Asparagus Time

Late April is the time to plant asparagus. Crowns should be purchased, in a dormant state, from a reputable greenhouse or nursery.

Pick a sunny location in your garden and dig in a generous amount of organic material, preferably compost, into your soil and then test for PH. A home test kit can be used for this purpose. You are aiming for a neutral reading of 6.5 to 7.0 Soil can then be amended accordingly using sulfur to acidify and lime to neutralize.

Dig trenches 6" to 8" deep and 4' to 6' apart. Spread roots of crowns and place in the bottom of the trenches 12' to 18' apart. Cover crowns with soil being careful not to compact as this will hinder fern growth. Gradually fill in the trenches as the asparagus grows, never completely covering the emerging plant tip.

Asparagus should be left to go through its normal growth cycle for the first 2 years. Spears may be cut in the third year.

Asparagus is drought tolerant, but if rainfall is absent for long periods, a sufficient watering will prevent stress and impeded growth. Asparagus plants will grow for over 20 years if they are properly taken care of and the climate is right. Try adding a few crowns to your vegetable garden and reap the rewards for many years to come.