I want to plant an asparagus patch. Suggestions?

Question

How should I prepare the ground?
Does it like sunlight or shade?

Answer 1

Soil Preperation & Planting: When you plant asparagus, you are building the foundation for 10-15 years of production... so take the time to work the soil a foot or more deep and mix in a large amount of manure, compost, peat moss, or other organic material, plus 4-5 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 sq. ft.

If you plant transplants (root crowns) you save a year over starting from seed. You can usually pick up the 1 year old plants (crowns) at about any garden center. Dig trenches about 8 inches deep and 4-5 feet apart. (Asparagus roots spread wide). Spread some compost or manure in the bottom of the trench and cover with an inch of garden soil, then set the crowns about 18" apart in the row and cover them with about 2" of soil. Gradually fill in the trench as the new shoots come up.

Fertilizing: For high production and thick spears I would recomend a twice-a-year feeding program. To encourage heavy top growth, make the first application before growth starts in the spring, and the second as soon as the harvest is finished. And don't skimp on the water when the top growth is developing.

Harvest: Cut or snap off spears when they are 6-8 inches high. Early in the season the shoots may only provide cuttings every 3 days or so... but as the growth becomes more active you may have to cut twice a day, especially if the asparagus is growing in very light, warm soil.

Also, choose rust-resistant varieties such as 'Mary Washington' and 'Waltham Washington.'

Answer 2

Hi, Asparagus likes sun
My soil is pretty good and I didn't do anything to add to it.
Usually planting asparagus involves a spidery root. The root gives you a year or so ahead of planting the seeds.
Anyway, for planting the root, you have to dig a trench about 12 inches deep. Put a pile of dirt at the bottom about 3 inches high and spread the roots of your asparagus over the little hill of dirt. Do them all that way! cover the roots with about 3 more inches of dirt.
When the shoots from the roots grow through, put more dirt on them. until the shoots reach the top.

Plant in a area that isn't too wet. I made that mistake and half of my asparagus drowned when the trench filled with water.
Don't expect asparagus til after two years!

Answer 3

It needs full sun. I have had mine in for 4 years. This will be the first year I will be able to pick the entire crop. All you do is dig a trench about 8" deep and plant the roots about 10-12" apart and cover with about 1/2" of soil. As the plant grows, cover them with another 1/2", until they are level with the ground. The first year you harvest about 1/3 of the stems, the second about 2/3, and the third almost all.

Answer 4

As the others have said, full sun, compost is good, but also add some bone meal and sawdust to the hole before planting the roots.
I'd let the plant go for 3 years before doing any harvesting. You can harvest after 2, but the plants will be stronger if you wait 3. I waited 3 years on the advice of friend that had been growing asparagus for years, and my harvest was more than we could have hoped for.
Enjoy

Answer 5

Full sun. Well drained. (i.e. the crowns may rot if you plant them in a places where there is ever standing water after a big rain)

Mulch the beds to keep down weeds. Put compost on every year if you can - they are heavy feeders.

Don't harvest any the first year, and none or just for a week or two the second year. You want the plants to put all their energy into establishing themselves. The spears will grow into tall (3-5 foot tall) fern-like things.

Once it's going well, then harvest spears for 3-5 weeks every year. Then let the late spears grow so the patch can regenerate.

Answer 6

Asparagus loves sunshine and will come back every year thicker than the year before. Prepare your patch by digging the soil a foot deep and mixing compost or potting soil in it to give it a good start. Good luck!

Answer 7

As I recal Asparagus likes really rich soil..If I am right I would get hold of enough manure to treat the area and turn it in..I would say 4"s of manure and turn in 10-12"s deep. I think that an area that gets sun part of the day would be desirable..Check with some of the better seed company's for the correct method..What I say is not gospel...

Answer 8

My mom had hers in full sun. It grew for years even after she was gone. The soil was not very futile. Very tough plant apparently.