At the start of the year, I wrote about how 2021 had been designated as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, which I thought was a nice thing. I spend approximately 60-80% of my time working with fruits and vegetables of all different types. And it has been that way for at least the last 25 years, except for fruit, which has only been about 18 years.
With that in mind, I realized that I haven’t really written specifically about any particular fruit or vegetable crop this year, tending more towards topics that relate to the general or specific management of all or some crops. This summer, I have decided to change that a little bit, and give some thoughts on some of the different vegetables out there.
During a conversation with my twin brother a couple of months ago, we were talking about different options for things that he could grow in his new yard. At some point, asparagus came up. He remarked that it was one of his favorite vegetables and that he was amazed/disappointed that it had taken him so many years to discover it. I’d agree with that statement; I was well into adulthood before first trying asparagus.
That might seem to be surprising, given that my mom is such a good gardener that her whole arm is green, not just her thumb. But asparagus isn’t one of those vegetables that is necessarily commonly grown in many gardens. It isn’t a terribly common commercial crop on the prairies either. It takes time and patience to establish a strong plant that will produce reliably for years. It takes restraint to adjust picking based on the growing season. It takes a lot of plant material to produce a decent harvest. And it takes commitment to live with the fact that you’ve got a short harvest season and limited revenue stream (if that is your focus).
Take the Long View
Asparagus is one of the only perennial vegetable crops. It is long-lived, lasting upwards of 15-20 or more years. It needs plenty of sunshine and likes a well-drained loam to sandy loam soil. The soil should be fertile, as it will be necessary to support the plant for years (you will also fertilize the plants).
When you plant and grow asparagus, everything that you do needs to be done with an eye long into the future. Everything is focused on building and maintaining a strong and healthy crown.
Starting Plants
Asparagus can be started from seed indoors and then transplanted out into the final location when it is large enough. You can also make a nursery of sorts, to grow up crowns. If you don’t have the time or space to start from seed, you can purchase 1-year-old crowns to establish a new planting. They come as dormant, bareroot crops, usually in a soilless medium (like peat moss). Growing from seed is less expensive but will add a year to establishment. Growing from crowns costs more and has the potential to bring in disease issues that you won’t start with from seed. It is a trade-off.
Placement
When planting, you start with planting the crown (or the transplant) far below the final surface level. You can dig a furrow/trench or even just a big hole that is about 6-8 inches (15-20cm) deep. The plant is planted 1-2 inches (2.5-5cm) deep at the bottom of the furrow/hole. Over the course of the growing season, fill in the furrow until it is level by the end of the season. This allows the plant to grow up and fill out, with the crown protected well below ground. A drip irrigation line can be buried nearby if that is what you want.
Transplants or crowns are usually spaced about one foot (30cm) apart. Rows should be 4 to 5 feet (120 to 150cm) apart. Over time, they will fill in and out, giving you a clump for each plant. Rows will become solid.
Feeding and Watering
It is important to have a good level of organic matter and fertility in the soil before you plant, as this will feed the plant over the years of establishment. You will also add more composted manure every few years.
You can add a bit more nitrogen (20-55 pounds N/acre), phosphorus (110-145 pounds P/acre), potassium (110-155 pounds K/acre), and sulfur (25 pounds S/acre) before planting. If you want to cut down on the amount that you must apply, you can put on the fertilizer as a band, reducing the rates to 1/5 to 1/2 (P and K respectively).
If you find that your soil fertility is becoming depleted, as determined through testing, you can add some more nitrogen (55-90 pounds/acre), phosphorus (105-145 pounds/acre), potassium (225-265 pounds/acre), and sulfur (25 pounds/acre) each year to established stands.
Asparagus need about an inch of water every 10 days throughout the growing season. They should get a good drink after harvest and then another additional drink at the end of the season. This ensures that the plants are well hydrated to carry them through the heat of the summer, and through the dry winter.
Patience
The adage “good things come to those that wait” is certainly true for asparagus. You need to wait at least three years before you consider starting to harvest a little bit. This depends on how big your starting material was (transplants versus crowns), as well as how well the crop established. If you had great conditions throughout establishment, and you started from crowns, you might be able to get away starting to harvest at three years. Rushing to harvest will weaken the crowns and reduce their lifespan.
When you do start to harvest, you need to hold yourself to only two to three weeks of harvesting, adding a week or so each year after that. If you typically get really strong growth in your area, you might be able to harvest for up to six weeks. If the growth is weak or there was a hard winter or poor growing season, you should reduce the harvest period to avoid straining the plant.
You can either cut or snap the spears to harvest them. Cut or snap off the 5-8 inch (12-20cm) long spears at or just below the surface of the soil. Once you stop harvest, leave the spears to grow up into the fluffy, ferny tops. The plant will need a good amount of top growth to recharge the crown each year. The tops can be left standing through winter to catch snow and then cut down in spring before harvest.
Worth the Wait
In my experience, there isn’t much variation in the price of asparagus, whether it is sold by a market garden or at the supermarket. You might see a slight different in wholesale/retail prices, but overall, it is one crop that can’t be tweaked to make an extended season, and so, it must be imported from other regions of the world, or just enjoyed for the short season.
This crop is worth the wait, in every way. I look forward to the day when my plants are sufficiently large that I can pick some from my own garden. Coincidentally, I’m excited to report that about 5 of my asparagus plants from last year came up. One year down, three to go.
Some examples of plantings that I’ve seen over the years. They represent different styles of planting, but either works.
