Winter begins.
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| Asparagus Aethiopicus - AKA Asparagus Fern |
This year, asparagus was planted in the garden for Farmer MacGregor to enjoy in the years to come. I've never grown it before. I understand that it takes two years of growth before you can harvest the spears. One great side benefit of growing asparagus is that the plants help to repel Root Knot Nematodes. Bonus. Three plants are thriving in a bed of mustards, marigolds, and basil. The basil was shocked with the recent freeze and will be returning to the earth soon.
If you grow asparagus, let me know any growing tips please.
Asparagus trivia: Did you know that eating asparagus can make your pee stink? You're welcome.
3 comments:
Two years is pretty optimistic for getting your own asparagus. I planted crowns nearly three years ago and I'll get my first real crop this coming spring. The first year, you are supposed to leave the spears alone, the second year, pick them only until the new spears come in less than a pencil's thickness (you'll get about six spears). Finally, the third year, you'll get a crop. But you are supposed to call a halt to the harvest again once replacement spears get very thin and spindly. I've just cut my ferns down and covered them with compost for the winter.
Asparagus is tricky, I guess that's why it's always so expensive in the grocery store. I tried a few years back but had no luck at all. After 2 years of a few scraggly shoots I gave up. I hope you have better luck!
We planted asparagus years ago when we lived in the country. But we moved the next year so we never had a harvest. Now asparagus fern I can't get rid of. I do like it for hanging baskets, though. Have a very merry Christmas!
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