Asparagus is a perennial plant that can produce for up to 20 years if treated correctly. However, many growers make mistakes that can potentially harm their asparagus plants. In this article, we will discuss five common mistakes that growers make when growing asparagus.
The first mistake is harvesting too many asparagus when they are young. Ideally, growers should let the asparagus grow with the ferns for the first two years to establish a healthy root system. In the third year, growers can harvest for up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, they can extend the harvest window to up to eight weeks. By giving the asparagus time to establish a strong root system, growers can ensure that the plants will produce for many years to come.
Key Takeaways
- Growers should avoid harvesting too many asparagus when they are young to establish a healthy root system.
- Damaging the crown of the asparagus plant can cause harm to the plant. Growers should snap off the asparagus spears with their hands to avoid damaging the crown.
- To avoid killing off asparagus plants, growers should not allow female plants to produce berries, cut their patch down too early in the season, or neglect trenching when planting a new patch.
Understanding Asparagus Plants
Asparagus plants are a popular perennial that can produce for up to 20 years if taken care of properly. To ensure healthy growth, it is important not to harvest any asparagus during the first two years of growth. This allows the plant to establish a strong root system. In the third year, the harvest can last up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, it can be extended to up to eight weeks.
One common mistake that growers make when harvesting asparagus is damaging the crown, which is where the spears emerge from. To avoid this, it is recommended to snap the asparagus off at ground level with your hands instead of using a knife or pruner.
Another mistake is allowing female plants to produce berries. This diverts the plant’s attention away from strengthening its roots, which is crucial for healthy growth. To prevent this, it is best to cut the spears down when small berries start to form.
Cutting the patch down too early in the season is another mistake that can harm the growth of asparagus plants. As long as the ferns and spears still have green in them, they are still taking energy from the sun and building a strong root system. It is best to wait until the ferns have completely died back in the fall or winter before cutting them down.
Finally, when planting a new patch of asparagus, it is important to trench the area and plant the crowns at a depth of six to eight inches. This allows the roots to drape off the side of the mound and establish a healthy root system. It is also important to cover the crowns with two inches of soil and water them in every two weeks until the soil level is a little higher than the original soil level.
By avoiding these common mistakes and giving asparagus plants the proper care they need, growers can enjoy big, juicy, and delicious asparagus spears for years to come.
Harvesting Asparagus
Asparagus is a perennial plant that can produce for up to 20 years if treated correctly. It is important to avoid some common mistakes when harvesting asparagus to ensure a healthy patch. Here are five mistakes to avoid:
- Harvesting too early: For the first two years, it is best not to harvest any asparagus to allow the plant to grow a healthy root system. In the third year, you can harvest for up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, you can extend the harvest window to up to eight weeks.
- Damaging the crown: The crown is where the spears emerge from, and damaging it while harvesting can harm the plant. It is safer to snap off the asparagus right at or below ground level with your hands instead of using a knife or pruner.
- Allowing female plants to produce berries: Female asparagus plants produce berries that contain seeds. Allowing the berries to form will cause the plant to focus on seed production instead of strengthening its roots.
- Cutting the patch down too early: As long as the ferns and spears still have green in them, they are still taking energy from the sun to build a stronger root system. It is best to wait until the ferns have completely died back in the fall or winter before cutting them down.
- Not trenching when planting: To grow a new patch, dig a trench about six to eight inches deep, make a mound, and drape the roots off the side of the mound. Cover the crowns with two inches of soil and water it in. Repeat this process every two weeks until the soil level is a little bit higher than the original soil level.
By avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure a healthy asparagus patch that will produce big, juicy, and delicious spears for years to come.
Damaging The Crown
One of the mistakes that growers can make when growing asparagus is damaging the crown when harvesting. The crown is where the spears emerge from, and if it gets damaged during harvesting, it can cause significant harm to the plant. To avoid this, growers should not use a knife or pruner to cut the asparagus below ground level. Instead, it is safer to snap off the asparagus right at or below ground level using their hands.
Growers should keep in mind that the crown is crucial for the asparagus plant’s growth and development. Therefore, they should take extra care not to damage it during harvesting. By following this tip, growers can help ensure that their asparagus plants stay healthy and productive for years to come.
Asparagus Growth Over Time
Asparagus is a perennial plant that can produce for up to 20 years if it is treated properly. The first two years of growth should not involve any harvesting, as this allows the plant to grow a healthy root system. In the third year, the plant can be harvested for up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, the harvest window can be extended to up to eight weeks.
To ensure the longevity and health of the plant, it is important not to damage the crown when harvesting. The crown is where the spears emerge from, and if it is damaged, harm can be caused to the plant. It is safer to snap off the asparagus with your hands right at or below ground level, rather than using a knife or pruner to cut it below ground level.
As the years progress, the crowns of the asparagus plants will slowly lift up, causing the asparagus to become tougher and smaller. To avoid this, the beds should be covered with about six inches of soil in the spring, which can be done every year or every other year. This helps to ensure that the asparagus remains thick and healthy.
It is important not to allow the female asparagus plants to produce berries unless you want to save your own seed. This is because the plant will focus its attention on the production of seeds rather than strengthening its roots.
Cutting the patch down too early in the season can also be detrimental to the growth of the asparagus. As long as the ferns and spears still have green in them, they are still taking energy from the sun and expanding the size of the roots. The ferns should be cut out in the fall or winter when they have completely died back, and the bed should be covered with a light mulch to protect the crowns in the winter.
When planting a new patch, it is important to trench the asparagus. This involves digging a trench about six to eight inches deep, making a mound, and draping the roots off the side of the mound. The crowns should be covered with two inches of soil and compost, and the process should be repeated every two weeks until the soil level is higher than the original soil level.
By following these guidelines, growers can ensure that their asparagus plants remain healthy and productive for many years to come.
Female Asparagus Plants
Asparagus is a popular perennial vegetable that can produce for up to 20 years if the patch is treated right. However, there are five mistakes that growers must avoid to ensure the longevity and productivity of their asparagus plants. One of these mistakes is allowing female asparagus plants to produce berries.
Female asparagus plants produce berries that contain seeds, which divert the plant’s attention away from strengthening its roots. To avoid this, growers should cut down the spears of female plants as soon as they notice small berries starting to form. This will allow the plant to focus on root development, which will result in bigger and better asparagus that lasts for longer periods of time.
It is important to note that the first two years after planting asparagus, growers should not harvest any spears. This allows the plant to grow a healthy root system. In the third year, growers can harvest for up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, they can extend the harvest window to up to eight weeks.
Another mistake that growers must avoid is damaging the crown of the asparagus plant when harvesting. The crown is where the spears emerge from, and damaging it can harm the plant. To avoid this, growers should snap the spear off right at ground level with their hands, rather than using a knife or pruner.
As the years progress, the crowns of asparagus plants may start to lift up and get too close to the surface of the soil. This can cause the spears to become tougher and thinner. To avoid this, growers should cover their beds with about six inches of soil every year or every other year in the spring.
Lastly, growers must not cut down their asparagus patch too early in the season. As long as the ferns and spears still have green in them, they are still taking energy from the sun and expanding the size of the roots. Growers should wait until the ferns have completely died back in the fall or winter before cutting them out. It is also a good idea to cover the bed with a light mulch in the winter to protect the crowns.
By avoiding these five mistakes, growers can ensure the health and productivity of their asparagus patch for years to come.
Cutting Your Patch Down
Asparagus is a popular perennial vegetable that can produce for up to 20 years if grown correctly. However, there are five common mistakes that growers make that can potentially harm the plants. James Prigioni, a seasoned grower, and his dog Tuck share their insights on how to avoid these mistakes.
Mistake #1: Harvesting Too Early
To ensure a healthy root system, it is recommended to let asparagus grow with ferns for the first two years without harvesting any. In the third year, growers can harvest for up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, they can extend the harvest window to up to eight weeks.
Mistake #2: Damaging the Crown
The crown of the asparagus plant is where the spears emerge from, and damaging it when harvesting can cause harm to the plant. Instead of using a knife or pruner to cut the asparagus below ground level, it is safer to snap it off with your hands right at or below ground level.
Mistake #3: Allowing Female Plants to Produce Berries
Female asparagus plants produce berries that contain seeds. If left to form, the plant will focus on seed production instead of strengthening its roots. To avoid this, growers should cut the spears down once they see small berries forming on the female plants.
Mistake #4: Cutting the Patch Down Too Early
As long as the ferns and spears still have green in them, they are still taking energy from the sun and expanding the size of the roots. It is recommended to cut the ferns out in the fall or winter when they have completely died back. Covering the bed with a light mulch can help protect the crowns in the winter, and pulling the mulch back in the early spring allows the ground to heat up and the spears to shoot out of the soil early.
Mistake #5: Not Trenching During Planting
When planting a new patch, it is recommended to order one-year-old crowns from a reputable company and dig a trench about six to eight inches deep. Make a mound, drape the roots off the side of the mound, and cover the crowns with two inches of soil mixed with compost. Repeat this process every two weeks until the soil level is slightly higher than the original level to avoid producing small, thin asparagus spears.
Overall, growing asparagus requires patience and proper care. By avoiding these five common mistakes, growers can enjoy a bountiful harvest of healthy and delicious asparagus for years to come.
Trenching Your Asparagus
When planting a new patch of asparagus, it is essential to trench the area properly. The fifth mistake that growers make when growing asparagus is not trenching the crowns when planting. To grow a new patch, it is recommended to order one-year-old crowns from a reputable company.
To trench the area, dig a trench about six to eight inches deep. In the trench, make a mound and drape the roots off the side of the mound, similar to planting strawberries. Then, cover the crowns with two inches of soil mixed with compost and water it in. After two weeks, young asparagus spears should start shooting out of the ground. Cover the crown again with two more inches of soil every two weeks until the soil level is slightly higher than the original soil level because it will settle over time.
Planting the asparagus crowns at the same height as the ground level will result in small, thin asparagus spears that are tough. By trenching the area, growers can ensure that they have big, juicy asparagus spears that are sweet and delicious.
Asparagus is an excellent perennial, and it will produce for up to 20 years if treated correctly. When growing asparagus, it is essential to give the plants time to establish a big, strong, healthy root system. The first two years, it is recommended not to harvest any asparagus, allowing them to grow with the ferns. In the third year, growers can harvest for up to four weeks, and in the fourth year, they can extend the harvest window to up to eight weeks.
When harvesting asparagus, it is crucial not to damage the crown, where the spears emerge from. If the crown is damaged, it will cause harm to the plant. Instead of using a knife or pruner, it is safer to snap the asparagus off right at or below ground level with your hands.
Growers should also avoid allowing female asparagus plants to produce berries unless they want to save their seed. The plant will focus most of its attention on the production of seeds rather than strengthening its roots.
In the fall or winter, when the ferns have completely died back, it is recommended to cut them out. However, cutting the patch down too early in the season will waste a lot of growth. As long as the ferns and spears still have green in them, they are still taking energy from the sun and expanding the size of the roots, building a bigger, healthy, and stronger root system.
By following these tips, growers can avoid making the five common mistakes when growing asparagus and ensure that their patch produces big, juicy, and delicious asparagus spears for years to come.