Page 12 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

Asparagus Growing
RON NUTALL
In the UK Green Asparagus is a luxury and a “must grow vegetable” in all
our gardens. As one of our oldest established vegetables, the taste is hard to beat, improving with age and maturity.
Nurturing Growth is a strategy
for establishment
It is necessary to establish your asparagus bed as soon as possible. Ground preparation is vital soon after the soil has been cleared at the end of summer. It is surprisingly easy to cultivate, taking three years for the plant to mature fully and continue in production for many years.
To avoid water-logged conditions, which are fatal to the new plants, trenches are prepared by making them as deep as possible. Dig to a depth of two feet (60cm) and incorporate a substantial mixture of farm yard manure and fine soil.
Plant two parallel rows of” Crowns”
on the flat part of a raised bed to take advantage of the deeper soil which promotes both growth and an earlier crop.
The asparagus bed will be the
pride of your garden
By planting the heads in a three-foot (90cm) bed, there will be no need for them to have to fight each other for space and nutrients. Set the two rows fifteen inches (45cm) apart on the ridge, which will level down during the winter. A covering of four inches (10cm) of manure will be necessary every year.
Commercially, asparagus plants are grown from seed. In the garden it is easier to transplant dormant roots. They are generally two years old and extremely delicate. By choosing the right time of the year for special attention they will make more and rapid growth.
Embrace the establishment of
the crop with Spring work
On a plate the long asparagus tips look impressive but display a waste of energy as the extra length produces no advantage.
February or March: Missed out with
the autumn work? Spring is a second opportunity to establish an asparagus bed by digging a trench twelve inches (30cm) wide and eight inches (20cm) deep. It
will grow on any type of soil that is well cultivated and limed. If enriched with an abundance of manure a deep sandy loam is particularly suitable.
March: It is the time to get rid of any crust that has formed on the surface of
the soil, during the winter months. Give
the established crop an extra dressing of fertilizer as the first shoots appears growing through the manure.
April: By the end of the month plant newly delivered crowns or existing divided plants, in a situation enjoying and thriving in full sunshine.
Soaking the roots for an hour before planting will assist in their establishment.
Add a Mycorrhizal fungus before spreading the roots in the trench.
Plant with the growing point just below the surface of the soil.
Top dress with a liberal mixture of a general fertilizer and about four inches (10cm) of loam.
Commence harvesting the spears when they are six inches (15cm) long by cutting three inches (7.5cm) below ground with a serrated knife.
May: From now until the middle of June is the main harvesting period when the shoots are tender and tastier. If wintry weather prevails, protect the early growth from being attacked by frost using a cheap removable matting.
The next step after harvest is
the Summer Management
June: By the middle of the month, next year’s buds are beginning to develop
on the roots. It is good time to finish the harvesting and without cutting the shoots back, let them continue to grow strongly.
Autumn responsibilities give support to young plants.
• Hand weeding will protect the shallow roots and avoid the overpopulation of weeds.
• Prevent trouble from late summer storms with the support of peas sticks connected with lengths of twine.
• After the first week of November when the foliage dies down, cut it leaving the stumps a couple of inches long to help prevent any rot setting in.
• Spread a generous layer of soil and manure over surface to keep established beds clean and tidy for the winter.
In summary, I have highlighted the best possible conditions to prepare an asparagus bed which will be the pride
of your garden and produce a desirable number of five- or six-inches (15cm) long spears for the table.
12 Simply Vegetables