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Re: Help with Asparagus

Michael D. Cook wrote:
> 
> Hi, everybody.  I planted 10 crowns of Asparagus Jersey Knight last year.
> These were supposed to be two-year roots, so I would be able to take a
> light cutting this spring.  Well, the spears are up, but not very many -
> mostly one per crown; those with more than one stalk have a larger (but nor
> large) stalk and one or two more stalks that are maybe 1/8" in diameter.
> The stalks are all deep purple in color, with lighter scales; there is no
> green whatsoever, though the tiny stalks of last season were green.  So
> here're the questions:
> 
> Can I pick any of these stalks or should I wait another year?
> 
> Why the purple?  Did they send me the correct variety?  Or is there perhaps a
> nutrient deficiency?
> 
> If there is a problem with nutrients, how do I correct it?  Soil is light
> clay loam, formerly lawn then planted with cabbages for a couple of years.
> I mulched over winter with leaves.
> 
> Why would only 6 of the 10 crowns sprout?  Last year all sprouted.
> 
> Thanks for any help you can give me.
> 
> Sheila Smith
> mikecook@pipeline.com
> Z 5/6


If you planted 2 yr crowns early last spring and they grew well (lots of
ferns) last summer, you should be able to cut them clean (take all the
spears) for about 2-4 weeks this spring.  You should not take any after
about Memorial day.  As the soil warms up they will produce more
heavily.

Young plants (or newly transplanted of any age) send up smaller shoots. 
Also, heavily mulched crowns make fatter spears than those with only a
thin layer over them.  I try to keep 4" of mulch on mine.  I use
hardwood chips or horse manure/sawdust.  I start picking in late April
and we have asparagus until we are essentially sick of it... sometime
around mid-June.

Steve  (Maritime...)
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