How to Plant Asparagus in 3 Easy Steps
What are the benefits to growing your own asparagus?
How do you care for the asparagus after you’ve planted it?
Yesterday’s weather in Southwest Michigan included snow, rain, thunder, and even lightening in some areas. It was almost as if spring and winter were battling it out.
After waking up to temperatures in the mid 30s, it would seem that spring won, but winter is already advancing again. While we wait for spring, let’s take a look at a great cold weather vegetable, asparagus.
In our article, 4 Reasons to Grow Your Own Asparagus, we share why growing asparagus at home organically is a great choice for your family. The key highlights:
- You Save Money
- Asparagus Comes Back Year After Year
- Health Benefits
- Early Planting
Early planting is a great feature of asparagus. As the ground can be worked, you can start planting. While asparagus is pretty easy to grow, it might not come up for a year or two. With that in mind, when you plant asparagus you have to be patient and think long term as the plants will produce for up to 20 years.
Asparagus Seeds or Crowns?
Before you plant, you will want to choose whether you will be planting asparagus seeds or crowns (roots that include plant buds). Planting seeds offer a more economical option according to Burpee. Seeds should be sown indoors and it will take from 12 to 14 weeks before they are ready to plant in your garden.
If you opt to plant asparagus crowns, Kitchen Gardeners International recommends selecting varieties that are rust resistant include the Mary Washington and the Jersey varieties. They also suggest that you will want to look for crowns that are a “grayish-brown color, plump and healthy-looking.”
How to Plant Asparagus in 3 Easy Steps
Remember to choose a location to plant the asparagus in full sun and planting can be done about 4 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. To determine when the frost date is in your area, you can use The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s handy tool and input your zip code, city or state.
- Preparing The Soil
The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends preparing the soil by,- Weeding
- Turning the soil
- Working in a 2-4 inch layer of compost, manure or soil mix
- Making sure to soil has good drainage. Quick Tip: Asparagus does really well in raised garden beds.
- Digging Your Trenches
Next, dig trenches that are about 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep. - Planting
To plant, create a mound in the trench for each of the crowns (roots). Space them 15 inches apart. Place the crown in the mound and then cover it up with soil.
3 Tips for Caring for Asparagus After it is Planted
- Add a layer of mulch to help keep the asparagus warm.
- Water regularly. You may even consider installing an aeration tube.
- Don’t harvest the first year, wait until the second.
Summary
Asparagus is known to come back year after year for up to 20 years! This spring, growing asparagus with these 3 tips is well is worth the time investment.
What is your favorite way to cook up asparagus? Please let us know in the comment section below.
