Asparagus crowns are typically only accessible in the early spring. So make appropriate plans. Dig a 12-inch-deep, 6-foot-wide trench once the bed is weed-free. The crowns should be placed in the bed at 18″ intervals, so every 18″ fill the trench with a shovel of compost and a cup of all-purpose, organic fertilizer. Another excellent addition is the natural mineral powder known as rock phosphate. Phosphorus doesn’t perᴍᴇᴀᴛe the soil as readily as other nutrients, but it is necessary for healthy root growth. Don’t pass up the chance to strengthen the root zone because you only get one chance to do so.
Compost and fertilizer should be combined with some garden soil before being formed into a small mound. Arrange the asparagus roots along the sides, then place the asparagus crown on top. The crown’s top should be six inches or so below the soil’s surface. Fill the dirt around the roots all the way to the crown, then thoroughly water them. Add more soil when shoots start to appear until the trench has been filled back up to the earth’s surface.
It is nearly impossible to restore an asparagus planting once ɢʀᴀsses or other perᴍᴀɴent weeds have taken root in the planting area. Keep your asparagus bed well-mulched from the beginning by adding straw or chopped up leaves. Asparagus roots are ᴄʟᴏsᴇ to the surface and can be injured by weeding tools, so weed frequently and gently during the first couple of years. Other vegetables should not be interplanted in the same bed. Any form of competitiveness is hated by asparagus.
Since asparagus was originally grown in marshes and other wet areas, maintaining constant soil moisture is crucial for successful production. If you reside in a dry area, you may want to install drip irrigation or a soaker hose. When a plant is growing for the first three to five years, watering is especially crucial.
Harvesting Tips
Don’t be greedy if you want to keep your asparagus bed producing. You can gather a few spears from each plant in the first year after planting. To allow the fronds to spread out and start feeding the root system, pick for about two weeks before ceasing. The following year, harvest will last for three weeks, followed by four to six weeks. If you overpick your plants, they won’t be able to establish the robust root structure and energy reserves necessary for the subsequent season’s abundant spear yield.
Allow the spears to grow normally when the harvesting season is through, which will be in late spring or early summer. With delicate, light-green foliage, they will reach heights of 4 to 6 feet. Continue to mulch, water, and weed the bed. The plants will have more energy for the harvest the following year the healthier the fronds are. The fronds will turn yellow as October approaches. The fronds should be cut at this point, about an inch above the ground, and removed from the area. This will prevent pests from hibernating, like the asparagus beetle. Your bed will be made up and prepared for use come spring.
Let’s see Jᴀᴘᴀɴese Mountain Asparagus Farming Underground Technique – Mountain Asparagus Harvesting in the ᴀᴡᴇsome video below.
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Video resource: Noal Farm