Asparagus perform best when planted in early spring in a sunny location in well-drained, sandy soil. Asparagus are drought tolerant because they seek moisture deep in the soil. Newly planted crown though will need help during dry spells.
When to plant: March - April (Zone 7) Plant in the Spring, after the ground warms to about 50 degrees F.
How to plant:
- Dig a trench 6: deep
- Place roots in trench, spreading so they remain flat
- Cover with 1/2of the soil removed and with the remaining soil once growth starts
Cultivars:
Apparently, Asparagus need cultivars. What I have planted is Mary Washington, this Asparagus do not produce much, but will have longer years of production than others.If you are wanting to plant Asparagus, select the new all-male hybrid kinds: Jersey Giant, Jersey King, Jersey Prince, and Jersey Knight. These kinds produce more than old cultivars like Mary Washington.
Harvest? Good question. I planted mine in 2011, generally it takes 2 to 3 years to get a good harvest (1/2 lb per plant). Here is what I found.
Asparagus spears will start to emerge when the soil temperature reaches 50 degrees F. After this, growth of asparagus is dependent on air temperature. Early in the season, 7 to 9 inch spears might be harvested every 2 to 4 days. As air temperatures increase, harvesting frequencies will increase to once or twice per day, harvesting 5 to 7 inch spears before the tips start to fern out and lose quality.Harvest asparagus by snapping 7 to 9 inch spears with tight tips. There is no need to cut asparagus below the soil with a knife. This may injure other buds on the crown that will send up new spears. The small stub that is left in the soil after snapping dries up and disintegrates. A new spear does not come up at the same spot, but from another bud on the crown.
As the tips of the spears start to loosen (known as "ferning out"), fiber begins to develop at the base of the spears, causing them to become tough. The diameter of the spear has no bearing on its toughness. When harvesting, the asparagus patch should be picked clean never allowing any spears to fern out, as this gives asparagus beetles an excellent site to lay their eggs.
The year after planting, asparagus can be harvested several times throughout a three-week period, depending on air temperatures. Research shows there is no need to wait two years after planting before harvesting. In fact, harvesting the year after planting will stimulate more bud production on the crown and provide greater yields in future years, as compared with waiting two years before harvesting.
Two years after planting, the length of harvest can increase to about 4 to 6 weeks. The third year after planting and thereafter, harvesting can continue for 6 to 8 weeks. Since the length of harvest season will vary from year-to-year depending on air temperature, stop the harvest when the diameter of 3/4 of the spears becomes small (less then 3/8 inch). Experience gained by growing the crop will make it easier for the gardener to know when to discontinue the harvest.
For your last harvest, snap all the spears off at ground level. To encourage foliage growth for the rest of the growing season, apply 1/2 lb. of ammonium nitrate fertilizer per 50 feet of row or sidedress with fish emulsion or similar material. Now is the time to remove existing weeds, either by shallow cultivation, hand-pulling, or with herbicide according to label directions. New spears will then emerge, fern out, and provide a large canopy to cover the space between the rows. Once a dense fern canopy is formed, weed growth will be shaded out.
Source: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/pubs/ho/ho_096.html
Health Benefits:
1- can detoxify our system
2 - has anti-aging functions
3 - is considered an aphrodisiac
4 - can protect against cancer
5 - reduces pain and inflammation
6 - can prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
7 - reduces the risk of heart disease
8 - can help prevent birth defects
While there is every kind of supplement on the market to address these health issues, too often Americans turn to pills as a main source of nutrition. Pills should only be used as a supplement and not in the place of whole foods. For example: folic acid is highly recommended in today's diet especially for women who may become pregnant. However, folic acid is the supplemental form of folate. Folate is naturally found in asparagus. In the interest of good health, whole foods are always recommended before supplements.
For more information go to http://bkcreative.hubpages.com/hub/10-Super-Health-Benefits-of-Asparagus (source for Health Benefits)
