{"id":2273,"date":"2019-06-06T09:11:50","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T09:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2273"},"modified":"2020-01-22T08:19:38","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T08:19:38","slug":"14-keys-for-growing-asparagus-from-seeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-keys-for-growing-asparagus-from-seeds\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Keys for Growing Asparagus From Seeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you love asparagus and you have a garden, there is a good chance that you have at least thought about growing your own fresh asparagus in your yard. When you are researching growing asparagus in your garden, chances are good that you will find that most gardeners will start with established bare rootstock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this is a good way to start a patch of asparagus in your garden, you may be wondering why not start your asparagus patch from seed. It is possible to start growing asparagus from seed. You will just need to know a few things in order to be successful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that you need to know if you are going to start asparagus from seed is that you need to have patience. The reason for this is because asparagus takes 3 growing seasons to produce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 keys for growing asparagus from seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Crowns or Seeds?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It will take crowns of asparagus three seasons of growing before they are ready for harvest. This is much faster than if you decide to start asparagus from seeds. With this being said, seed propagation is quite possible and is a bit cheaper than purchasing crowns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seeds of asparagus are referred to as berries and they will become a bright red in color during the fall. When the tops fall off, they can then be collected. Once you collect them you will want to hang them upside down. They should be kept in a space that is warm and dry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After about a week they will ripen. Keep a bowl underneath them or tie a brown paper bag around the top of them in order to catch all of the seeds. These seeds can then be used to start your asparagus crop. You may also purchase seeds from a supplier that is reputable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Where it Grows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Asparagus is a vegetable that is native to western Europe. It is a perennial plant and grows well in zones two through eight in the United States. As a perennial plant it will come back every year. In fact, the asparagus plant may be viable for ten to twenty years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning an asparagus patch it is important that you keep this in mind. You should plan on starting your asparagus inside or in a greenhouse anywhere from the middle of February up through May. you should make sure that you keep the seeds under bright lights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seeds should be soaked for a few hours before you plant them. You will want to plant each of the seeds about a half-inch deep in soil that is sterile. Plant each seed individually in two-inch pots. Once they have sprouted the seedlings can be transplanted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Soil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you are planting asparagus seeds you need to consider the pH of the soil that you are planting them in. In order to properly grow the pH of the soil should be between 7.0 to 7.2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to purchase a soil testing kit in order to make sure that there are no important nutrients missing from the soil that you are planning to plant the asparagus in. If you find that any nutrients are missing you can add in some compost, manure, or fertilizer in order to get the pH level where it needs to be.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no real trick to planting asparagus seeds, the most important thing is to just be patient. The soil temperature for germination needs to be between 70 to 85 degrees F. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use plastic or mulch in order to keep the soil at the right temperature to promote growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Transplanting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have started your seeds indoors or in a greenhouse you will want to transplant them to your garden area. The seedlings are ready for transplantation when they are about ten weeks to twelve weeks old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they are ready to be moved to the ground or raised garden bed it is important to make sure that there is no danger of frost in your area. Once the danger of frost has passed you should move the seedlings to your garden bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transplants should be planted roughly eighteen inches apart and about three to six inches apart. For thinner asparagus spears you will want to plant the seedlings eight to ten inches apart and about four inches deep. For thicker stalks, you will want to plant the stalks about a foot apart and six to eight inches in the ground. This will provide you with a stalk that is thicker and heartier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Grow with Tomatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have had a garden for a few years or if you have simply researched the best way to grow vegetables, there is a good chance that you have come across information about what types of plants that you should grow together and what types of plants that should not be grown near each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to asparagus, one of the best plants that you can grow next to asparagus is tomatoes. The reason for this is because asparagus will help to repel nematodes that often attack tomato plants and can destroy an entire crop. In addition, tomato plants will help to repel asparagus beetles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can easily space your asparagus about a foot apart and then add a tomato plant to each end in order to help keep the beetles away. Planting tomatoes and asparagus together can help ensure that you will have a wonderful crop of both types of vegetables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Caring for Your Asparagus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As your asparagus plants are growing it is important to make sure that you cover the crowns of the asparagus with soil. You also want to make sure that you keep the soil and the crown of the plant moist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need to add about an inch of water each week to your asparagus plants. It is also important to make sure that you fertilize your asparagus crop in the spring using one or two cups of organic fertilizer for every ten feet of row. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mix the fertilizer in gently. It is important to remember that you will not want to harvest the crop until the third growing season. You need to let the plant to set ferns so it will redirect the energy back to the plants. Cut the ferns down to about two inches tall during the late fall. During the third year of growth, you will want to harvest the spears regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Diseases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Root rot and asparagus crown are disastrous diseases that affect asparagus crops throughout the world. Crown rot is caused by three types of Fusarium. They are fusarium moniliform, Fusarium proliferatum, and Fusarium oxysporum. All three types of fungi can invade the roots of the asparagus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fungi can also invade the tissue of the plant that carries nutrients and water from the root of the plant to throughout the stem and the leaves. When a crop of asparagus is infected by one of these diseases you will notice that the plants start to rapidly die off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crowns will start to turn yellow and begin to wilt. Once this occurs, the plants will become rotten and then you will see the plants start to die. You need to make sure that you are diligent in keeping your asparagus healthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper weeding, making sure the soil has the right pH balance and keeping it well watered can help to ensure that your plants remain disease free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Warmth and Sunlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to growing asparagus it is important to make sure that you plant your crop in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. They will need at least six to eight hours of sunlight every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plants need this much full sunlight each day in order to grow well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the asparagus is in the shade too much they may not grow as well as they should. \u00a0Asparagus is a warm-weather plant, which means that they do best in soil that is warm. You can increase their growth by laying some black plastic over the garden soil several weeks before you are planning to transplant your seedlings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will help to keep the ground warm and will lead to much better growth. You can also mulch around the asparagus with some dark compost, which will help to heat the ground more and keep the soil around the plants at the temperature that they desire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Asparagus Pests
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When springtime rolls around, and your garden starts to show signs of life, bugs hatch and begin to take notice of everything growing in your garden. When it comes to your asparagus, two types of beetle present the most significant threat to your harvest.
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The common asparagus beetle enjoys feasting on bottle wild and garden varieties of asparagus. This European species found its way to American shores, where it now enjoys range over most of the country. These beetles have a black body sporting yellow dots and red tipping on the wing covers. Measuring at \u00bc-inch in length, these beetles will ravage your crops and invite the spread of disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spotted asparagus beetle looks very similar to a ladybug, with the same red-orange carapace with 12-black spots, but they are not as destructive to your crop as the European variant. Both beetles produce larvae that have a slug-like appearance. 
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Other pests to look out for on your asparagus include; cutworms, and slugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Use a Raised Bed
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When growing asparagus, we recommend that you use a raised bed. Building an 18-inch raised bed in your vegetable garden helps to keep your asparagus off of the ground, assisting the spears with maturing faster. 
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It’s important to note that asparagus take two to three seasons before they start to produce edible spears. By using a raised bed, you accelerate the growing process, allowing the asparagus to produce excellent yield on the first fruiting harvest.
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Build your raised bed using reclaimed wood and organic soils to match the pH profile that optimal for growing asparagus. Fertilize and let your raised bed rest for three to four months before planting your asparagus. 
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If you live in a cold region of the united states, cover the raised bed with straw in the wintertime to give you asparagus some protection from the frost. Raised beds also allow you to control the soil, and prevent pathogens from infecting your crops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Asparagus Varieties
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There are various types of asparagus to suit all types of growing conditions. If you are a novice or first-time asparagus planter, then we recommend you look through these top varieties when selecting your seeds.
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For asparagus that produce the highest yields, we think you should try the Jersey King, Jersey Knight, and Jersey Giant asparagus varieties. All three of these produce large spears with good weights. 
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The Mary Washington and Martha Washington varieties are older types that may produce female plants, whereas the Jersey types only produce male plants that are far more productive. Therefore, we always recommend beginners go with the Jersey asparagus varieties when choosing their first seeds. 
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You may be wondering where white asparagus falls on this list. This variety is merely asparagus grown without exposure to sunlight. The result is a slightly sweeter spear, with less fiber than green asparagus varieties. Purple asparagus has a thicker stem than the other types, and it turns green when cooking.
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12. Harvesting Your Asparagus
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As we mentioned, your asparagus plant won’t produce in the first year. Those gardeners that use a raised bed may be able to harvest plants after the second growing season lightly. However, in most cases, you’ll have to wait until the third season before you start cutting spears.
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For younger plants, the harvest season may last for two to three weeks, while mature plants may yield spears for 8-weeks until the early fall. When you first start noticing spears peak above the ground, check back every day for new growth, and harvest when the spears reach six to eight inches tall, and \u00bd-inch in thickness. 
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It’s important to check back every day, as spears longer than 10-inches will start to taste woody and tough. Cut the spears at the spoil line, and stop your harvest when spears begin to reduce in girth to less than the size of a pencil in diameter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Storing Asparagus
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After a successful asparagus harvest, you’ll need to consume your spears as soon as possible to retain their freshness in your meals. Asparagus will not store well and left alone in the fridge; you can expect them to start turning limp in three or four days. Storing in a root cellar is not ideal, and your asparagus will dry out fast.
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We recommend that you harvest your asparagus and bunch them together. Wrap the cut stems in wet kitchen towels, and store them in a Ziploc bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. Using this storage strategy, you can expect your asparagus to keep for up to a week. 
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If you have the extra standing space in your fridge, then store your asparagus standing up in a jar, with an inch of water around the cut stems. This storage strategy provides the best longevity for your spears, with some lasting up to 2-weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Overwintering Tips
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Asparagus enjoy growing in a colder climate. However, frosty and snow may cause damage to your asparagus plant, resulting in a slower fruiting season that produces less yield in your crop. To avoid damage during the wintertime, we recommend you get all your pruning done after your last harvest in the fall. 
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Prune the stems back an inch under the soil, and any fertilizer to make up for nutrient deficiencies brought on by the season’s growth. Mulch your ground, and then spread a thick layer of straw over the top of the raised bed to insulate the asparagus from the cold weather. This mulching is a vital practice if you live in areas that experience snowfall during the wintertime. 
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If you find any signs of asparagus beetle in your spears, make sure that you send the spears to the trash, and not the compost heap. These pests can overwinter in compost heaps, infesting the following year’s crops.
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