Growing Asparagus

Asparagus, scientifically termed as Asparagus officinalis, is a flowering plant species that can be grown by seeds as well as their crowns. Growing asparagus in the spring season is recommended, because the plants grown during the period could return every year. However, to get a good harvest, you should provide all the conditions that are necessary for the proper growth of asparagus. If you want to know how to grow the plant in your garden, this article is the right for you. Go through the lines below and check out the instructions for growing asparagus.

How To Grow Asparagus

Choose a location in your garden that is best suited to grow asparagus. The plant usually grows in full sun and needs a lot of moisture.
Buy the crowns of asparagus, from a nursery.
Prepare the soil for planting the asparagus crown.
First, get the soil tested for its nature - whether it is acidic or basic. Soil with a slight acidic nature, with pH count ranging from 6 to 6.7, is preferred for the growth of the plant. In addition, it should be rich in nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus.
Using a shovel, dig the soil, in order to make a 7 inch deep, V-shaped furrow. This is to plant the crowns.
Spread a handful of wood ashes and the same quantity of bone meal in the furrows. Add one-inch layer of compost to it.
Make compost tea and soak the crowns in the brew for about 10 minutes.
After the crowns get soaked, transfer them onto the top of the prepared soil. Plant the crowns with their buds facing up.
Asparagus crowns should be positioned 12 inches apart. Lay them in rows, about four feet apart, and then water them.
Wait until the shoots emerge from the crowns. Fill in the furrows, as you did earlier. While doing this, make sure that you do not put excess compost.
To prevent erosion and retain moisture, you need to cover the soil with a protective layer of organic material, laid over the soil around the crown.
As the plants grow, spread a balanced organic fertilizer along their sides, in the late summer. In the fall, sprinkle organic mulch on the bed of the soil
Water the new plantings once a week. You may water them frequently later on, when there is scanty rainfall.
Harvest the asparagus only during the second season. Make sure that you cut out only a few spears from each plant.

Tips

Asparagus plants should be supplied with fertilizers every spring season, before the stalks grow.
Water the plants generously, just after fertilizing them. They should be watered both before and after the growing season.
Planting marigolds and tomatoes, here and there in the asparagus bed, will prevent different types of weeds from invading it.

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