Unlike many other vegetables, asparagus plants are perennials, meaning they return to your garden each year. The spears we harvest as a vegetable are the fresh shoots that appear in spring.
A critical aspect of growing asparagus is understanding that it typically takes a couple of years before you can enjoy the first harvest of homegrown asparagus.
Growing asparagus represents an investment in your culinary future. Unlike the majority of vegetables, asparagus plants are perennial, meaning they persist in your garden year after year.
The spears we savor as a vegetable are the fresh shoots that emerge during the spring season. A crucial aspect of cultivating asparagus is recognizing that it typically requires a couple of seasons before you can indulge in the first taste of homegrown asparagus.
Plants must be given time to mature before harvesting becomes viable. They will occupy the same spot in your garden for many years 15, 20, sometimes even 30. In fact, a productive asparagus bed may provide a compelling reason to renovate your house rather than relocate!
Quick Guide to Growing Asparagus
Site Selection:
Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil for planting your asparagus bed. Asparagus prefers soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
Planting:
Asparagus is typically grown from crowns or seeds. Plant crowns in trenches about 8-10 inches deep, spaced 12-18 inches apart, and cover them with soil. If starting from seeds, sow them indoors early in the spring and transplant seedlings outdoors once they are established.
Care:
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first year of growth. Mulch around the plants to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
Fertilization:
Asparagus is a heavy feeder and benefits from regular fertilization. Apply a balanced fertilizer in the spring and early summer, following package instructions.
Fertilizing is an excellent way to replenish the natural nutrients in your plant’s soil. For asparagus, have your soil tested to determine phosphorus and potassium needs. There are several good options of fertilizers for asparagus, this includes manure, compost, and blood meal.
Any fertilizer for asparagus needs to have good levels of nitrogen, to promote vegetative growth, and phosphorus, for root development. Blood meal is high in nitrogen, while manure and compost provide a balanced source of nutrients that release their goodness slowly over time.
Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield, recommends fertilizing asparagus when the plants are actively growing, saying: ‘The best fertilizer for asparagus is an organic, slow-release balanced fertilizer with a ratio of 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 or 8-8-8.
‘This will provide the ferns with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the correct proportions needed for optimal growth. A well-fertilized asparagus bed will produce tender, flavorful stalks year after year.’ A good example of the ideal fertilizer is the Expert Gardener All Purpose Plant Fertilizer from Walmart.
The first 3 years in spring, apply a well-balanced fertilizer. Starting the fourth year, delay application until June or July (immediately after harvest). This approach encourages vigorous growth of the “fern,” which produces and stores nutrients in the roots for next year’s production season.
Harvesting:
Asparagus is typically harvested in the second or third year after planting. Begin harvesting spears when they are 6-8 inches tall by snapping or cutting them at ground level. Stop harvesting in late spring to allow the remaining spears to develop into fern-like foliage, which will replenish the plant's energy for next year's growth.
Maintenance:
Asparagus beds can last for many years with proper care. Keep the area weed-free, and cut back the fern-like foliage in the fall after it has turned brown. Divide overcrowded crowns every few years to maintain plant vigor.
By following these steps, you can successfully grow your own delicious asparagus at home.
Troubleshooting
Bent spears are caused by insects feeding or damage from cutting adjacent stalks. The damaged stalk grows normally on the side away from the wound, causing the spear to bend.
A well-drained bed will have minimal disease problems.
Black and red asparagus beetles can be a challenge, damaging the foliage and weakening the roots. Usually, you can control them with hand picking. Just drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
Harvest and Storage
Once asparagus plants reach sufficient strength for harvesting, harvest all new shoots in spring when they reach a height of approximately 8 inches, snapping them off at ground level. While some experienced gardeners opt to use a knife to cut below the soil line, it's crucial to exercise caution to avoid inadvertently damaging emerging spears nearby. Additionally, using a knife can potentially spread disease from one plant to another.
Remember, if the spear has begun opening and developing foliage, it will be too tough to eat. To avoid this happening, plan to harvest at least every other day. Go ahead and pick all the spears each time you harvest. Discard those that have grown too large.
The length of your harvesting period will vary depending on the vitality of your plants. For young plants, the fresh asparagus season may span a few weeks.
However, well-established plants have the potential to yield for much longer, up to 8 weeks or more. A traditional guideline is to continue harvesting until the spear diameter diminishes to the size of a pencil. At this point, it's advisable to cease harvesting, allowing the plants to focus on growth and gain strength for the following spring.
Cook cut spears immediately or refrigerate in plastic to raise the humidity and prevent tough fibers from forming at the base of the spear. These fibers form as a result of the injury of cutting. That's why spears from the grocery store or from the refrigerator should always be trimmed to remove any tough tissue before cooking.
Fresh asparagus spears can be stored a week or more. If you want to put some aside to enjoy in the months to come, blanch them in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes, douse in cold water, wrap, and freeze.
Cut back the 4 to 6-foot tall foliage, or the ferns as they are called, after frost has turned them brown. This is a good time to control weeds because the asparagus are dormant. Keeping the bed weed-free is important to avoid competition with your asparagus plants. Because the soil is so rich, invaders can take hold quickly.
Can asparagus grow in Philippines?
Asparagus can be grown in the Philippines, but it may require specific growing conditions and care to thrive in the local climate. Asparagus is typically a cool-season crop and prefers well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight.
However, with proper soil preparation, irrigation, and attention to temperature and humidity levels, it is possible to cultivate asparagus in suitable regions of the Philippines.
It's important to select appropriate asparagus varieties that are well-suited to the local climate and growing conditions. Additionally, providing shade or using mulch to retain soil moisture can help mitigate the effects of the tropical climate on asparagus plants.
While asparagus may not be as commonly grown in the Philippines as in some other regions, with careful planning and management, it is possible to cultivate this nutritious and flavorful vegetable in Filipino gardens and farms.
What happens if you don't cut asparagus
If you don't cut asparagus, the spears will continue to grow and eventually mature into tall, fern-like foliage. These ferns serve an important role in the asparagus plant's lifecycle by photosynthesizing and replenishing the plant's energy reserves for future growth and production.
However, if the spears are not harvested, the plant may divert more energy into producing seeds rather than developing a strong root system. This can result in weaker plants and reduced yields in subsequent years.
Additionally, allowing the spears to mature into ferns can lead to overcrowding in the asparagus bed, which may result in smaller and less vigorous plants over time. It's generally recommended to harvest asparagus spears when they reach the appropriate size (usually 6-10 inches tall) to encourage continued production and maintain plant health.
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