Asparagus

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MVCLD 8 May 2015 Asparagus
The first Asparagus (Guelph Millennium) was harvested today. Two pounds were obtained. The bed was created about five years ago and consists of about ten plants. The stalks need be cut about every other day.

 

[Beth_B]

Beautiful!

I planted asparagus for the first time last year and am delighted that all plants are sending up spears this spring. Did you do raised beds? And do you have any tips for weed control? I did not do a raised bed (in retrospect I wish I had) and creeping charlie is the bane of my gardening life!

 

[Durgan]

I put a bit of effort in making the bed, meaning I dug down about a foot and put some sand in and compost into the bed. For weed control I get on my knees and dig all the weeds as required. I didn't harvest any spikes the first two years. Compost is added each yer as a top dressing. The area chosen has good drainage hence bed is at ground level.

 

[LIcenter]

Very nice Durgan!
I lost all mine two years ago, by what I'm guessing was some underground varmints. seemed very strange that not one stalk came up, so I did a little digging only to find small tunnels going everywhere. If I ever decide to plant them again, I think I'll go the raised bed route, so I can add a little protection against those wily critters.

 

[claudine]

That's great!
Today, I cooked and ate the first asparagus this year. It's such a delicious vegetable, I honestly can't imagine anything better than it. I prefer it to chocolate, I'm not joking

 

[Kansas Terri]

My asparagus is ALSO producing! I have eaten it at two meals, and I have frozen a pound of it for later!

I love asparagus season.

I am wanting more plants than I have, and so I will plant some Martha Washington asparagus next spring. Martha Washington is a very old variety but it spreads more quickly than the modern hybrids do, and asparagus does freeze well. I have not decided if I should plant seeds to grow my own roots or just order roots next spring, but it would be a lo easier to just order roots for next spring.

 

[delicious_tacos]

I planted asparagus for the first time this year, after saying I would do it for the past ten. So glad I finally did.

I bought 1 yr old Purple Passion roots from Nourse Farms in Whately, MA. It's hard enough having to wait a year for the first harvest - I don't know if I could wait for two growing from seed.

 

[Kansas Terri]

I bought 1 yr old Purple Passion roots from Nourse Farms in Whately, MA. It's hard enough having to wait a year for the first harvest - I don't know if I could wait for two growing from seed.

Yes, that is
ANOTHER good reason to start with bought roots!

 

[Beth_B]

I planted asparagus for the first time this year, after saying I would do it for the past ten. So glad I finally did.

I bought 1 yr old Purple Passion roots from Nourse Farms in Whately, MA. It's hard enough having to wait a year for the first harvest - I don't know if I could wait for two growing from seed.

I couldn't find it locally except for the crowns last year so I guess I'm waiting until next year to harvest.

I planted Martha Washington (2/3 of the bed) and the hybrid Jersey Giant in the rest. So 12 of the MW and 6 of the JG. The Martha Washingtons are the ones that are going absolutely nuts and doubling in size every day, no joke.

Durgan, I also spent a lot of time digging out the main bed deep and sifting the soil, although I didn't add sand. And I am spending a little time on my knees weeding every day...guess I'll be doing that until the end of the growing season!

Several days ago while walking dogs I found a stand of wild asparagus that apparently nobody else knows about. Tee hee. I'm going to harvest it carefully and hope nobody else finds it!

 

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WDXSC 10 May 2015 Asparagus Second cutting
1.25 pounds.

 

[pixie N.C.]

That's great!
Today, I cooked and ate the first asparagus this year. It's such a delicious vegetable, I honestly can't imagine anything better than it. I prefer it to chocolate, I'm not joking

Ain't that the truth
A little olive oil and a hot grill

 

[Rosyrain]

Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies and you should be proud of your crop, they look big and healthy. My favorite way to prepare asparagus is to sauté it in butter until it is nice and brown and crispy. I love the sprouts on top to be very crunchy when I eat them.

 

[Durgan]

My aim is to weigh each cutting to determine the quantity produced from the 4 by 7 foot bed. And about ten roots planted.

 

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?IOIDN 11 May 2015 Asparagus
Third cutting. One pound.

 

[Rosyrain]

One pound of asparagus came from a 4 by 7 foot bed? I have never tried to grow it, is that a lot for that size plot? I go through about a pound per week, so I might need a huge bed to grow it?