Asparagus is one of my favourite vegetables to eat — but it takes a lot of patience to grow it. It will be about three years before you harvest your first asparagus crop and for some gardeners that is a long wait. The good news, an asparagus plant that is established can last more than 20 years with very little effort or maintenance. Score!
Another reason to grow your own asparagus — these little stems of goodness are getting more expensive at the grocers because they are so popular. My family eats at least one bunch per week, which equals almost $300 a year.
The parts of the asparagus that most people eat are the tender shoots that grow out of the roots starting just below the surface. When planting asparagus, these bare-root crowns are planted in early spring and the shoots are harvested in the third growing year.
Growing asparagus from seeds is an option, but crowns (roots with a clump on top on them) are the faster way to go because they are already at least a year or two old.
When you plant the crowns, dig a hole that is about a foot deep and add lots of compost and nutrient-rich soil to the planter or bed because these plants thrive on the good stuff. Put some soil on top of the manure and place the roots in the hole so that the crown is one inch below the surface. Add more compost and lots of loose mulch. Plant your asparagus about two feet apart to allow lots of light and airflow around established groups.
For the first two years, asparagus will send up tall fern-like shoots that often have red berries on them. You might want to stake them but leave these shoots alone as they will help grow bigger roots under the soil. They can be removed once they start to yellow in late fall. Be prepared to have massive fronds. Some breeds of asparagus, like Jersey Giant, can send up fronds that are seven feet tall and can create a thick shade on any other vegetables growing near them.
In the third year, use a sharp knife or your pruners to cleanly cut off the spears at ground level. These shoots can be eaten right away but if you are planning to store them, make sure the bottoms are submerged in water and they are stored in the fridge.
You can only harvest asparagus for about six weeks before you need to stop and let the plant send up the fern shoots again so that it can feed itself for the rest of the summer.
For the condo dwellers, asparagus can do well in an insulated planter. Just make sure that the pot is at least 28 inches deep and 36 inches wide (think bottom of a whiskey barrel).
Beware though, asparagus is a favourite food of several insects including the asparagus beetle. Plant herbs that have a strong scent like basil, parsley and dill around your asparagus crowns to fool the bugs.
