Establishing a new planting an asparagus bed may be established from transplants plugs or crowns. Transplant asparagus crowns oneyearold rhizomes in spring about the same time you transplant out tomato plants. Asparagus growing and care calendar harvest to table. Keep the crown in hand and backfill the hole until the crown is about 3. The most common way to plant asparagus crowns is in a trench. Asparagus can be planted as one, two or threeyear crowns vegetative propagation in early spring. Allmale hybrids tend to be produce more spears than females and are a good choice for growing at home. Its best to buy the crowns immediately before you plan to plant.
Dig a trench about 6 inches deep, where you will place the transplants. This means deep hoeing is not an option to get rid of weeds. Root should be laid flat in bottom of trench with crown or top of root upright in middle with entacles spread evenly in each direction. This video shows the basics of planting jersey knight hybrid asparagus plants into a perennial planting bed.
Planting crowns when purchasing asparagus crowns, choose diseasefree, 1 year old crowns from a reputable grower. If your soil is acidic, add sufficient lime to bring the ph up to 7 and mix it into the planting area. Sams, professor plant and soil science asparagus asparagus officinalis is a member of the lily family. Good fern growth one year can result in high yields the following season. Dig a trench 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep where the crowns are to be planted. To plant the crowns, spread the roots of the crowns out on the bottom of the trench. Once the bed is weedfree, dig a trench about 12 deep and a foot wide. Asparagus is grown from 1 or 2yearold crowns planted in january or february, or as soon as the ground can be worked. Soak the crowns in compost tea for 20 minutes before planting. Asparagus crowns are usually available just once a year in early spring.
Dig a generous amount of compost into the new planting site. Buy many asparagus roots this spring and enjoy the harvest in 3 weeks. It has been grown for more than 2,000 years and is quite popular in the home garden today. Vegetable research and information center growing asparagus in the garden page 2 bottom of the trench, and cover with 1 or 2 inches of garden soil. As plants begin to grow cover the new growth with 2 inches of soil every few weeks until the trench is filled. Asparagus growing instructions nichols garden nursery.
Since this crop will occupy the land for many years you should select and prepare the asparagus bed carefully location, soil type, soil fertility, size and age of crowns. If you have to wait before planting, wrap the roots in sphagnum moss to keep them healthy. After the last spring frost, transplant the young plants to a temporary. A planting of asparagus can last 15 years or more, so choose the spot for an asparagus bed carefully. Asparagus needs undisturbed time to develop strong crowns.
Irrigation is important to relieve drought stress, particularly during the first two seasons after crown planting. Plants ship between january july, depending on zone. How to grow asparagus planting asparagus gardeners supply. Dry weather during the cutting season or late in the fern growing season october will have little effect on yield.
Asparagus is grown from crowns, or oneyear old plants, that are typically sold in early spring. Plant in furrows 15 to 20 cm deep, shallower on heavier soils. Once plants reach 12 inches in height, harden them off outdoors for a week. Because asparagus remains in the same place several years, it is important to select the right spot and prepare the. To plant the crown, make a little mound, like an anthill, at the bottom of the trench. Direct seeding to the field is not recommended as a method for establishing a new. The crowns should be planted at 18 intervals in the bed, so put a shovel of compost and a cup of allpurpose, organic fertilizer in the trench every 18. Select a sunny location where there is a minimum of competition from the roots of trees and shrubs. Using salt for weed control is an old farm tradition, and while the high salinity does kill some annual weeds, persistent perennial weeds may be resistant and the practice leaves an excess.
Asparagus has been considered a garden delicacy since roman times. Improve the fertility of the soil for your asparagus bed a year in advance, if possible. Take your bareroot asparagus plants and place the crown so that the roots are spread out around all sides of the mound in the hole. They will not grow until the soil warms and there is danger of the plants being more susceptible to fusarium rot if crowns are exposed to cold, wet soils over a pro longed period.
Use transplants of 1yearold crowns from a reputable dealer that are certified diseasefree. Eight or nine seeds should be planted per foot of row. Plant crowns as soon after purchase as possible, in a prepared bed of welldrained, sandy soil. Asparagus can be grown from seed, but it is easier to plant oneyearold dormant plants, known as crowns, in march. Adjusting the fertility level before planting is essential since an asparagus planting may last 15 to 20 years and cannot be plowed or tilled once the crowns are set. Select one to two year old crowns with welldeveloped roots. Asparagus is usually planted by using roots also called crowns from 1yearold plants or seedling transplants that are 8 to 10 weeks old. Plant asparagus crowns dormant roots of 1yearold plants in spring at about the same time you would plant potatoes, but dont rush to plant them if your soil is still cold. Plant the asparagus crown in late winter or early spring depending on your temperatures. Planting asparagus fact sheets gardening australia.
Growing asparagus in the home garden horticulture and. Plant the crowns 8 to 10 inches deep and spaced about a foot and a half apart. Inspect the plants often looking for signs or symptoms of disease. Crowns can also be grown from seeds planted in flats or peat cups. The crown of the asparagus is where the spears will grow. Transplant and divide asparagus plants for better production. Any home gardener can grow and enjoy this spring vegetable. How to plant plant all male crowns, one to two years old. Plant the asparagus at either the west or north side of the garden so that it will not shade. Set crowns 5 to 8 inches apart and cover with 2 inches of soil. Become familiar with what a healthy asparagus plant looks like so you will be able to identify an unhealthy plant. Jersey knight asparagus plants crowns roots bare root garden 25 ea all male by.
Asparagus is one of the earliest of springharvested crops. After planting, cover the crowns with 2 inches of soil. Growing asparagus in a home garden nc state extension. Monty don shows you how to prepare the crowns for planting, and how to prepare the soil so this longterm crop will thrive for many years to come.
Plant crowns in rows 18 x 4 to 5, or in wide beds of three rows with plants 18 inches apart in all directions. Weeds growing in an asparagus bed can rob nutrients from the asparagus crop and should be controlled. Use the trench method, digging 6 to 7 inches deep and 12 to 18 inches wide. Grade plants so that similar sized crowns are planted in the same field. Soak seeds in water for up to 24 hours before sowing. Plant growth is greatly influenced by adequate soil moisture. Dig a shallow, 6inchdeep trench 12 to 18 inches wide and soak crowns for 15 minutes in cool water or diluted compost tea. Asparagus diseases and pests, description, uses, propagation.
If the crowns are too shallow the spears are spindly and if planted too deep the crowns grow to the surface too rapidly sacrificing the yield of your early crop. Rows of asparagus should be at least 2 feet apart, allowing two rows to fit in a 4foot wide bed. If your asparagus plants roots are cramped, consider widening the planting hole. Creating and planting an asparagus bed with bare root crowns.
As the plants grow, continue to cover with 2 inches of soil as needed until crowns are 8 inches deep. Asparagus grows best in deep, fertile soil, and it responds well to a yearly fertilizing with a 101010 fertilizer applied on the soil surface. We offer seeds as well as hardy, oneyearold crowns of reliable, standard varieties with complete, easytofollow growing. We specialize in 3 year asparagus plants, roots and crowns in all varieties. Sow seeds in moistened peat or seedstarting soil in flats or peat cups. Space plants about 12 to 15 inches apart, so they will have. Work in your compost or other organic matter at this time. Be patient and do not harvest the first year but do leave a few fronds growing for photosynthesis. Learn the secrets of growing successful asparagus in monty dons comprehensive planting guide to planting bareroot asparagus crowns.
Asparagus does best in full sunlight and deep, welldrained, sandy or lighttextured soils. Place the crowns approximately six to eight inches deep. Asparagus production osu fact sheets oklahoma state university. A good rule of thumb is to plant 25 asparagus plants for a family of four. Work in wellrotted manure to the bottom of the trench and cover the base with a 5cm 2in layer of the excavated soil. In fall the asparagus bed should have 3 to 5 inches of soil over the crowns. This asparagus plant has natural disease resistance, is very vigorous, and produces large spears. To plant asparagus crowns, dig trenches 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep 8 inches in sandy soil down the center of the prepared bed. If you opt to plant crowns, keep in mind asparagus suffers some transplant. Asparagus is most often planted from crowns, which are the base and roots of oneyearold asparagus plants. To shorten the period from planting to harvest, buy and plant healthy, vigorous, 1 or 2yearold crowns from a. This perennial is easily grown from crowns or roots, and once established will produce tender spears every spring for many years.
Asparagus are perennials which grow from crowns planted 6 to 8 inches beneath the soil surface. To plant, dig a trench 30cm 12in wide and 20cm 8in deep. The asparagus plant is made up of top ferns, crown buds and roots. Newly planted asparagus does not like really cold temperatures, so wait until the worst of winter has passed. Late spring frosts can kill emerged spears, so find an area that is not lowlying or exposed to frost. This is to minimize the time your dug plants spend above ground. A small amount of wellrotted manure can be worked into the soil at the bottom of the trench before planting.
Set crowns at the bottom of a trench 10 to 12 inches deep and cover with 2 to 3 inches of soil. One pound of seed should produce crowns for planting. Although asparagus can be established by direct seeding or transplanting of greenhousegrown seedlings, current plantings are established with fieldgrown 1yearold crowns. In the spring, dig a trench about 8 to 10 inches deep and 18 to 20 inches wide. Asparagus roots are easy to plant and fast to grow. One pound of seed should produce crowns for planting one acre of asparagus. October through march is the best time for planting transplants or crowns. If you plant and manage properly it will produce for 15 years or more. Our asparagus plants are highly productive, oneyearold, largegraded crowns grown in managed nursery conditions. Before you dig your asparagus, you must prepare the new site for planting. Spring is the right time to plant asparagus roots so that they have a lot of time to establish themselves before winter comes. Choose a fertile, sunny, welldrained site with soil that holds moisture well.