Plant of the week: Asparagus

For all of us asparagus lovers out there, here is information on the plant and how to grow it in our own gardens.

acts about Asparagus
Asparagus is a member of the Lily family. Asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils. Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in a 24-hour period. Each crown will send spears up for about 6-7 weeks during the spring and early summer. The outdoor temperature determines how much time will be between each picking...early in the season, there may be 4-5 days between pickings and as the days and nights get warmer, a particular field may have to be picked every 24 hours. After harvesting is done the spears grow into ferns, which produce red berries and the food and nutrients necessary for a healthy and productive crop the next season.
An asparagus planting is usually not harvested for the first 3 years after the crowns are planted allowing the crown to develop a strong fibrous root system. A well cared for asparagus planting will generally produce for about 15 years without being replanted. The larger the diameter, the better the quality! Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food which in high in Folic Acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and thiamin. Asparagus has No Fat, contains No Cholesterol and is low in Sodium.

Tips For the Square Foot Gardeners:

*1 plant per square foot seems to be the best spacing. The plant will eventually fill in the spaces.

*The deeper you can make the box, the better. Also, do not plant too close to the box edge in order to protect the plants from winter cold.

*Do not line the bottom of the box as the root system goes very deep, sometimes as much as 10 feet.

*It is best to plant only asparagus in the asparagus box. Either it or the other plant will end up taking over.

*You might want to consider the PH of Mel's mix, as the peat moss could make it too acidic.

Additional Reading:

Growing Asparagus In The Home Garden