what do you do with first year asparagus?

Question

it's time to clean the garden out for winter but I don't know what to do with my first year asparagus

I live in Canada, so winter is coming soon. I've got a row about 10 ft long

Answer 1

If your winters are going to hover below 0 degrees, it wouldn't hurt to mulch over the top of the row (I mow off old fern after it all browns off.), then remove the mulch a couple of weeks before your frost free date in the spring. The first year you really don't cut any of the spears, second year maybe cut one "mess". By the third year, you should have plenty to cut and share. Tip: When your asparagus patch is well established, like year 4 or 5, you can have a nice harvest season of 4 or 5 weeks in the spring, then let the spears go to fern to feed the roots up. In early August, you can mow off the green fern and get a second late-summer crop. You might need to do it in late July, depending on your growing zone. You'll want to leave time enough for the plants to make fern again after you've cut a meal or two from the late re-generation, so the fern can give the root another nice little burst of feeding. Also, asparagus is a heavy feeder. It really loves rich soil. If you have access to well composted manure, a top dress of this, or watering with a manure "tea" will give the plants a nice feed up before winter. They'll do better next spring with this extra treat.

Answer 2

I don't know about your winters but here in Missouri there are some really cold days, sometimes below 0. The only thing I ever have done with my asparagus patch is to cut the tops off after they freeze and die. And burn them if you can, as asparagus beatles can overwinter in the dead part. I think it is three years you are suppose to wait before cutting and eating the asparagus so that they will get a good root system. But I didn't wait that long. As soon as they started making large enough stalks I started cutting and my patch gets bigger each year. Enjoy.

Answer 3

Nothing. First year asparagus should be left alone to encourage the stolons to propagate underground instead of pruning which would encourage the plant to try to create new chutes. This creates a healthier, more prolific plant that will actually produce a crop of more substantial asparagus the second year. If you can wait until the third year, even better.

Answer 4

I do not know how much sparagus you have. Here in Stockton, the sparagus first year, the cut it. next year, the asparagus is nice and juicy!!

Answer 5

Eat them.