Plant asparagus for years of delicious, nutritious spring harvests.
| Botanical name | Asparagus officinalis |
| Common name | Asparagus |
| Plant type | Perennial vegetable |
| Size | Spears: 6-10" Ferns: 3-4' |
| Sun exposure | Full sun to partial shade |
What is the best soil amendment for asparagus?
Composted manure, bone meal and rock phosphate are all good amendments to keep soil levels high in this nutrient. 2. Hold the Salt While asparagus is salt-tolerant and grows well as a perennial in seaside gardens, the occasionally recommended advice to add salt to an asparagus bed isn’t wise and can seriously damage soil quality.
What is soil preparation for asparagus?
The goal of soil preparation is to replenish vital minerals and nutrients, as well as break up and loosen any compacted soil. NOTE: This is part 4 in a series of 10 articles. For a complete background on how to grow asparagus plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
What do you need to know about growing asparagus?
Quick facts 1 Asparagus spears are the part of the plant that goes to harvest but the ferns, crowns and seeds are just as important. 2 Select the right variety of asparagus for Minnesota's climate. 3 Consider soil drainage, sunlight, soil texture, irrigation and soil pH when choosing a planting site. More items...
Where is the best place to plant asparagus?
If the asparagus bed is to be part of a larger vegetable garden, the best place is at the north end of the garden, so that the tall ferns do not shade the other crops. Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open.
How do you prepare the soil for asparagus?
Asparagus does best in lighter soils that warm up quickly in spring and drain well; standing water will quickly rot the roots. Prepare a planting bed for your asparagus —simple raised beds work best — that's about 4 feet wide by removing all perennial weeds and roots, and digging in aged manure or compost.
Are coffee grounds good for asparagus?
Stocking up on coffee grounds for your vegetables, sowing peas, and planting asparagus are some of the spring activities for this year's vegetable garden. Coffee grounds contain some major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) as well as some micronutrients, so put them to work in your garden.
Is potting soil good for asparagus?
There are lots of great soils for asparagus, but the one we usually recommend most is Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix. If you want your asparagus plant to produce the way that you'd like it to produce, you're going to need to create a good growing environment.
What is the best fertilizer for asparagus?
The best fertilizer for asparagus will feature a balanced formula that contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, such as a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 blend. Beginning in the fourth year, apply fertilizer after the final harvest in late spring or early summer, instead of a spring application.
How do you encourage asparagus to grow?
Asparagus patches should receive at least one inch of water every week. If they have not received an inch of rain in the last week, soak the soil with water. Asparagus growing in sandy soil should be watered more than once per week in the absence of rain, and heavy clay soils may not need to be watered as often.
Does asparagus like wet soil?
Asparagus Asparagus is a common garden crop that can tolerate soil that is temporarily wet. You won't want to keep it totally submerged by any means, but you can get by with planting this perennial vegetable in somewhat damp soil. In fact, you'll often find asparagus growing wild in ditches.
Should I put lime on my asparagus bed?
Lime for asparagus: Among the list of common garden vegetables, asparagus is probably the one that loves lime the most. Lime for asparagus is necessary to give the plant the 'sweet' alkaline soil it craves. Asparagus only needs a slightly alkaline soil, but it can tolerate soil pH up to 8.0.
Can you use Miracle Grow on asparagus?
If you are looking for an all-around great option for asparagus then I recommend the Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. This is one of the Best Asparagus Fertilizers EVER! This fertilizer instantly feeds providing bigger, better asparagus. You can apply it every two weeks with a garden feeder.
Will asparagus grow in pots?
Choose a large container, approximately 7 to 8 inches deep and at least 3 to 6 feet wide to accommodate the size of the plant at maturity. If you have limited outdoor space, container-grown asparagus can thrive indoors in a window that receives full sun. Asparagus is able to develop spears at room temperature.
What can I put on my asparagus bed?
Asparagus can be fertilized in early spring before the spears emerge. 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.
Does asparagus like Epsom salt?
0:362:00Putting salt on asparagus to keep weeds down - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo asparagus is one of the only plants. That you grow in the garden. That can handle salty soilsMoreSo asparagus is one of the only plants. That you grow in the garden. That can handle salty soils that's why you see it a lot of times. I'll go wild on the roadsides.
Should I fertilize my asparagus bed?
Generally, it is not necessary to apply fertilizer for an established asparagus crop until after harvest. In fact, delaying fertilization until after harvest can reduce early weed growth. For sandy coarse-textured soils, however, 20-25 lbs N/acre in the spring may be beneficial for spear development.