Growing asparagus is not so difficult as we think. Do you think so? I think it is a fair taste but many would disagree believing it to a delicacy and this is reflected in the price of shop bought spears. Therefore if you like asparagus this is precisely why it is well worth growing. To grow this vegetable it does require special treatment and a little patience. Since it is to remain in the same spot for many years, the ground must be well prepared before planting.
Soil Preparation Asparagus requires a sandy loam as this soil warms
up quickly in the spring because of their low moisture content. This will
stimulate the plant into growth, so that the asparagus sticks can be cut
early. It requires some protection against cold northeast winds;
erecting some type of barrier either permanent or otherwise will protect
the plants and give them shelter. Prepare the ground by digging to a
spade’s depth in the autumn and adding well-rotted compost and
manure at the rate of a large bucketful to the sq. yd leave the soil rough
over winter. In late March begin by forking over the soil 3 or 4 in.
(76mm-101mm) deep. Apply fish manure with a 6 per cent potash
fertilizer at 4 oz. (120g) to the sq. yd. This dressing is appropriate each
spring until the asparagus bed is exhausted, which could be up to 20
years or more. Top dress each October with well-rotted compost and
manure. The intended asparagus bed must be completely free of
weeds. Planting Asparagus roots are thick and succulent but dry out
quickly. Therefore, when you buy your plants soak them in water for a
day and then put them out into the garden covered in damp sacks,
taking great care not to expose the roots to the air more than is
necessary. You can buy asparagus crowns (root clumps), which are
one, two or three years old; naturally the one-year-old crowns are
cheapest.
Planting should take place during late March early April, just as soon
as the soil is dry and friable; never plant when it is wet and the soil
sticky. Cut out trenches 6 in. (15cm) deep and 6 in. wide, 3 ft. (90cm)
apart. Remove the plants from their damp sacks and plant them 2- ft.
(75cm) apart, as quickly as possible so that they do not dry. Place
them into the bottom of the trenches, spreading the roots out carefully
so that they radiate evenly all round the crowns. Cover them with 3 in.
(76mm) of good soil, firming this with the back of your spade. The
trench should be filled up gradually during the summer as the plant
grows.
The roots need to become established in the first year, during the
second year let the fern grow well so that good crowns are built up for
these will produce good shoots early the following season. General
Care Keep down the weeds, this is extremely important for the
asparagus does not itself produce any weed-smothering foliage. By
November, the fern will have died back, they should not be cut back
until then, as the plants need their ferny leaves with which to store up
energy for the following year. Any foliage that remains at this time can
be then trimmed to tidy the bed, leaving an inch or so above ground
level. Top dressings of fertilizers and manures can be given each year
at this time. Harvesting Allow the plant to establish and gain in size
before the spears are harvested. Wait until the plants are in their third
year before taking the spears; then they can be cut when they are
about 4-6 in. (101mm-152mm) high. Cut them below the soil surface,
down to 2 or 3 in. (50mm-76mm) using a long narrow knife or a special
asparagus knife, which has a serrated edge. Take great care not to
damage the crown. Spears can be cut every two days in the early part
of the season, around May time. The season is relatively short, cutting
should stop at the end of June, and the remaining shoot should then be
allowed to go on to produce asparagus fern. The fern itself should be
cut down to within 6 in.(15cm) of the soil level just before the berries
ripen; this will then prevent the ripened fruits falling to the ground,
scattering useless seeds because the aim it to cultivate only the
chosen “pedigree” crowns.
Growing asparagus actually is kind of fun just like you are growing
flowers if you do it right. It will be easier if we do everything in a right
way. Growing asparagus will be more meaningful if we grow it with
other vegetable.
For more information on growing asparagus and other vegetables please
kindly visit I STRONGLY recommended –>> The Best Growing Vegetable Guide
from the back desk,
drazhardaud
The Complete Guide To Genius
How To Find The Secrets To Your Self-esteem!
Secrets of LazySmart
