Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10, is long-term commitment for gardeners. Allow them to grow until they bloom, then cut and leave them in place as mulch. What kind of mulch is best for asparagus? Tiffany Selvey has been a writer since 2007. Manure is an effective mulch at this time. Don’t use landscape fabric or black plastic, which traps asparagus shoots, and don’t use grass clippings that have been sprayed with broadleaf herbicides. Resist the temptatio… © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. However, there are several other techniques that can help to successfully control problem weeds. I spoke with a nursery spokesperson and was told this was bad for three reasons. If you want your asparagus plant to produce the way that you’d like it to produce, you’re going to need to create a good growing environment. Unless you plan to save the seeds, it’s best to remove them to conserve energy. While corn gluten meal will not kill existing weeds, it will greatly reduce the sprouting of weed seeds. Cut foliage back to ground level. Newspaper mulch is inexpensive, as well as a responsible way to recycle. The mulching material must be loose and friable, so rainwater can penetrate it and the asparagus shoots can easily grow through it. 1). Keeping the mulch on the surface of your soil will keep it away from the roots of your plants. Alternative methods for growing white asparagus include piling soil onto the beds to the same depth as the mulch and covering the beds in black plastic suspended over wire hoops. ... use black plastic mulch to warm the soil, conserve moisture and prevent weeds. Asparagus Weed Control: Controlling weeds in a home or acreage asparagus planting can be difficult, but it is a necessary step toward maintaining a high-yielding planting. Finding the Best Soil for Asparagus There are lots of great soils for asparagus, but the one we usually recommend most is Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix . A master gardener, she specializes in growing vegetables, herbs and flowers organically. During that time and for the rest of its useful life ‒ of up to 25 years ‒ asparagus benefits from regular mulching. Most of the work takes place while planting asparagus. The early growth is encouraged by removing the winter mulch. This will help to smother the weeds in the bed and will help fertilize the bed for next year. New asparagus shoots should appear later in the mulched bed. In fall, when the asparagus ferns turn yellow and begin to die, cut them off at their bases. When the harvest is over, about eight to 10 weeks after the first shoots appear, spread a layer of mulch 3 inches deep, and water the mulch thoroughly. After harvesting each bed, apply a layer of mulch for weed control through the remainder of the growing season. Essentially, mulching allows you to water heavily one day and then leave the rhubarb alone for several days because of the water captured and stored in the soil and the mulch. If any weeds germinate on the surface of the mulch over the growing season, pull them out. Be diligent in keeping the asparagus bed free of weeds as they compete for nutrients and can mat the soil surface. Not as much is known about it ability to infect vegetables, although it is thought unlikely. A graduate of Leeds University, Jenny Green completed Master of Arts in English literature in 1998 and has been writing about gardening and homes since 2007. Add compost to the soil each spring and cover with mulch to maintain soil moisture once the plants are established. Then in June, on hands and knees, I crawl along the bed and manually turn over that leaf mulch, at the same time pulling out weeds, especially the zillions of little asparagus seedlings that have started to grow despite the mulch. Mulch also protects asparagus spears if frost occurs during early spear emergence. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 home gardeners choose to plant at least one tomato plant in their garden plot(s). After the first frost, or, if your area doesn’t experience frost, when the asparagus ferns turn yellow, prune them to 2-inch stubs. Mulching Asparagus for Weed Control Weeds compete with asparagus for water, nutrients and light and reduce the yield of … Compost or well rotted manure makes an excellent mulch for asparagus in … To encourage asparagus plants to grow strong and healthy, don’t harvest any of the shoots for the first two or three years. Do not allow the roots to dry out. Are you looking for the best mulch for tomatoes? Asparagus is a heavy feeder, so companion planting with cover crops from the legume family provides additional nitrogen to the soil naturally. Only spread hay, straw, leaves or other light mulches if the bed is in a sheltered area where strong winds won’t blow the mulch away. As the plants grow, add more soil until the trench is filled. Our Quick Guide to the Best Fertilizer for Asparagus The fertilizer we most recommend for asparagus is Osmocote Flower and Vegetable Smart-Release Plant Food . Place the asparagus crowns in the trench, spreading the roots carefully and cover with good planting soil. Mulches help retain warmth in the soil, but in spring, they shield the soil from the sun’s warming rays, which means a mulched bed warms up more slowly than bare soil. Asparagus roots form a tightly woven mat, from which it is challenging to remove weeds. Your … Since asparagus is a perennial crop, it's not possible for home gardeners to till or plow the planting area to eliminate weeds. Clean spears will push up through the mulch in spring. As the growing season progresses, the shoots develop into tall ferns. Bush beans and peas can also be grown as a companion for asparagus, they take up a small amount of space, add nitrogen and require no vertical support. The pickiest eater finds it hard to turn down a serving of sweet, delectable asparagus spears, drizzled with melted butter and seasoned with a scattering of salt and pepper. While whole newspaper can be used in walkways or around plant stems, you must shred it to use it in an asparagus bed. Asparagus need plenty of nutrition to grow healthily, and there are a few steps you need to take before you get to harvest. Harvest the asparagus spears in the unmulched bed when they grow 6 to 8 inches tall and continue to harvest new shoots up to the regular cutoff after about eight to 10 weeks. of mulch to your asparagus bed. Asparagus grows best in soils that are between pH 6.5 and 7.5. Asparagus spears will come right up through the mulch but delay weeds. Add mulch to the asparagus bed to control weeds. Asparagus does not need to be watered frequently. I have an new bed and would like to know what to use for mulch to keep the grass and weeds down. Remove weeds when preparing the bed, and keep weeding while the asparagus plants are young. Can You Use Chicken Manure for Fertilizer for Potatoes? Although pine needles may work for this purpose, they make the soil more acidic as they decay. All fertilizer should be mixed thoroughly into the soil prior to digging the hole and planting. The Best Ground Cover for Gardens in the Winter. Fertilize the bed with a 1-inch layer of rich, weed-free compost or manure topped with 3 inches of straw, rotted sawdust or another weed-free mulch. Whichever method for growing white asparagus you choose, harvest for the usual eight to 10 weeks before allowing the shoots to grow into ferns. Place your plants in your refrigerator. Removing the mulch allows the sun to warm the soil and triggers the asparagus roots to begin producing shoots. To control weeds in the first two years after planting, spread layers of organic mulch over the bed after the trenches are filled with soil. It takes two or three years from planting for this vegetable to produce its harvest of tender shoots. These fine-leaved ferns manufacture food and send it down to the roots, which store it to use the following year to grow more shoots. Asparagus roots below ground are well protected by the soil. Is it OK to Put Straw Around New Asparagus Plants? Straw mulch is excellent for preventing weeds while improving soil conditions. The asparagus was a set I bought from a big box store & I would replace with a better nursery variety. Organic mulches warm the soil in the bed, encouraging growth, and they supply plant nutrients, suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture and help protect asparagus spears from becoming contaminated with dirt. After two or three years, when the plants are mature, mulch will continue to help control weeds. Because it is a perennial, tilling around the asparagus bed is not possible without destroying the crop, so you need to use other weed control methods. Pine needles also can be used, but they can lower the soil pH and are more suitable for acid-loving plants. ... What Mulch Is Best - Duration: 5:47. For such a delicious vegetable, asparagus requires surprisingly little labor to grow. Proper care for asparagus includes annual fertilization with the best type of fertilizer. Gardeners can mulch the entire vineyard floor or only 4- to 5-foot bands within trellises, according to the Ohio State University Extension. Dispose of the old ferns by composting or burning them. The asparagus bed lies dormant over winter, and then in spring, new shoots appear. The woodchips would scar tender asparagus shoots as they emerged through the chips Check out "Best Asparagus Varieties & Sources" for tips on choosing the best varieties of asparagus. The asparagus spears are harvested by lifting one side of the plastic and cutting the shoots, then lowering the plastic. Wait until foliage turns yellow or brown and the plant becomes dormant before pruning. How close should I plant these crowns? In mild climates, the root crowns of asparagus need no special winter care, but in cooler regions, winterizing the asparagus bed is a must. Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of corn milling with pre-emergent herbicidal properties. Unfolding asparagus bloom. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. When the harvesting season is over, remove the plastic tunnel. After that, you can harvest the asparagus spears for about two months before allowing the shoots to grow tall and feed the roots again. Pulling weeds by hand is an option, but prevention is the key to saving time and energy. Asparagus plants sprout every spring from root systems called crowns, and it’s these young shoots that are the edible asparagus spears. Asparagus production in the United States. Weed by hand rather than with a hoe, as the shallow roots of the asparagus plants are easily damaged. Prepping asparagus beds for winter will protect the roots from the cold and encourage the plants to go dormant, allowing the plant to rest before its next growth phase in the spring. Asparagus plants benefit from regular mulches of loose organic matter. 1 Response. Fertilizer can burn tender roots if they touch directly. Sew Austrian winter peas over the asparagus bed, covering lightly with soil. For those wanting to control soil erosion, mulching only between rows is effective. If I can’t plant my asparagus right away, how do I store them? Mulch the bed in late winter to discourage weeds and to retain moisture. It is a good idea to have your soil tested to determine if it is lacking in any essential minerals and nutrients. The slow breakdown of straw provides steady, consistent food for the beneficial bacteria in the soil. Straw mulch is excellent for preventing weeds while improving soil conditions. For healthy plants and plenty of shoots, it’s essential that you control weeds in asparagus beds. Spring Asparagus Garden. Spread corn gluten as directed and water well. The young crowns are planted in early spring on mounds at the bottom of trenches, and the trenches are gradually filled with soil over late spring and summer as the shoots sprout and grow taller. Therefore, push the mulch away from the rows in the early spring to allow the soil to warm and encourage spear growth. This is particularly important in hot weather when asparagus tends to stop producing. Spread a layer of mulch 4 to 6 inches deep over the bed. Because corn gluten meal has herbicidal properties, it will prevent desired plants from sprouting, so do not use it if you are companion planting asparagus with beans until the bean plants are at least 6 inches tall. 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