Time to Plant Asparagus!

Asparagus can be started from seed, but in most cases it makes more sense to plant established crowns bought from a reputable nursery since seeds take a year to produce a usable crown. Crowns are planted as early in spring as the ground can be prepared.

To plant crowns, dig a six-to eight-inch-deep trench about a foot wide, and place a shovelful of compost every fifteen to eighteen inches; set out the crowns on these compost mounds with the roots fully spread out (not doubled over).
The side of the crown with the buds (the small lumps from which the spears will grow) should be pointing up and four to six inches below the surface of the bed. *Cover the crowns with a few inches of soil and compost mix, and leave the remainder of the soil from the trench heaped between the rows.
As the first season progresses and the asparagus ferns grow, gradually fill in the trenches until the soil surface is level again.
Avoid covering the foliage at any point, as this will slow fern growth and thus lower future yields.
Water new beds regularly, at least weekly.

Read more: Nature, Lawns & Gardens

Adapted from Straight-Ahead Organic,by Shepherd Ogden. Copyright (c)1992, 1999 by Shepherd Ogden. Reprinted by permission of Chelsea Green Publishing Company.
Adapted from Straight-Ahead Organic, by Shepherd Ogden.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eco M.

6:10AM PST on Mar 3, 2012

Thank you for the sharing this information.

send a green star

3:19PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Great article

Nancy H.

12:22PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Love me some asparagus! :)

Jack T.

12:05PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

I always soght after a method that could odorize my urine while tasting great. My search is over. Thanks.

Lisa J.

8:01AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

I heard that (cooked) asparagus heals cancer ... maybe the strong urine smell is that of the release of toxins along with the powerful asparagus aroma ... LOL

Judith E.

7:59AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Thank you! Asparagus is sooo good!

Nina A.

7:42AM PDT on Jun 29, 2011

thanks for post.

Past Member .

10:24PM PDT on Mar 28, 2011

yum

Neil A.

2:54AM PDT on Mar 26, 2011

Be warned if you eat a lot then your pee will smell strongly but still good for composting etc.

2:49AM PDT on Mar 26, 2011

I was really successful in the UK Midlands but not working well here yet ?? be warned there is a rather attractive asparagus beetle that can diminsh the bed so need to pick off before it layers eggs to give leaf eating grubs.