Asparagus update

[video:youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/z01S3RluJWw?feature=share[/video]

I had no faith that I would be able to grow Asparagus. I knew and still know nothing about it but I wanted to try it. I bought 2 year old crowns off Amazon.com and planted them. My raised beds drain too much and I added a product called Hydretain to the bed about 8-10 days ago and the amount of Asparagus stems have doubled since then. It must like wet soil.

I broke a stem off today and oh my gosh it’s good. I had read that the difference between fresh store bought and homegrown was as big a difference as there is with tomatoes. I didn’t believe that but whoever wrote it was right. Next spring my pee is gonna smell funny for 2 solid months.

If you like Asparagus, give it a whirl. As long as you can keep the weeds down, it appears to not take much maintenance.

Nice, I love asparagus, I may try to grow some. I thought it was actually a fall plant.

It lives for 15-20 years! You only harvest in the spring though. After 3 years. That's why I went with the 2 year old crowns. I can start harvesting next year, for 4 weeks, then after that, 8 weeks every year.

Got any pics Fur? I love asparagus too, and you've got me interested. So I assume freezing temps is not an issue?

Can you see the video that I posted? It grows from zone 3-10, so freezing shouldn't be an issue.

https://youtube.com/shorts/z01S3RluJWw?feature=share

I couldn't see it on my phone last night for some reason but I just watched it. I was expecting it to be more just the stalks and not so bushy. I may give it a try. Keep us posted on it.

So, I see Mary Washington and a Jersey variety. Would 3 year even quicker producers?

It goes from looking like what we’d eat, to having the “leaves” on it in about 2 days.



Yes, it should but if you’re going to buy 3 year old crowns I would buy them from somewhere other than Amazon. I bought both those varieties and I bought 4, 3 year old crowns of one variety. I could tell absolutely no difference in the size of the roots and can’t tell any difference in what it’s produced this year.

The 2 year old crowns that I bought had started sprouting in the box when I unpacked them. They were in great shape. I’ll go back on my Amazon account and see if I can find what vendor had those. I wouldn’t hesitate to order from them again.

This is what I ordered that I was most impressed with.

https://www.amazon.com/Nianyan-Jers...BBSJ&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_1_sc

Keep in mind that I really know nothing about growing this yet so I don’t know if you’re safe to plant it this time of year or if you need to plant in the fall or spring. I didn’t plant mine until mid May and it’s done well. (At least I think so)

Grows in the ditches in Iowa. Use to be fun to ride around with some cold brews and gravel travel collecting a big haul of it.

Kansas as well, ditches in certain areas would be full of it.

In my quest to learn more about it, I've read about that. Also grows along some rivers in spots up there. With it being hardy to zone 10, I don't know why it doesn't grow "in the wild" down here. My only guess is because most people down here have never tried growing it. I can understand that though because as a kid I hated Asparagus. We didn't have it often and the only way I ever saw it was from a can. Nasty green snot is all that is.

Sounds like a great success, Fur! I had asparagus years ago but don’t have it now. That seems to be a trigger good for my hubby’s gout, so it is a no go for us. I love it though and you are right; low maintenance.

Ouch. I've never had any gout issues from Asparagus, but I don't eat it that often. That might change next spring... I sure hope not. Oddly enough, my only gout trigger so far, is Pinto Beans. I sure miss them, but not bad enough to put up with gout.

To anyone following my raised bed/gin trash experiment, I'm know I've already mentioned it, but this is growing in pure compost. No soil. I bought some Bentonite today to add to the compost to see how much water holding help it provides. I have done a little reading about that, but will do more tonight. I don't want to overdo it. I don't think I could unless I put several hundred pounds in each bed, but don't want to risk it.

Fur, did the crowns you ordered on Amazon come from China? I ordered some about 3 weeks ago and they shipped out of China. They have made it to US Customs in Chicago now at least.

Does it make your boys pee smell like it does mine? When it does go seed in the fall I have had luck with keep the red seeds and planting them in the spring. Stark Brothers is a great place to order from plus they have free one year replacement.

I planted a pint jar of seeds today from last year.

I like them pickled as well. I tried a pickling recipe last month and they were not that good. SO I added more vinegar and they still are not as good as the store bought ones. Doe anyone have a good asparagus pickling recipe??

This guy and his wife put on a great show every week. If anyone would have it posted he would.

https://www.timfarmerscountrykitchen.com/recipes

I gave I and bought three year old crowns and dedicated a raised bed to asparagus! It is doing great and making like crazy! We have eaten a few spears and it is glorious! Won't really harvest until next year but am delighted with the bed.

That's great. One tip that I can give you.... It puts out really early, as in January in my case this year. I haven't had any idea what to expect, but I did leave the first shoots to emerge to grow and feed the roots. That would have worked well, but temps in the upper 20's will kill the new growth. So next year, I'll eat the new shoots when they start putting out and wait til mid February to leave one or two per clump to grow and feed the root system. I've eaten 2-3 good messes of it this year. It's not putting out as fast as I thought it would, but mine is planted way, way too close together. It looks like one large mass of Asparagus fern. Next winter, I'm going to dig it up and spread it out.