Why put salt on asparagus beds?

Question

I'm reading Stephen Fry's autobiography and he says that they used to grow asparagus in their garden, and would periodically pour salt over the beds - but he doesn't explain why!

Answer 1

I used to put sea weed about 9inches deep over the asparagus beds in the autumn,gave good weed controll and the iodine released encouraged early growth.

Answer 2

But salt buildup in the soil is not a good thing. I would find other ways to deal with your slugs or whatever.

BTW, most salt has ioding added back into it. Look at the box, you will see "iodized". Still, sea salt is the way to go on food.

Answer 3

you ought to use panorama fabric and bark; or a greater much less high priced answer (till you have a waiting grant of bark chippings...) is a thick layer of newspaper and then placed your properly rotted farmyard manure / leaf mold / compost on right to maintain it in place. The paper will suppress any weeds and could rot down slowly. good luck :-)

Answer 4

It's obvious!...... It's so they don't have to salt the water when cooking the tips!! ;) He hee hee
NO actually the slug thing is the most probable reason.

Answer 5

Slugs perish if they come in contact with salt

Answer 6

to kill the slugs, garden pests who eat ur asparagus xxxxxx

Answer 7

ASPARAGUS NEEDS IODINE MORE THAN OTHER PLANTS TO GROW.
SEA SALT HAS LOTS OF IT.

Answer 8

salt has iodine (not table salt though) a nutrient that may be helpful as a germicide

Answer 9

it actually acts as a one stone kill 3 birds kind of thing, firstly it acts as a fertiliser and secondly it destroy weeds and lastly it gets rid of pests, now isn't that great!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

slug control we use better methods now