“How to plant and grow Asparagus”
ASPARAGUS, one of the most delicious of all vegetables, is doubly prized because it can be had so early in the season.
From old, well established plantings, it can be cut for at least two months, or until other vegetables come in to take its place. Asparagus is a plant anyone can grow, and it will grow almost anywhere.
Even though asparagus is a plant that will grow in almost any soil, this does not mean asparagus will take care of itself. True, it will live on and on, and I do not know if it would ever die out, though utterly neglected, but, in order to get a fine harvest, it is necessary that the plant should be maintained and taking care of like any other vegetable in your garden.
There is no vegetable that you grow that will better repay good treatment. Asparagus seems to do best in rather sandy soils, but, it has been said, it will grow in all gardens, and do well if thoroughly manured, without much regard to the nature of the soil.
Heavy soils can be improved by working sand into them, until they take on a friable quality. Plenty of food is the secret of successful culture, with the beginner backyard gardener.
Asparagus can be grown from seed, or from roots, which nurseries, garden shops or mail order catalogs furnish in one, two, and three year old sizes. I would advise planting roots, as you will get plants of cutting size a year or two sooner than you will from seedlings, and they will require less attention.
Two year old roots are best. Conover’s Colossal is one of the standard varieties for planting in the north. The Mammoth is very fine flavored, tender, and prolific. There are several other kinds listed in the catalogs, but there is very little difference between them. Most kinds are good. There is not much difference in quality as there is in the size.
As a general rule of thumb, the larger type of asparagus are coarser than those of medium habit, but good cultivation will make almost any kind tender and fine flavored.
Plant the roots in rows four feet apart, and two and a half feet apart in the row. The crowns of the plants should be at least six inches below the surface. In order to get them deep enough, dig trenches to receive them, allowing for extra depth required for the roots.
Shallow planting is never satisfactory. Make the soil very rich by working into it liberal quantities of well decomposed manure. Cow manure is better than anything else, in the line of fertilizers.
Keep the ground free from weeds. Cover the rows of asparagus with coarse manure in the fall. In spring, fork this covering well into the soil, and add more manure. Keep the ground around the asparagus plants well cultivated throughout the season. If the growth is strong, some may be cut the second season.
You will find that a bed of asparagus will be one of the most appreciable features of the home garden and, it will remain good for a life time, growing better with age if the soil is thoroughly enriched each year, and weeds and grass are prevented from crowding it.
Whatever manure you use it should be well worked into the soil on each side of the row not simply spread on the surface. Get it down where the roots can get at it.
Happy Gardening!
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