How to Grow Asparagus

An all-time favourite vegetable, tender, juicy, brilliant green, bursting with delicate creamy flavour and healthy to boot, full of nutrients and vitamins and free of cholesterol.

Varieties

Jersey Giant, Purple Giant, UC157

Cultural Requirements

• Good soil preparation essential
• Remove all perennial weeds
• Free draining sandy loam ideal
• Dig in peat / compost in clay soils to assist drainage - raised planting in heavy wet soils
• Dig furrow 30cm wide, 20-25cm deep
• Work in Rooster Booster or Organic Compost 
• Leave 1 metre between rows
• Plant crowns at 40cm spacings
• Cover with 5cm of soil
• Gradually fill in furrow as young spears appear
• Leave top of spear showing above soil

Harvesting

• Do not cut spears in first 2 years
• Spears 3cm below soil surface when 15-22cm long
• In third year cut spears over 2 week period
• Expand this out to a 10 week period mid September to end of November after about 5 years
• Plants go into fern stage early December onwards
• As fern turns yellow at end of April cut down and remove
• Asparagus is a perennial and will last in ground for up to 20 years

Pests and Diseases

• Asparagus is generally unaffected by many pests and diseases
• Can sometimes be affected by slugs and snails and rust

Pest and Disease Control

• Slug and Snail pellets
• Kiwicare Organic Super Sulphur