Which way is up (on an aspergus plant)?

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on an asparagus crown? How deep do you plant asparagus crowns?

-- paul (wprimeroselane@msn.com), October 12, 2001

Answers

Response to Which way is up

It all depends on who you read. Dick Raymond in "Joy of Gardening" talks about digging a trench 12 to 18 inches deep. In "Rodales Garden Answers" it is suggested to plant asparague at differt depths "to spead the harvest". They show to plant at 12", 10", 8", and 6". So I guess it depends on who you read.

When I got my crowns last year I planned to use Dick Raymonds method of 18" (That was because I didn't have the other book at the time.) Have you ever hand dug trenches that deep? Well before I had fininshed digging the crowns can in and I wanted to get them in the ground as soon as possible. One trench was 18" deep while the other ranged from around 12" to 6". In the end - all the crowns lived and they look very healthy.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), October 12, 2001.


If you're not fond of digging for days (which I am not!) I would suggest digging a trench, down 6 inches, put in a nice layer of compost or well rotted manure, make small mounds in the trench about 12 inches apart, set the "crowns" on these mounds and arrange the roots, neatly down the sides of the mound. Lightly press roots into place to get rid of any air pockets. Cover with soil. Then build a 6 inch deep raised bed on the top. We have a 5 ft. X 30 ft. Asparagus bed that has been producing for nearly 20 years. Cut asparagus for only 6 weeks after the first cutting. ( I know, it IS hard to stop!) Let it go to "fern" once, mow it down and then let it fern again. Leave this "ferning" go until it is brown and dead and then cut again and use the cuttings for mulch in you're asapragus bed.We think this helps control weeds in the bed, which are very hard to get rid of once they are established. I hope this helps. I froze 30 pounds of asparagus this year, plus ate it till it was coming out of my ears! Harmony

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 12, 2001.

To the man who sent me an e-mail about sharing crowns....I ordered mine from Henry Fields in Shenandoah, Iowa. The reason you probably can't find any crowns now is because it isn't the time to ship or plant them. Wait till Spring and you shouldn't have any trouble finding them. I suggest trying "Martha Washington". They have always done real well for us..Hope this helps, I accidentally deleted your e- mail before I could answer. Harmony

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

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