In drought conditions, you should water the asparagus plants thoroughly every 10-14 days. We have clay soil that was amended when planted. Shredded arborist’s woodchips, straw and finished compost are all good choices. Just 0.10 pounds of pure nitrogen covers a 100-square-foot area. Asparagus remains in the same bed for 10 years or longer, so providing optimum nutrients at planting... Young Plants. Harvesting Asparagus Plants. Till the soil and remove any weeds or grasses. I had planted 10 crowns three years before in a wide mound of sandy soil in full sun. Asparagus loves phosphorus. The asparagus thrived, and my education in growing this long-lived perennial delicacy began. Most are applied at a rate of 1 1/2 pounds per 100 square feet. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. Again, use a phosphate and potassium rich fertilizer. Use your hand or a small trowel to dig down 6-8 inches into the soil. Asparagus is a high-yielding, early-season vegetable for home gardeners and commercial growers across Missouri. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Keep It Weed-Free It's also a good idea to water in the early morning hours. Fertilizing Asparagus Soil Preparation. 5. Apply when weeds are succulent and less than 16 … It was sweet and juicy, and it snapped under my teeth with only the slightest hint of that sulfurous, grassy flavor that you often find in store-bought asparagus. Transplant to the garden in mid to late spring when soil has warmed. 8. A mature stand of asparagus plants produces spears over several weeks, and even up to eight weeks. Question: When do I fertilize asparagus, and with what? Are you ready to enjoy delicious homegrown vegetables? 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. Hold the Salt Asparagus Fertilizer » What, How & When to Feed. Keep soil moist until germination. Compost or well rotted manure makes an excellent mulch for asparagus in autumn. The asparagus plant is composed of ferns, crown and a root system (Figure 1). Load Up on Phosphorus The removed foliage can be added to your compost pile or discarded. The fertilizer should be applied in the fall even before planting in the spring. Top-Dress Every Spring The first few years will require the right soil prep and a little babying to make sure the crop growing well, but after it’s established it’s a low-work culinary prize for the gourmet gardener. 1. Nitrogen fertilizer works best when applied in June after harvesting ends. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable. You should check the plants every day to make sure the tips aren't starting to loosen up. Answer: Apply an all-nitrogen fertilizer in late winter, just before the stems start to grow, and again immediately after you finish harvesting the spears in April. Pay attention to the 3 number code on the bag of fertilizer. Please try again. Before Harvesting. In borders, they should be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer, equal parts of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. 2. These three numbers indicate the amount of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium that are contained Erica was featured in Best Food Writing 2013 and regularly writes for national cooking and gardening magazines. Do not be alarmed - this is normal. Fertilizing Asparagus It's generally a good idea to think about fertilizing asparagus in the hot summer months of July or August. Place the crowns 12 to 18 inches apart along the trench, spreading the roots out gently. Cultivate to control weeds when the weeds are small, in order to avoid damage to crowns. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), which is in the same family of vegetables as onion, is grown as a perennial vegetable in Missouri and can yield for 10 or more years. Asparagus has been considered a garden delicacy since Roman times. Asparagus’ most common pest is the asparagus beetle, which will often overwinter in the soil. This will allow the nutrients to enter the soil and be absorbed by the root system. Asparagus is a relatively heavy feeder. A 5-10-10 or 8-24-24 fertilizer formula will work well. Fertilizer and Lime: Asparagus grows best on soils with a pH of 6.0-6.5. Always … For established beds, scatter 2 pounds of 10-20-10 fertilizer (or its equivalent) per 20 feet of row before growth begins in the spring, late January, or early February in most areas of Texas. This will remove all the dead foliage and stalks and make room for the re-birth of the plants in the spring. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the amount of fertilizer to apply. Starting the fourth year, delay application until June or July (immediately after harvest). If you have a well-established asparagus patch, the ferns are probably growing like crazy. When watering asparagus, concentrate your efforts at the base of the plants. Unless you plan to save the seeds, it’s best to remove them to conserve energy. If you avoid watering the tops of the plants, they will be less likely to develop fungus-related diseases. Asparagus enjoys being planted alongside other perennials, like rhubarb and fruiting shrubs, but avoid planting companions too close to minimize competition. Follow the label on the product. For better-tasting asparagus and beds that last for decades, turn your focus to the dirt. Because asparagus is so long-lived, it’s especially important to rid your planting area of any pernicious perennial weeds. Nitrogen should be added after planting, once the crowns begin growing. Start Out Right Harvest is the time to enjoy the results of your hard work. The ferns may have even begun to emerge from the shoots. Asparagus loves phosphorus. 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. Fertilize asparagus in early spring for the first three years, then switch to late June after harvest once you have started picking the shoots. 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's generally a good idea to think about fertilizing asparagus in the hot summer months of July or August. Mulch asparagus beds to protect them during the winter months. A professionally trained chef, she shares her fun and punchy perspective on garden-to-table eating and living a slow-ish life though her writings. Asparagus thrive on a steady supply of plant food. Soak seeds in cool water or dilute compost tea for an hour, then sow seeds 1 inch deep in 4-inch pots filled with an organic potting mix that includes an organic, slow-release, balanced fertilizer (3-3-3 or 5-5-5). Remember that your asparagus patch will be established for years. Watering Asparagus Asparagus can always be mulched to control weeds. © Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved. A 5-10-10 bag would contain 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphate and 10% potassium. Plant crowns as soon after purchase as possible, in a prepared bed of well-drained, sandy soil. So, in the fall, add 8 to 10 pounds of … If the dirt appears to be dry, a long soak is probably a good idea. Click here to learn about harvesting asparagus, Click here to move from our Fertilizing Asparagus page back to our Growing Asparagus main page, Privacy Policy Given the right early attention, asparagus is an investment that can really pay off. When should I fertilize and what fertilizer is best? 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. Raising the bed and adding organic matter will help. We recommend using a mycorrhizal root inoculant (Happy Frog JumpStart contains both fertilizer and microorganisms, as does MicroLife 6-2-4) at the time of planting, as this has been shown to greatly increase yields in asparagus. How to Grow Asparagus. A. Asparagus can be fertilized in early spring before the spears emerge. A 0-20-0 fertilizer is ideal (the numbers and dashes describe the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively, in a fertilizer). Now is the time for fertilizing asparagus. Asparagus plants are generally fairly drought resistant by nature because they have deep root systems. In drought conditions, you should water the asparagus plants thoroughly every 10-14 days. […] 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. Any home gardener can grow and enjoy this spring vegetable. Beginning a month after planting, feed regularly with Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules. Asparagus can also be fertilized after the last harvest in June. Pick a location where your asparagus can literally put down roots, and avoid digging or deeply cultivating the soil around your asparagus patch. Companion Plant and Cover Crop If you avoid watering the tops of the plants, they will be less likely to develop fungus-related diseases. The edible portion of asparagus is the spear, which pushes up through the soil from a deep, energy-storing root system. During the production period, pull weeds rather than using a hoe. Your email address will not be published. In some areas, both crimson clover and yarrow can be invasive, so select the right soil-improving bio-accumulators for your region. 3. in that particular fertilizer, respectively. 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. Box 864, McKinney, TX 75070. During this time, a healthy plant should produce around 20 spears. This approach encourages vigorous growth of the “fern,” which produces and stores nutrients in the roots for next year’s production season. 4. After the last harvest, apply an additional 1 to 2 pounds per 20 feet of row. After the first freeze and after the ferns have turned brown, it's a good idea to mow or cut down the entire asparagus patch. When asparagus plants are growing in a sunny site with good drainage, proper irrigation, and adequate nutrients, the plants multiply and become crowded over time. Prepare beds with heavy amounts of compost and organic fertilizer. Required fields are marked *. 1. Other Autumn Asparagus Care. However, some research suggests that yields may be significantly higher if the soil moisture is steadily maintained. To cultivate a healthy crop, pay particular attention to the soil in your asparagus bed. […], Your email address will not be published. Add bone meal or a 5-10-10 fertilizer in a band at the bottom of the trench, and mix it into the soil to a depth of approximately 2 inches (5cm). I‘ll never forget the flavor of the first fat spear of asparagus I snapped from my own garden. 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. Any other tips for growing asparagus are welcome. If these diseases are known to be an issue in your growing region, planting resistant cultivars is essential. Weed Control Weeds shade asparagus, compete for water and nutrients, and reduce yield. This will allow the afternoon sun to evaporate any moisture that may be clinging to the tops of the plants. This will give your plants the boost they need to produce lots of high quality spears that can be harvested later. Filed Under: solar fertilizer posted by Dr. Cut foliage back to ground level. 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