In the world there are million vegetables, but most people do not know even half of them, although there is one that is well known to all and this is the asparagus.
Growing asparagus
The asparagus it is one of the most sought after vegetables all over the world, since thanks to its mild flavor, it offers a real pleasure to its consumer for a short time, since this product is only given in an exact season but it is surprisingly easy to harvest and unfolds in a very drained soil or in raised beds as long as it is well fed and weed-free. If you'd like to learn more about growing it, you can visit our guide on growing it. asparagus cultivation or learn how growing asparagus in pots.
For the asparagus to develop correctly you have to keep the bed where it is going to plant very carefully, instead of using a hoe it is recommended to use your hand because deep roots are damaged very quickly, it is also recommended to cover the bottom of the bed at the end of winter with a compost that is free of weeds in order to discourage weeds and to be able to retain the moisture that exists a little longer.
If possible, you should consider the possibility of being able to cover the bed from autumn to winter covered with an opaque weed mat to avoid annual weeds that tend to germinate and in early spring it is recommended to apply one hundred grams per square meter of fertilizer, since if the plant's growth is very weak, you'll need to repeat this application when the harvest is ready. If you'd like more information on how to prepare the soil for other crops, you can explore crop associations.
To avoid breaking the top of the growth in windy weather you should use stakes and special garden string to be able to make a kind of fence on each side of the support row.
You need to allow the foliage on your asparagus plant to turn yellow in the fall before cutting it down to ground level, as you should in winter.
Male or female asparagus plants
Asparagus plants can be male or female, male plants have the ability to produce more and better quality, so many areas where asparagus are grown are full of pure male plants. If there is a female plant, it can be noticed because it will produce orange or red berries and if you want to grow pure male plants you have to take care of remove any female silver that exists.
The asparagus plant usually grows better in an open and sunny place but it can tolerate a little shade, you don't have to worry about the type of soil, you just have to bear in mind that must be well drained, have a pH of 6.5 or 7.5. For more tips on the right soil type, see our section on types of vegetable crops to vegetable crops.
It is also very important not to replant a new asparagus harvest bed together with old asparagus, so you must choose fresh soil to avoid the accumulation of diseases and before starting to sow you must remove all the old weeds and incorporate a bucket of organic matter, such as the garden compost or farmyard manure in every square meter.
Asparagus can be grown from seed and to be able to plant them you have to dig a ditch of thirty centimeters wide and twenty centimeters deep Then place the crowns on top, spreading the roots evenly, replacing the remaining soil and leaving the ends barely visible. If you're interested in a different planting method, I invite you to read about Growing asparagus from seed and its differences with other methods.
You should leave 45 centimeters between them and stagger the plants between adjacent rows, then you put water on it and put it with two inches of manure or other organic matter. To harvest you have to cut the asparagus individually with a knife below the ground and when they are not more than eight inches tall.
