Need help with Asparagus

dougmays

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Nov 18, 2010

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Gainesville, FL

• Feb 1, 2013

• #1

hey guys,i planted some asparagus about 5 months ago and i read that it takes about a full year till you bear editable food. I've never grown this before. But all kinds of wackyness has been happening. There were the little fluffy leafy things growing out of this, little asparaguses that grow out and look editable then grow like 3 feet in the air, some of those have flowers on them...

basically i'm lost and looking for advice on how to grow this. I read somewhere that you have to trip them and not let them grow to big, so a few weeks ago i trimmed all stalks down to nothing and left one which has a bunch of flowers on it. but it also cannot support it's own weight and it leaning sideways.

any advice would be great. LOL. Should i start over ?

 

linguica

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Sep 8, 2012

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Centeral Coast California

• Feb 1, 2013

• #2

When growing from seed, it is allowed to grow freely for 2 years. When starting from year old root stalk (preferred) it's allowed to grow the first year without harvesting. Third year; harvest only for the first few weeks, then allow to grow. The idea is to allow the roots to strengthen. Each year top off soil with an inch or two of rich soil and chicken manure till eventually the roots are 12 inches deep. Forth year; normal harvest (February till April) then allow to grow freely.

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/2564/how-to-grow-asparagus/page/all

 

daveomak

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Nov 12, 2010

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Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Feb 1, 2013

• #3

Doug..... Letting it grow for 1 full season, 2 is better.....  Harvest a few stems the 2nd season...  Female plants do not produce meaty stalks... flowering stalks only....   You can let them flower and the seeds will start new plants if the birds don't get to them...  Cut the stalks below the ground when harvesting being careful to not injure new shoots that are emerging......  Dave

 

kathrynn

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Jun 13, 2012

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Madison, AL

• Feb 1, 2013

• #4

Doug....not busy at work today...so I have been looking for you some information.  This is the only "good info" place I can find.  I know we are not supposed to link off site...but here is the site I found. http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-asparagus/

Hope that helps somewhat!

Kat

 

dougmays

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Nov 18, 2010

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Gainesville, FL

• Feb 1, 2013

• #5

thanks for all the info everyone!

wow i didnt know the time and space investment i needed. i planted this with my peppers. So maybe i need to dig this up and start fresh in a bed all or half designated for asparagus.

so for the first year no trimming at all? let it grow free and trim back after a year? and repeat till year 3/4?

 

kathrynn

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Jun 13, 2012

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Madison, AL

• Feb 1, 2013

• #6

Linguica said:

When growing from seed, it is allowed to grow freely for 2 years. When starting from year old root stalk (preferred) it's allowed to grow the first year without harvesting. Third year; harvest only for the first few weeks, then allow to grow. The idea is to allow the roots to strengthen. Each year top off soil with an inch or two of rich soil and chicken manure till eventually the roots are 12 inches deep. Forth year; normal harvest (February till April) then allow to grow freely.

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/2564/how-to-grow-asparagus/page/all

Click to expand...

Oooo....been reading all things on this site!  Thank you for posting it!  Bookmarked!

 

fpnmf

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

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Jul 19, 2010

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Fl

• Feb 1, 2013

• #7

Hey Doug!!

 I decided I would try a veggie garden this year and have zero experience in that area.. 

I got this book off amazon ..close to 500 pages of great info for 14 bucks..


Got my compost heaps are rocking now..

  Craig

 

Last edited: Feb 1, 2013

linguica

Master of the Pit

Sep 8, 2012

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Centeral Coast California

• Feb 1, 2013

• #8

I have a little 4' by 4' asparagus patch and it just sent up it's first two spears. It's 50% Jersery Giant and 50% Martha Washington. The SF Bay delta (30 miles south of me) grows the finest 'grass in the USA. It grows up to 1 1/2" wide and is perfectly tender.

Dougmays, If your plot of peppers and grass is already planted I would just let it stay for this season. Then when the first year old roots become available to you, add them to your plot and                  have a  dedicated asparagus plot.

 

Last edited: Feb 1, 2013

dirtsailor2003

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Oct 4, 2012

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Bend Oregon

• Mar 4, 2013

• #9

We have a 20+ year 2,x8, of patch of Asparagus. There is also garlic mixed in there too. I haven't looked yet, but we usually start seeing some pop up towards the end of March, and will harvest into June/July. We always let some go to seed. I lost count last year but we ate a ton of asparagus!