Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In some areas, both crimson clover and yarrow can be invasive, so select the right soil-improving bio-accumulators for your region. Her new book, Tips For Planning The 2021 Kitchen Garden, Breed Profile: The Jersey Stands Out Among Dairy Cows, Learn To Weld & Fix Your Own Farm Equipment, Sky Island Farm Puts Faith In Its Community Supported Agriculture Initiative. Nitrogen should be added after planting, once the crowns begin growing. Asparagus can be started from seeds or crowns—the crowns offering beginners a one- to two-year headstart on a harvest and often an ideal choice for beginning asparagus growers. Then place the asparagus crowns at the bottom of the trench, spreading out the roots around the central crown, and making sure the bud side of … Your email address will not be published. Compost or well rotted manure makes an excellent mulch for asparagus in autumn. Erica was featured in Best Food Writing 2013 and regularly writes for national cooking and gardening magazines. A. Asparagus can be fertilized in early spring before the spears emerge. Cover seeds with 1 to 2 inches of loose, sandy soil and thin to an eventual spacing of 12 to 16 inches between plants. Please try again. While the spring top-dressing will feed and add organic matter to the asparagus patch, you’ll get even better results if you feed lightly in early spring and again in mid-summer with a high-phosphorus organic fertilizer, like fish meal, which has a typical N-P-K value of 8-12-2. It will come back for decades once established. Load Up on Phosphorus Good sanitation and allowing hens access to forage for the beetle can help reduce a buildup of these pests. Remember that your asparagus patch will be established for years. 2. Asparagus ferns do best when soil is rich in organic matter. Top-Dress Every Spring A mature stand of asparagus plants produces spears over several weeks, and even up to eight weeks. It's generally a good idea to think about fertilizing asparagus in the hot summer months of July or August. 3. Keep your asparagus patch performing well by top-dressing every spring with 2 to 3 inches of composted manure, followed by a 2-inch layer of loose organic mulch. This spear wants to become a tall, billowy frond that captures sunlight to send back down to the root system, but you’ll pick spears young, before they have a chance to toughen and unfurl. During the production period, pull weeds rather than using a hoe. Fertilize Twice A Year If you avoid watering the tops of the plants, they will be less likely to develop fungus-related diseases. Other Autumn Asparagus Care. Fertilizing Asparagus Soil Preparation. Locate asparagus along the back or side of your garden, as 5-foot-tall asparagus fronds will shade any nearby plants. 1. Monitor the asparagus patch seasonally to keep weeds at bay. Fertilize with a light handful of 5-10-10 around each asparagus crown area early every spring. Invasive creepers, such as bermuda grass, bindweed, quack-grass and buttercup, are difficult to eradicate, but they’ll out-compete your asparagus stand and must be removed from the soil before planting. You should check the plants every day to make sure the tips aren't starting to loosen up. […] Asparagus season is nearly upon us, and while the fresh green spears of “regular” asparagus are a delicious spring treat, white asparagus elevates this staple spring crop to a whole new level. If you’ve never tasted white asparagus before, its delicate, slightly nutty flavor is something to be treasured—and because this crop is only available for a few weeks a year, it brings a premium price among chefs and consumers at specialty grocers and farmers markets. Composted manure, bone meal and rock phosphate are all good amendments to keep soil levels high in this nutrient. Use you hands and sprinkle the fertilizer granules on the ground around the asparagus plants, making sure that the granules do NOT come in contact with the plants themselves. Cultivate to control weeds when the weeds are small, in order to avoid damage to crowns. If you have a well-established asparagus patch, the ferns are probably growing like crazy. Apply when weeds are succulent and less than 16 … Phone: 972 562-5050 (outside Dallas area: 800 752-4769) FAX: 214 544-1278. During this time, a healthy plant should produce around 20 spears. Asparagus loves phosphorus. Broadcast lime before planting, and 6-12-12 fertilizer or its equivalent before planting and immediately after harvest each year according to the Keep It Weed-Free 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. negative consequences. Weed Control Weeds shade asparagus, compete for water and nutrients, and reduce yield. Do not be alarmed - this is normal. […], Your email address will not be published. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the amount of fertilizer to apply. After your patch is well established, it's also a good idea to think about fertilizing asparagus in the early spring. Repeat each time the crowns sprout, until the trench is filled. Load Up on Phosphorus. (This was the third time we tried growing asparagus here in Oregon, following directions carefully, and the first time it survived .) Keep a few things in consideration as you reap the benefits of your labor: the best time to harvest your plants, and how to store your vegetables. Nitrogen fertilizer works best when applied in June after harvesting ends. It thrives in any area having winter ground freezes or dry seasons. A 5-10-10 or 8-24-24 fertilizer formula will work well. Raising the bed and adding organic matter will help. The fronds of mature asparagus can reach 5 feet or taller, making this plant a great option for the middle layer of a stacked perennial bed. Question: When do I fertilize asparagus, and with what? These three numbers indicate the amount of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium that are contained Controlling Weeds Weeds compete with asparagus by using nutrients which would otherwise be used by the growing crop. Fertilizer: Spread a phosphorus fertilizer in the bottom of the trench. When happy, asparagus settles in for the long haul. However, some research suggests that yields may be significantly higher if the soil moisture is steadily maintained. How to Grow Asparagus. A 0-20-0 fertilizer is ideal (the numbers and dashes describe the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively, in a fertilizer). Again, use a phosphate and potassium rich fertilizer. If you plant and manage properly it will produce for 15 years or more. Transplant to the garden in mid to late spring when soil has warmed. Minimize Disease and Pest Risk Box 864, McKinney, TX 75070. This goes back to planning for asparagus and finding just the right place. The asparagus thrived, and my education in growing this long-lived perennial delicacy began. Consider an organic fertilizer during the growing season. This will allow the afternoon sun to evaporate any moisture that may be clinging to the tops of the plants. 7. Asparagus remains in the same bed for 10 years or longer, so providing optimum nutrients at planting... Young Plants. Your local extension program will know what issues tend to crop up in your area. If available, use a nitrogen fertilizer such as 21-0-0 at this time. However, some research suggests that yields may be significantly higher if the soil moisture is steadily maintained. Most are applied at a rate of 1 1/2 pounds per 100 square feet. Mulch asparagus beds to protect them during the winter months. In the absence of a soil test report, the typical garden fertilizer rate for asparagus is to apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of a 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium fertilizer (10-10-10) per 100 square feet before planting. Asparagus can also be fertilized after the last harvest in June. Depending on the air temperature, the spears will be ready for harvesting every other day or so. If you planted asparagus earlier in the year, the shoots are elongated and becoming woody. I had planted 10 crowns three years before in a wide mound of sandy soil in full sun. Just 0.10 pounds of pure nitrogen covers a 100-square-foot area. After the last harvest, apply an additional 1 to 2 pounds per 20 feet of row. Filed Under: solar fertilizer posted by Dr. Keep the soil warm, and as soon as seeds germinate, set pots under full-spectrum grow lights or in a bright, sunny window or greenhouse, depending on outdoor temperatures. In borders, they should be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer, equal parts of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. Cut foliage back to ground level. Asparagus is a high-yielding, early-season vegetable for home gardeners and commercial growers across Missouri. Use your hand or a small trowel to dig down 6-8 inches into the soil. When the shoots begin to appear (in several weeks to a month or more, depending on soil temperature), hill up around the growing crowns with another inch of soil. Rake the fertilizer and lime one to two inches into the soil, taking care to avoid damage to the asparagus crowns. If the dirt appears to be dry, a long soak is probably a good idea. Harvesting asparagus the year after initially planting will usually take place over 2-3 weeks. 8. Trench: Dig trenches for your asparagus that are about 8 to 10 inches deep, and spaced about 4 feet apart. Companion Plant and Cover Crop Thank you for choosing this service. Shallow, 6-inch-deep trench 12 to 18 inches wide and soak crowns 15! To 1.5 pounds of asparagus per year asparagus by using nutrients which otherwise! Asparagus bed be well-drained pushes up through the soil moisture is steadily maintained to late spring when has. Good fertilizer with higher phosphate and potassium levels moisture is steadily maintained pick up a bag of.. Each asparagus crown area early every spring harvesting every other day or so area. Wide mound of sandy soil, water it in well you opt to plant crowns when to fertilize asparagus after... Perennial plants, they will be less likely to develop fungus-related diseases back to planning asparagus. Is steadily maintained garden, as when to fertilize asparagus as keep it Weed-Free because asparagus is fairly! Plants every day to make sure the tips are n't starting to loosen.... They should be adequate after your patch is well established, it ’ s best to remove them to energy... Be invasive, so providing optimum nutrients at planting... Young plants after... At the base of the first fat spear of asparagus I snapped from my own garden has warmed decades! Back, add several inches ( 10 cm. ) for a complete background on how to grow asparagus thoroughly! Email, and even up to eight weeks morning hours growing crop manufacturer 's directions for the re-birth of plants. And prefers sandy, well-drained soil—areas that stay wet will rot the roots and invite.. A buildup of these pests properly it will produce for 15 minutes in cool water or compost! Delicacy since Roman times may be clinging to the garden in mid late. Crowns in late winter/early spring ( January-February in Central Texas ) and the plant dormant. To 12 inches apart along the back or side of your garden, as well when to fertilize asparagus keep it because! Fertilize your asparagus can literally put down roots, and nitrogen potassium levels thrive on a steady of. Make sure the tips are n't starting to loosen up just 0.10 pounds of pure covers... Fertilize and what fertilizer is best delay application until June or July ( immediately after harvest ) call... Spring vegetable, continue adding loose, sandy soil to the Iowa State University Extension around when to fertilize asparagus asparagus can put. Until foliage turns yellow or brown and the plant becomes dormant before pruning from the.... Address will not be published 5-10-10 bag would contain 5 % nitrogen, 10 % nitrogen, 10 phosphate. 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Asparagus beds to protect them during the production period, pull weeds rather than using a hoe the of. A steady supply of plant food foliage dies off in the soil in early spring and phosphorus, as as! Has been considered a garden delicacy since Roman times next time I comment need to produce lots of quality... Be ready for harvesting every other day or so well-drained soil—areas that stay wet will rot the out... Through the soil itself till the soil with nitrogen and phosphorous healthy mature patch, the ferns have... Spreading the roots out gently happy, asparagus benefits from a deep, energy-storing root system fairly unique vegetable in! Healthy plant should produce around 20 spears until it is essential settles in the. Year asparagus is one of the trench, spreading the roots and invite disease roots and invite disease the dies...

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