Asparagus needn't be Exasperating

ASPARAGUS is one of, if not the oldest, known veggies to mankind. There are pictures of asparagus in Egyptian drawings dating back to several thousand years, B.C. and both the Romans and Greeks touted the healing and aphrodisiac benefits of these tasty green spears.

Brought to American by the early colonists, asparagus was quickly growing in the wild and in the gardens of our nation's earliest settlers.

ASPARAGUS isn't only good for you…it's tasty! Chock full of vitamins and minerals, asparagus is one of very few perennial vegetables and unlike their annual veggie-companions, a bed of asparagus can be around for 15-20 years (or more!).

THE GREAT ASPARAGUS DEBATE:

     Some folks will tell you that asparagus is difficult to grow. This isn't necessarily true, however, IF you take the following growing tips to heart:

? Prepare your bed carefully by ridding the area of all weeds and making sure the soil is loose and well fertilized. Because asparagus is a perennial, you won't need to plow the area each year as you do the rest of the garden, so make sure the asparagus bed is located conveniently.

? The PH balance of the soil should be fairly neutral; between 6.5 and 7.5. Don't guess on this-have your soil tested. It costs little or nothing to have this done via your local farm service agency. Balance the soil accordingly.

? While asparagus can be started from seed, you'll be able to harvest your asparagus a full year earlier by using 'crowns'. Asparagus crowns are nothing more than roots with a stem tip on them. Remember, asparagus in a member of the lily family, so when you're visualizing what these crowns look like, thing of a day lily or tiger lily root and tip (crown). Be sure the crowns are soft and fleshy. Dry, shriveled crowns will likely not produce much at all.

? Asparagus plants are sexed-male and female. It would be to your advantage to use a majority of male plants, as the female plants form seeds that fall to the ground and make more plants. The formation of these seeds takes a lot of energy away from the production of spears, making the male plants much more productive.

? After you've properly prepared your soil, dig a trench 6 to 8 inches deep. If your soil is lacking in nutrients, you'll want to place a loose layer of dried manure in the bottom of the trench. Follow this with a thin layer of soil, the crowns (planted 10-12 inches apart) and another 2-3 inches of soil. Lightly pack the soil and watch for the tips to break through the soil. When they do, add the final layer of soil; bringing the trench to ground level. NOTE: Asparagus crowns are best planted in late winter or early spring (March to early May) for limited harvesting the following spring.

? Water very sparingly if at all. Unless conditions are extremely hot and dry, sparse watering with excellent irrigation is all that is necessary.

? Now all that's left to do is let it grow.

 HARVESTING TIPS (NO PUN INTENDED…WELL, MAYBE)

     The older non-hybrid varieties of asparagus took up to three years to grow to the point of being harvestable. But great strides have been made in that area, making it possible to harvest for a short period of time (a couple of weeks or so) a year after planting.

? Harvesting usually takes place in early to late spring (depending on your growing season) and usually lasts 5-6 weeks for mature beds.

? Harvest asparagus by snapping spears approximately 7-9 inches in length and with a circumference that is about the size of a pencil or slightly larger. By leaving a portion of the white stem until ready to cook, the spears will stay fresher longer.

WORDS OF CAUTION:

     Asparagus beetles love to chew on the spears and lay eggs along the surface of the ground and plant. These are dark green eggs that can be scraped off with your fingernail if you're only growing for your family. Larger beds can be protected with fungicides.

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