- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,660
Does anyone have any experience with raising asparagus? I have tried to grow it, but with no luck yet.
I found this article about raising asparagus from seed and wanted to share it. I think I am going to try to raise asparagus, again! http://thehopefulhome.blogspot.com/2014/04/growing-asparagus-from-seed.html
Growing Asparagus from Seed
If you have ever taken a look at prices for asparagus crowns, you've probably noticed that they don't come cheap. The Jersey Giant variety that I priced this winter ran nearly $33, plus shipping, for 25 crowns. The seed, just over $4 for 20.
As my list for all the basic and new varieties of vegetables that I wanted to try grew, along with the price tag, those asparagus crowns were looking more and more like a luxury! So, given the huge price difference, I thought, why not give the seed a try? I'm always game for trying something new, and I thought ya all might want to join me on my adventure. So, here goes!
Here's what my first couple of months Growing Asparagus from Seed looked like.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BkuyEsUi1...E/s1600/watermarked-Sheep+Spring+Lamb+021.jpg
At the end of January, I collected several saved 2-piece plastic containers from our local bakery.
Lined up peat pots inside. (Seven per box ended up working best.)
Filled each pot with sterile soil.
Planted one seed per pot and covered with about 1/4 in. of soil.
Dampened soil with a mister, put the lid in place, and set the containers on top of the fridge.
I kept the soil damp and here's what my baby asparagus looked like 29 days later.
And, these gangly things are 72 days old and have been treated to liquid fertilizer.
This deep dug, amended bed was prepared 2-3 weeks before transplanting.
The two trenches are about 15 inches apart.
Once the weather warmed, about the middle of April, I dug down even further, added fertilizer, and set the pots about 10-12 inches apart.
We found amending and mixing soil in this cart a big help and we were able to store the extra soil out of the way until needed at the time of transplant.
Once the my miniature asparagus were in place, I carefully filled in around each plant, coming up the stem a ways. They were fine and fragile, so this took some doing and was probably the hardest part of the process.
As the plants grow, I will continue to add more soil. For now, I'll keep the bed watered and maintained.
My seed catalog says to expect a moderate harvest at 2-3 years, but I'll need to add another year for plants begun from seed.
With time and a little effort, this bed should provide us many years of early spring veggies.
Why not find a little spot and try it for yourself?
I found this article about raising asparagus from seed and wanted to share it. I think I am going to try to raise asparagus, again! http://thehopefulhome.blogspot.com/2014/04/growing-asparagus-from-seed.html
Growing Asparagus from Seed
If you have ever taken a look at prices for asparagus crowns, you've probably noticed that they don't come cheap. The Jersey Giant variety that I priced this winter ran nearly $33, plus shipping, for 25 crowns. The seed, just over $4 for 20.
As my list for all the basic and new varieties of vegetables that I wanted to try grew, along with the price tag, those asparagus crowns were looking more and more like a luxury! So, given the huge price difference, I thought, why not give the seed a try? I'm always game for trying something new, and I thought ya all might want to join me on my adventure. So, here goes!
Here's what my first couple of months Growing Asparagus from Seed looked like.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BkuyEsUi1...E/s1600/watermarked-Sheep+Spring+Lamb+021.jpg
At the end of January, I collected several saved 2-piece plastic containers from our local bakery.
Lined up peat pots inside. (Seven per box ended up working best.)
Filled each pot with sterile soil.
Planted one seed per pot and covered with about 1/4 in. of soil.
Dampened soil with a mister, put the lid in place, and set the containers on top of the fridge.
I kept the soil damp and here's what my baby asparagus looked like 29 days later.
And, these gangly things are 72 days old and have been treated to liquid fertilizer.
This deep dug, amended bed was prepared 2-3 weeks before transplanting.
The two trenches are about 15 inches apart.
Once the weather warmed, about the middle of April, I dug down even further, added fertilizer, and set the pots about 10-12 inches apart.
We found amending and mixing soil in this cart a big help and we were able to store the extra soil out of the way until needed at the time of transplant.
Once the my miniature asparagus were in place, I carefully filled in around each plant, coming up the stem a ways. They were fine and fragile, so this took some doing and was probably the hardest part of the process.
As the plants grow, I will continue to add more soil. For now, I'll keep the bed watered and maintained.
My seed catalog says to expect a moderate harvest at 2-3 years, but I'll need to add another year for plants begun from seed.
With time and a little effort, this bed should provide us many years of early spring veggies.
Why not find a little spot and try it for yourself?
