A well-managed asparagus mattress ought to stay productive for 20 years or longer, and subsequently it pays to decide on your spot rigorously and put together the bottom nicely earlier than planting. We requested skilled allotment grower, Lee Senior, for his high recommendations on rising this scrumptious vegetable. Right here’s his tried and examined recommendation.
Browse our full vary of asparagus crowns for inspiration.
This text was reviewed by the Suttons horticultural staff and up to date on 26 March 2024.
Selecting one of the best asparagus selection to develop
Most of us will solely have house in our gardens or allotments for one or two types of asparagus on the most. It’s subsequently wise to decide on one of the best selection for our wants, particularly provided that asparagus crops can last as long as 20 years! If you wish to unfold the cropping interval, maybe mix an earlier and a later selection to increase the season. Early varieties begin cropping in April whereas late varieties are at their finest in June.
I at all times selected male types of asparagus as, curiously, they have a tendency to supply greater yields. Male varieties don’t produce berries and subsequently the crops’ vitality is channelled into spear manufacturing. Feminine varieties are inclined to have barely thinner spears as a few of their vitality is used to supply seeds.
Asparagus could be grown from dormant one yr outdated crowns (bought naked rooted) or from seed. I’ve had success with each, however I need to admit I discover rising them from seed a bit of extra enjoyable!
The advantages of asparagus crowns
If rising from crowns is your most well-liked technique, you’ll discover that you’ve got a far better selection. The all-male selection ‘Gijnlim’ produces early crops of excessive yielding, deliciously-flavoured spears. In the meantime, one other male selection ‘Backlim’ produces thick inexperienced and white colored spears. This RHS Award of Backyard Advantage winner is common with business growers. The foliage is compact and dies again naturally in early autumn.
For a barely later season harvest, the male selection, ‘Guelph Millennium’ is right. It was bred in Canada and thus tolerates colder circumstances than different varieties, making it appropriate for the north of England. Lastly, for one thing a bit of totally different, I notably like the range ‘Pacific Purple’ with its sweeter tasting purple spears that are white if the crops are earthed up. The spears are stringless compared with different varieties. If you wish to retain the purple color, it’s higher to steam or eat the spears uncooked.
For a superb vary of various varieties the Suttons Continuity Assortment gives crowns of three totally different all-male varieties that can crop from April by to mid-June.
Your choice on whether or not to purchase crowns or develop from seed will largely be primarily based on how a lot you wish to pay and in addition how a lot time and greenhouse house you’ve accessible. Why not strive each and examine?
Rising asparagus from seeds
A dependable asparagus selection to begin from seed is ‘F1 Ariane’. The seeds germinate pretty simply, if a bit of slowly. A really gentle crop is feasible within the second yr however the spears will probably be thicker from yr 3 onwards. Right here’s learn how to sow asparagus seeds:
- Sow asparagus seed in a tray of multi-purpose or seed compost at temperatures of 18-20C.
- Sow in late winter in a propagator or use a heat windowsill for an early begin.
- A chilly greenhouse is right for an April or Might sowing.
- Though hardy, it’s a good suggestion to guard the seeds from extreme frosts, utilizing fleece for the primary weeks.
- Skinny out when massive sufficient to deal with and transplant into larger pots when the seedlings turn out to be pot certain.
- The primary factor to concentrate on is the flimsiness of the younger seedlings. They may also be gradual to develop within the early levels, but when given warmth from the warming solar, they’ll steadily begin to develop.
- Develop on in pots and plant out in spring of yr 2.
The place to develop asparagus
Select an open, sunny spot by which to develop asparagus, however keep away from very uncovered positions and frost pockets. It’ll develop in most deep, well-drained and fairly fertile soils, however a barely alkaline soil is preferable (with a pH worth of 6.5 to 7.5.) This may be simply checked utilizing a soil take a look at equipment or pH meter. Don’t plant a brand new asparagus mattress the place a crop has been grown beforehand.
As soon as established, your asparagus mattress ought to stay productive for a number of many years. Due to this, it actually pays to consider the place you need to develop your spears. I at all times give the situation loads of thought as established asparagus crops don’t transplant very nicely.
Learn how to put together an asparagus mattress
Picture: Shutterstock
When you’ve chosen the situation in your new asparagus mattress, put together the soil prematurely in order to permit the bottom to settle. Dig in loads of well-rotted natural matter and make it possible for the soil is well-draining.
- Dig the soil to a spade’s depth, forking the soil layer beneath.
- Take away all traces of perennial weeds.
- Incorporate a superb dressing of well-rotted manure or backyard compost into the highest 25-30cm (10-12”).
When to plant asparagus
The very best time to plant out new crowns is in April or early Might. It will give the crops the best likelihood of creating because the soil warms up. Seed grown crops also needs to be planted out in April or early Might of their second yr (12-15 months from sowing).
Keep away from planting out any new crowns or crops throughout the summer time months as the chance of the crops drying out is just too nice.
In my expertise, it’s additionally higher to keep away from planting out in Autumn as there isn’t sufficient time for a robust root system to get established earlier than the onset of winter. The younger crops are subsequently prone to rot.
Learn how to plant asparagus
Plant your asparagus crowns as quickly as attainable after receipt however not if the soil could be very moist or frosted. Deal with the crowns rigorously to keep away from harm and don’t allow them to dry out. If you happen to can’t plant them immediately, place the crowns in a field or seed tray, encompass the roots with moist peat and maintain them someplace cool and light-weight. Right here’s learn how to plant them out:
- Place the crowns 40-45cm (15-18”) aside with 1.2m (4ft) between rows.
- Lay the crowns on a mound or curved ridge roughly 10-15cm (4-6”) excessive.
- Unfold the roots over the ridge and flippantly cowl with tremendous soil or well-rotted backyard compost. Additional skinny layers of soil could be added because the crops develop, to forestall the roots drying out.
- If the crowns are positioned too shut collectively the spears are more likely to be thinner as a result of additional
- competitors for vitamins and moisture.
- After planting, apply a long-lasting top-dressing of blood, fish and bone, hoeing it in gently.
- Don’t harvest any asparagus within the first yr of planting. Throughout this era the crowns are build up in dimension with a view to produce heavy crops thereafter.
- A most of 1 or two spears could be harvested from every plant within the second yr in the event that they’re rising strongly. Nevertheless, it’s important that the remaining ought to be left on the plant to develop and mature into ferns. It will strengthen and construct up the crown for future years.
- The primary significant crop ought to be taken within the third yr (that’s, two years after planting).
Learn how to take care of asparagus
Picture: Shutterstock
Asparagus is comparatively straightforward to take care of, and this perennial vegetable returns yr after yr with just a bit TLC. Right here’s learn how to take care of it:
- As soon as your asparagus is planted, maintain the beds free from weeds by hand weeding or shallow hoeing – however keep away from disturbing the roots which could be simply broken.
- Pay specific consideration to watering in dry spells throughout the crops’ first season. It’s crucial that the younger crops don’t dry out or they’ll wither and die. Even as soon as your crowns get nicely established you need to keep away from letting them dry out for any size of time, as cropping will probably be impaired.
- As younger spears start to push up by the soil, they are going to be weak to slugs. In case you have heavy soil, or the land is moist when the spears begin to emerge, some slug safety is crucial to keep away from the crop being decimated.
- As soon as the spears have peaked, the crops ship up lengthy ‘ferns’. These are liable to be blown over within the wind in uncovered areas. The best way to fight that is to offer help with canes and cord, both individually per plant, or across the perimeter of the asparagus mattress.
- In autumn, when the ferns flip yellow, lower them all the way down to inside 3 cm (1”) of the bottom for the winter.
- If you happen to’re rising an all male mattress like me, search for any rogue feminine crops earlier than you chop the foliage again. You’ll have the ability to spot them as they produce small spherical berries on the ferns. Take away these crops, because the yield will probably be lower than with the male varieties.
- Defend your crowns with a skinny layer of nicely rotted leaf mould or backyard compost both in late autumn or early spring.
How and when to reap asparagus
Relying on the season, you possibly can normally begin to lower spears from round mid April and proceed till round Father’s Day in mid-June. At all times cease harvesting in mid-June, and go away the crowns to develop and construct up reserves for the following season. Overcropping can result in abnormally skinny spears.
Harvest the spears when they’re 12-18cm (5-7”) above the bottom, chopping them 3cm (1”) or so beneath the soil floor with a pointy knife. A particular Asparagus knife can be utilized although I’ve been identified to make use of scissors or secateurs efficiently at instances in desperation!
Take care to keep away from damaging different creating shoots. That is simply performed, and on quite a few events I’ve inadvertently destroyed an adjoining spear to the one I’m chopping, an actual bittersweet second.
We hope we’ve impressed you to begin your individual asparagus mattress. Costly to purchase within the grocery store, this luxurious perennial vegetable tastes infinitely higher when picked and eaten on the identical day from your individual backyard! Discover extra of Lee’s sensible, hands-on, vegetable rising recommendation over at his month-to-month allotment pages.
Lead picture: Asparagus officinalis ‘Mondeo’ from Suttons
