
Are coffee grounds good for asparagus?
Asparagus prefers a soil pH between 6.5 and 7, which is mildly acidic. Coffee grounds can run 5 or less on the pH scale by themselves . ... The grounds also add some nitrogen, which is a regular nutrition need of asparagus.
How do you know when to let asparagus go to seed?
Late Spring Asparagus Garden
Plant for future asparagus harvests in late spring. Sow asparagus seed 11⁄2 inches (3.8cm) deep and 2 inches (5cm) apart in loose, well-drained soil. Sow seed when the soil temperature is between 70 and 75°F (21-24°C). Seeds should emerge in 10 to 20 days.
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.
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.
What part of asparagus is poisonous?
5. Asparagus. Like the rhubarb, the part of the asparagus plant that we love – the young stems – are perfectly safe to eat. But the asparagus hides a deceptive, nasty secret: Its fruit , which are bright red berries, are toxic to humans.
Can you eat asparagus raw?
Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten cooked or raw . Because of its tough texture, cooking is the most popular preparation method. However, thinly sliced or marinated raw spears can be equally enjoyable.
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.
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.
