3 Easy Steps for Growing AsparagusThere’s nothing like fresh asparagus. You can’t beat the sweet, tender stalks just harvested from your garden. Once you get a bed of asparagus going, it can produce for many years. My asparagus bed is 18 years old and still produces pounds of asparagus, plenty to share with friends and family. The most important tip I can give you about growing asparagus in Oregon is that you need to grow asparagus in a raised bed. In most parts of Oregon the soil is just too wet and the asparagus drowns. By planting asparagus in a raised bed you can create the soil conditions that asparagus needs. You have to have soil that drains well to grow good asparagus. Growing asparagus takes some patience. You shouldn’t eat your asparagus the first year, but let the plant work on growing strong roots. By the 3rd year, your asparagus plants will be producing bundles of fresh, crisp, tender stalks for you and your family and friends to enjoy. Once mature, your asparagus roots will continue to supply you with fresh stalks for two to three months. Warning: once you’ve tasted your own asparagus, you’ll never be able to eat store bought again.
Select a planting site with full sun and good drainage. If you have poor drainage, make a raised bed at least 6 inches tall. Add good organic material such as mushroom or general compost, potting soil, etc. Mix these amendments with your own soil and make a trench at least 8 inches deep.
STEP TWO: In the bottom of the trench add transplant fertilizer and cover with 2 inches of soil. Next, place the asparagus plants 12 inches apart with crowns facing up. Gently spread the roots of the plants and cover them with 1 to 2 inches of soil.
As the plant grows continue to cover the crowns with soil. By the first season the soil should be level with the top of the bed. Top dress asparagus beds with soil builder to preserve moisture and prevent weeds.
STEP THREE: The first year - Do not harvest, but remove foliage after frost.
The second year - Cut asparagus lightly - only the spears that are thicker than a pencil.
The third year - Harvest and enjoy!
To harvest, slice the spears off just below the soil surface with a sharp knife; take care not to slash new growth, under the ground or above. The spears can also be snapped off by hand if the spear is broken off below ground level. |
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STEP ONE: