Gardening
with aspargus
Asparagus epitomises all that is wonderful
about eating vegetables in season with the
first bunches arriving in spring.
It's not hard to grow yourself. It is a true
perennial and your bed will be with you for
life – well about 20 years anyway.
Preparing the
beds.
These need to be carefully prepared due
to their long life.
Select a sunny site and make sure all persistent
weeds are removed. Make a long, narrow bed
so that both sides can be easily reached for
picking. Ideally the bed should be dug to
a depth of 60cm and it is a good idea to raise
it at least 10cm above the surrounding ground
to ensure good drainage. Mix the soil with
heaps of rich compost and manure and a good
dressing of blood and bone.
Planting
July is the best time to plant.
Plant the crowns 40cm apart, in rows 60-80cm
apart, spreading the roots out star fashion.
Cover with 6-8cm of compost.
Manure, mulch and water are the secrets
to growing great asparagus.
Feeding
Apply Bulb Food in early autumn, 60g per
square metre. Feed the plants with blood and
bone every two to three weeks, and in spring
a boost of Sulphate of Ammonia – 60g
per square metre, will further boost production.
Mulch the bed to keep it moist and to blanch
the emerging stems, making them more tender
and less bitter.
Harvesting
In the first year cut spears for 2 weeks
only, and then allow the plants to go to fern.
Each year the cutting period can be extended
until the plants are fully established, about
four to five years, at which time the spears
can by cut for up to eight weeks usually ceasing
in early December when plants are allowed
to run to fern. Remove all the fern in autumn
when it has completely yellowed off.
Plants to buy
Every year we have crowns of asparagus available
for planting time in July. An outstanding
American raised variety (Jersey Giant) became
available with 3-4 times more production per
plant than the usual. Each pack contains normally
5 crowns.
