I dug up and replanted my asparagus. I wanted to make sure its done right. I am very glad of the comments from my previous post suggesting that I didn't really plant it right.
Here's a fantastic asparagus planting video that Soilman made this year. It has lots of information and great video, so I won't go into it. Just check out the video. I didn't use compost for the center mound as he does, since I had already mixed lots into the soil bed, but this sounds like a great method.
asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
9 comments:
Thank you so much for posting these pix! I had just planted asparagus two days ago and was almost positive I had not done it right. I just went out there and re-did them now. HAHAHA Poor little things.
For what its worth... I just read asparagus planting instructions from the Ohio Extension that say to dig a shallow trench, "toss the roots in," and refill the trench (but not to tamp it down). It said it really isn't necessary to spread the roots or to gradually backfill the way many planting instructions tell you to. I plan to try it their way, if it ever stops raining here. However, their directions also say to put superphosphate or triple superphosphate in the hole, while that would be a big no-no here because we are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are suppose apply only as much phosphorus as is really needed.
I've already got some early spears shooting up in my bed. Are you supposed to hill soil up on them like with potatoes?
Great pix and info!
Thanks for sharing!
I don't know Michaeldg. I'll have to look that up.
Re: 'hilling' I think that's only the first year, if you plant the roots in a deep trench. As they sprout you gradually fill in until regular ground level is reached. From then on it is just the usual 'add compost/soil amendments' yearly, whatever you usually do with perennial vegs.
Thank you for posting this. I have planted asparagus every year now and I have planted it wrong every year. I am going to try your method this time and hopefully get a better crop! (in 3 years of course)
Michaeldg; Hi
Purists say you should gradually add a little more soil on top as the asparagus spears grow. My method is simply to heap a load of manure on top of the asparagus bed every autumn (Fall) after I cut down the old fronds. This keeps down weeds, fertilises the bed and encourages the spears to grow through the new layer of manure in Spring, giving them more anchorage in the soil because they're deeper.
Works for me!
oh no! I planted mine upside down today!!! thank you for showing pics, i guess i should go back outside and fix them!!! thanks!
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