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Re: Asparagus

At 11:37 PM 10/8/97 -0800, you wrote:
>snipped my original message
>>
>ASPARAGUS IS A RATHER HEAVY FEEDER- LIKES MANURES FORTIFIED WITH A LITTLE
>EXTRA HIGH NITROGEN FERTILIZER.  YOU CAN'T TELL MALE FROM FEMALE BY THE
>FERN.  LATEST RESEARCH DEBUNKS THE MANDATORY WAITING PERIOD TO HARVEST.
>WHEN YOU HAVE SPEARS BIG ENOUGH TO EAT (LARGER THAN A FAT PENCIL) CUT THEM
>AND ENJOY.  THERE WILL BE ENOUGH FUTURE SPEARS TO DEVELOP INTO FERN TO PUT
>ENERGY INTO THE CROWNS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.  I HAVE STARTED PLANTS FROM
>SEEDS IN THE GREENHOUSE IN FEBRUARY, SET THEM OUT AS 6-8" PLANTS IN 3" POTS
>IN JUNE, KEPT THEM WELL WATERED AND FERTILIZED ALL SUMMER AND HAVE HARVESTED
>ENOUGH FOR A FEW BATCHES THE FOLLOWING SPRING.  BE SURE TO SELECT GOOD
>VARIETIES LIKE ONE OF THE JERSEY HYBRIDS, OR UC 157, OR LARAC.  THEY ARE FAR
>SUPERIOR TO THE OLD WASHINGTON TYPES.  Hatc Patch Oregon
>
>
I did get one of the New Jersey varities of asparagus which were only first
year roots.  I got my trench about 16" deep.  After awhile I felt like I was
digging my own grave.  I filled the bottom of the trench with compost.  and
planted the roots. The bed looks really good, nice healthy plants.  It was
so hard not too pick any, so I can't wait until next year.  I planted 25
roots so I should have a fairly decent harvest.  I was planning to put some
more compost on the bed this fall.  

I have had people ask it I mounded my asparagus.  I am assuming that this
composting in the fall is what they are speaking of.  Or if you do not dig a
deep trench to start with, do you end up mounding your soil and compost
around the roots?  What answer am I supposed to be giving to this question?

Thanks for all the  helpfull hints

P.S> What do you do with RHubarb?  I put in a new bed this year so I have
just been letting it grow.
Susan W. Smith
State College, PA 16801
sws2@psu.edu
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