Learn how to grow asparagus

Asparagus is the king of vegetables in my mind. It is easy to learn how to grow Asparagus, although the crop takes 2 years to be established it will remain productive for 10-15 years.

You too can be harvesting fresh tasty shoots; home produced Asparagus leaves shop bought in the cold.

Imagine cutting your own Asparagus, steaming and eating with butter in minutes
- mmm!

Rotation: fixed bed

Soil preparation: Whilst soil type is not important, well drained soil is vital as is the addition of plenty of organic matter.

Planting Asparagus

• Ensure the site is free of perennial weeds the previous season
• Dig trenches 1m apart, 30cm wide and 20 cm deep. Loosen the soil in the bottom of each trench
• Place 1-year old root crowns on 8cm of well loosened soil. Ensure they do not dry out by covering immediately with moist loose soil
• Gradually fill the trench up with alternating layers of compost and crumbly soil back up to surface level over the first growing season as the shoots grow through

Maintenance

• Growing Asparagus is easy although No harvesting should be carried out ideally for two years, although some shoots can be cut in year two if the growth is strong
• Leave the foliage to grow to full height, supporting if necessary against strong winds
• Remove red berries
• Once foliage has died back in autumn - cut off and remove, clearing site of weeds and any fallen red berries
• Top dress plot each autumn with compost
• In spring ridge up the rows and top dress with a general purpose fertilizer

Harvesting: Cutting can start in year three - cut the stems just below the soil with a sharp serrated knife every 1-2 days when they are 10-15cm long, taking care not to cut emerging shoots. Stop cutting in mid June/ early summer and then allow all the ferns to grow to full height to build up reserves for season. Refer to maintenance above.

Eating: Steaming is best, aim for a firm head (not crunchy and not soft). Once cooked the Asparagus can be served with melted butter if you wish and should be eaten straight away.

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