when to cut back asparagus

Ideally, asparagus should be cut back in the fall but it is important that you wait until all of the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This will normally happen after first frost, but it can happen without frost in areas that do not receive frost.

How do you prepare asparagus for winter?

Leave asparagus stems on plants as long as they remain green—well into autumn. When stalks turn brown and brittle cut them off at ground level and top dress the bed with compost or manure. (Place cut stalks and ferns in the trash—not in the compost pile; asparagus-beetle eggs can overwinter in cut stalks.)

Is it OK to cut back asparagus?

Answer: The asparagus foliage can be cut back to the ground after it has been destroyed by cold temperatures in fall. ... Asparagus foliage allowed to remain in the garden over winter should be removed in late March or early April before spears begin to emerge.

How tall should asparagus be before cutting?

Harvest asparagus by cutting or snapping the spears when they reach a height of 6 to 8 inches.

Can you cut asparagus all summer?

Summer growth allows asparagus roots to grow large and store energy for the following year's spears. ... This section will send up new spears in a few weeks that can be cut in late summer or early fall for a second harvest.

How do you rejuvenate an old asparagus bed?

Steps to revive a neglected asparagus bed

Wait for a good rain to soften the soil, or water the bed well. ...
Using a large sharp knife to cut out thick weed stems below the soil surface. ...
Hand pull small weeds around the asparagus plants.
Rake the soil surface smooth.
Watch for the new weeds to appear.

Does asparagus multiply?

Asparagus plants are long-lived and vigorous. When asparagus plants are growing in a sunny site with good drainage, proper irrigation, and adequate nutrients, the plants multiply and become crowded over time. A mature stand of asparagus plants produces spears over several weeks, and even up to eight weeks.

What do you do with overgrown asparagus?

Once you have cut the asparagus back, add several inches (10 cm.) of mulch to your asparagus bed. This will help to smother the weeds in the bed and will help fertilize the bed for next year. Compost or well rotted manure makes an excellent mulch for asparagus in autumn.

Is Epsom salt good for asparagus?

Asparagus, Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, onions, radishes, Turnips and many flowering plants need a lot of sulfur to thrive. ... Epsom salts are highly water-soluble, when diluted with water, and applied as a foliar spray it can be absorbed rapidly by plants.

How do you trim asparagus?

The best way to trim asparagus is also the most obvious way: with a chef's knife and cutting board. Line up all of the spears in a row and slice off the ends all at once. You should cut right where the stalks turn from white into green.

How long can you cut asparagus?

In no year should you be considering asparagus harvesting for more than 8 weeks from the first cutting or you will weaken your crop for the following year. Whichever year you are in you need to cut your asparagus when it reaches about 4-6inches (10-15cm)in length.

What is the life cycle of asparagus?

When asparagus first emerges, slim, tender spears appear. These spears are what we harvest and this part of the life cycle lasts four to six weeks in the second year of planting, six to eight weeks in the third year, continuing at that rate for 15 to 20 years!

How do I know when asparagus is ready to harvest?

1. Choose Pristine Buds

Stalks should be plump and firm, and tips should be tightly closed.
Color can be green, purple, or white, depending on the variety. Make sure the color is not faded.
A good grocer will chill asparagus or store it standing upright in cold, fresh water.

Will asparagus spread on its own?

Asparagus also needs space, about 4 to 5 feet for each plant. They won't spread out much the first couple of years, but once established they will quickly fill in. ... Unlike many plants, the roots of asparagus crowns can withstand some air exposure, and you will usually find them for sale loose.

Does asparagus like full sun?

Light requirements: Full sun. Plant asparagus on the west or north side of a garden so the tall plants won't shade other vegetables in summer. ... Soil requirements: Asparagus needs well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.

What time of year is asparagus in season?

SEASON: Look for asparagus in the market from February to June, with April being the peak. CHOOSING: Fresh asparagus will be bright green with no signs of shriveling. The tender tips may have a purplish cast, but they should be firm and tight, never mushy.

Why are my asparagus spears so thin?

Thin asparagus spears appear for a number of reasons, but the root cause is ultimately the same: the asparagus crown lacks the rigor to create bigger shoots. ... Improper Feeding – Asparagus are somewhat heavy feeders and need all the food they can get in order to build strong spears the following year.

How do you rejuvenate asparagus?

Limp asparagus can be refreshed by trimming off the ends of the stalks and placing it stalk side down into a glass holding 1 1/2 to 2 inches of cold water, place a plastic bag over the tops and then store in the refrigerator for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

How do you care for an asparagus bed?

Prepare the soil

Prepare the soil.
Work the soil a foot or more deep; growing asparagus in raised beds is a useful way to achieve the proper depth. ...
Fertilize as recommended.
Fertilize asparagus in the spring during the first three years of growth. ...
Water regularly.
Water deeply, as needed. ...
Maintain weeds.

Should you let asparagus go to seed?

Since you will only have the leaf buds of asparagus on your plate, you don't have to let the plant go to seed. The ferns with berries tend to bend towards the ground and touch the wet soil, which can spread a fungal disease in the plants.

How many asparagus do you get per plant?

Each plant yields about 1/2 pound of asparagus spears each harvest.

Can you eat asparagus raw?

Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten cooked or raw. Because of its tough texture, cooking is the most popular preparation method. However, thinly sliced or marinated raw spears can be equally enjoyable.