How to Grow Asparagus

Asparagus, scientific name Asparagus officinalis, is widely planted as a spring vegetable in almost all regions. Belonging to the lily family, it is related to other culinary herbs, like onion and garlic. If you have been thinking of incorporating some healthy vegetables in your garden, asparagus is the ideal one. There are several health benefits of asparagus which makes it a preferred choice for healthy eating. Learn how to grow asparagus and you can enjoy this healthy vegetable in fresh form, right from your garden. With feathery, bright green foliage, asparagus plants also increases the ornamental value of the yard.

Growing Asparagus

A native of marine habitat, asparagus can adapt in saline soil conditions, where other common vegetables can hardly grow. And the best part with asparagus plants is that they are flowering perennials, meaning you do not have to replant them every year. Once planted, the same plants will grow luxuriantly for several years, provided that you follow proper asparagus care tips. At maturity, they grow to a height of about 39-60 inches and bear inconspicuous, yellowish-green, tubular flowers. Let's now see how to grow asparagus at home.

Choose Location
For many gardening enthusiasts, where to grow asparagus is a common query. Select a plantation site, where your asparagus plants can grow undisturbed for 8-10 years. Of course, you can uproot and replant them in future, if required to do so. Preferably, the selected site should receive full sunlight for healthy growth of asparagus. Otherwise, you can also plant them in partial shaded areas.

Soil Condition
As with any plants in your vegetable garden, asparagus requires specific soil conditions. It adapts well in a near neutral soil pH (ideally between pH 6.5-7). In spring, a few weeks before plantation, prepare soil by mixing organic compost to garden soil. Supplementation of compost is beneficial for providing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to newly planted asparagus.

Vegetable or Container Garden
Another frequently asked query concerning growing asparagus is whether to plant it in a vegetable garden or pots. Container gardening this spring vegetable is not advisable, because of the adventitious root system. If you do not have spare land for growing system, then select a large container (12 feet across and 5 feet deep) to support the spreading, shallow root system.

Propagation Mode
Asparagus plants can be propagated by means of seeds and crowns. The latter is preferable for home growing, as the crowns that come with root system get established to soil very easily. You can definitely grow asparagus from seed, but it will take longer time for germination. So, it is best to buy healthy crowns with dormant tops from your local nursery centers.

Planting Asparagus
Coming to the planting part, make a 6-7 inch deep hole in the soil. To this furrow, add small amounts of bone meal and wood ashes. Then, place an asparagus crown and cover it lightly with soil. Repeat this for the remaining asparagus plantlets, maintaining a space of about 12-16 inches between two plants. Moderately water the asparagus plants and wait for sprouting of shoots.

Irrigation and Fertilization
In order to promote healthy growth and development of asparagus shoots, provide 1-2 inch water on a weekly basis. You can reduce irrigation frequency, once the plants get established to the soil. In that time, you can water them, once in a week or so. As far as fertilizer application is concerned, add a dose of balanced fertilizer (preferably organic) in summer and a dose of organic mulch in fall.

Mulching and Weeding
In order to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth, mulching the garden bed is a useful approach. You can use dried leaves and chopped straw for the mulch layer. If required, follow the steps for conventional weed control, so that your asparagus plants do not compete with the weeds for nutrients.

So, isn't growing asparagus at home super easy? The thumb rule to maintain healthy asparagus plants is to provide growth conditions that are nearly similar to that of their natural habitat. Regarding how long does it take to grow asparagus, it will take 2 years for harvesting edible asparagus spears from the time of planting crowns. And if you are using seeds, you can start harvesting a few spears from the third year of planting asparagus.