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Early spring (April) is the best time to plant asparagus in Michigan. Asparagus crowns should be planted in shallow trenches after the days have warmed to about 50 degrees. The planting depth depends on the soil type. Asparagus crowns should be planted six inches deep in sandy soils and five inches deep in clay soils.
What month do you plant asparagus?
Plant asparagus in spring or fall in a sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Asparagus takes a few seasons to mature but will reap a harvest for 15 to 30 years, so choose a planting location that will go undisturbed for a long time.
What is the best asparagus to grow in Michigan?
Michigan grows mostly hybrid asparagus, chiefly Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, Jersey Supreme and Jersey Gem out of the Rutgers University breeding program in New Jersey.
What time of year do you plant asparagus roots?
For mild winter climates, asparagus is planted in the fall or early winter. If you’re in a cold winter area, wait until early spring to get them into the garden bed. Asparagus can be planted as one-year-old (sometimes two-year-old) crowns or from seed.
Is it too late to plant asparagus?
Plant asparagus crowns in the early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Many gardeners plant at about the same time as potatoes go in the ground. Asparagus is usually grown from 1-year-old plants called “crowns,” but it can also be grown from seed.
What can you do with asparagus for the first year?
To keep your asparagus bed productive, don’t be greedy. The first year after planting, you can harvest a few spears from each plant. Pick for about two weeks and then stop so the fronds can unfold and begin feeding the root system. Harvest for three weeks the next year, and four to six weeks after that.
Do you plant asparagus in full sun?
Growing Conditions Site – Full sun is ideal. Asparagus needs at least 8 hours of sun per day. Since asparagus is a long-lived perennial, do not plant where trees or tall shrubs might eventually shade the plants or compete for nutrients and water.
Is asparagus in season in Michigan?
The season begins in early May and ends in mid-to-late June. Michigan ranks first in the nation for asparagus production thanks to its unique, sandy loam soil.
When should I start asparagus seeds?
Taking three weeks to germinate and slow to get going, the asparagus seeds should be sown indoors 12 to 14 weeks before the target seedling set-out date, which should be after the danger of frost has passed.
Does asparagus like wet soil?
Asparagus Asparagus is a common garden crop that can tolerate soil that is temporarily wet. You won’t want to keep it totally submerged by any means, but you can get by with planting this perennial vegetable in somewhat damp soil. In fact, you’ll often find asparagus growing wild in ditches.
How many asparagus plants should I plant?
But, if space is not an issue, 10-20 plants per person is a good start. Since asparagus is a perennial crop, site selection is going to be important. It’s not uncommon for asparagus plantings to last for 15+ years. It does best in well-drained soils that are in full sun.
Is asparagus easy to grow?
Not only is it easy to grow and maintain but it’s a perennial crop as well. So with one year of planting, you can set yourself up for years and years of future harvests. In fact, a single planting of asparagus crowns can keep on producing for 20 years or more.
Does asparagus multiply?
When asparagus plants are growing in a sunny site with good drainage, proper irrigation, and adequate nutrients, the plants multiply and become crowded over time. The ability of asparagus plants to multiply means that sharing the bounty is part of the fun of growing this perennial vegetable.
What can you not plant near asparagus?
There are two main crops to avoid growing alongside asparagus: Alliums. Alliums like leeks, garlic, and onion sharing the soil with asparagus are said to stunt its growth. Potatoes. Asparagus, on the other hand, stunts the growth of potatoes when they share the same space.
Can I plant asparagus in summer?
Some people even wait until the end of summer to plant, when the soil is generally drier and easier to work. (The asparagus doesn’t care; Spring or Fall, its all the same to the spears.) Most important is to begin with a bed that drains exceptionally well and is filled with rich organic matter.
When should I burn my asparagus?
As soon as the field is passable in early spring, mow or chop the old asparagus ferns with a brush hog mower or flail chopper if not chopped in the previous fall. Alternatively, they can be burned down with a controlled burn. Burning helps eliminate asparagus beetles that have overwintered in the old ferns.
Can you plant asparagus roots in the fall?
For mild winter climates, asparagus is planted in the fall or early winter. Asparagus can be planted as one-year-old (sometimes two-year-old) crowns or from seed. Both are acceptable, however, crowns are the preferred way since the gardener will gain an entire year or more of time as far as harvest goes.
