Asparagus confusion

 

   I'm somewhat enamored with the idea of crops you don't have to plant
every year, so I've bought some asparagus, after much searching. It's a
ferny looking thing in a 1 quart.

   The more I read about asparagus, the more confused I get. I'm in
Atlanta, 7b, and this seems to need a hard freeze and is a cool season crop.

   I've got a pretty sunny spot, but away from the irrigation. Or I can
plant along a low retaining wall. How high does this get? Or perhaps it
would be best to put it in a container? How deep? I'd like to not make a
mistake that I might not realize for a couple years!

   On another note, I'm depressed to find the big box stores are
carrying a lot less drip irrigation supplies than the sundry lot they
had last year. I had to go to 4 stores just to find drippers! The
collection of timers however, has exploded. I was looking at a $24 Toro
timer/valve that was wireless and also could connect to a moisture
sensor and had multiple time options. $24, Zow! Must be lawn care that
is driving all this technology. I suppose next they'll have one that
tweets.

   Jeff

 

Jeff Thies wrote:

You have one crown.


It is not a coll season crop and it does not need a hard freeze.  Whether it
would tolerate one I cannot say from experience.  The new shoots start in
spring (this is what you eat some of) and you let these grow up through
summer.  In autumn the tops will die and when they are all brown you cut
them off at ground level.  If you then mulch the roots I would expect that
they would take quite cold conditions as they are dormant.  Then next spring
the shoots start from the roots again.  It is essential to not cut the
spears too long as you need plenty of healthy tops to grow to make food to
store in the roots for next year.  This is particularly important for new
plants, depending on the age of your crowns you do not cut the first year or
two.


About 2m (6-7ft).   It needs full sun.  Find a place where it can be left
alone for 10 years or more.

Or perhaps

Not in a container.  It has deep roots and needs to spread and to be fed
regularly, preferably with magic horse pucks.  One crown is not much use,
estimate vary but a dozen or two would be more like it for a small family.
You can propagate it from seeds as well as buying crowns but it takes
longer.


David

 



Asparagus is grown in Zone 5 Ontario. Hard freezes are us...

 



What's a "magic horse puck"?

--
Enjoy Life... Dan

Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

 

Dan L. wrote:

What do you imagine the possibilities to be? You'll want to watch what
you may be stepping into. (BTW, thanks David...)

   Jeff