Asparagus!!!

[4grandbabies]

I wandered over to my asparagus bed, to take a peek this morning...I was thrilled to see a few spears poking up! I thought it was way too early!

Yeah, picked enough spears to make an asparagus,green onion and egg omelet I see more peeping thur, but its the "kids" turn to pick. They love to grill it

 

[babajohnson]

Greetings from Gimli Manitoba. I am new to this forum about 9 minutes old lol. This year I would like to try growing asparagus in a raised bed.. My husband and I are both into raised beds since our knees are not the best anymore.......

I would really appreciate some information from any one here who does grow asparagus in a raised bed. Especially as how to go about it etc.

I am expecting my plant to arrive soon if we ever get spring here.

 

[thistlebloom]

Welcome Babajohnson!

 

[lesa]

Welcome!! I have my asparagus in raised bed. The only bad thing about growing asparagus is that it requires patience!!! You cannot harvest any for at least 3 years! Other than the waiting, the rest is easy!

 

[JimWWhite]

Actually, Lesa you can't harvest any for the first year, then only about 1/2 the second year, then all you want after that. Basically the way I see it this year which is our second year we're getting about 50% of our spears that are eating size. That is they are the size you'd find in a market or maybe the diameter of a man's pinkie finger. The other 50% are thinner and should not be cut but rather let the plant go and it will fern out. These are about the diameter of a pencil. Just let 'em go to head because there'll be plenty more coming up. We have ours in a 4'x8'x12" raised bed box and I believe Teresa planted 2 bunches in it, which I thought was too much at the time. They were spaced out about one foot apart in the bed. Last year a bunch came up and we just ignored them. But for the past 2 weeks or so we've been getting 8 to 10 edible spears a day. Some of them make it in the house and end up in omelets or as a side dish. Some of them... They taste like candy when they're first cut right out of the box!

 

[lesa]

I was under the impression it had something to do with the age of the crowns?? At any rate, this is the year I am going to start harvesting, if it ever warms up enough for the rest to dare and peek above ground! Can't wait to try them fresh out of the garden!

 

[aussieheelr]

We don't grow our own here... but we get plenty wild asparagus of the ditch banks. The season JUST started here this last weekend, I cut about 12 spears Saturday morning but had lots of things to do so I wasn't out there more than 10 minutes hunting. Last year we were able to freeze a gallon bag of it to eat one it was out of season, plus ate so much we got sick of it durring the season.
I love free veggies

 

[lesa]

Oh, aren't you lucky, Aussie! I would love to "get sick" of asparagus! I have never seem it growing wild- but my Mom remembers it growing along the railroad tracks in Pa. Enjoy!

 

[seedcorn]

I know the feeling about eating it till I'm sick of it. This year I moved about 2/3 of the patch to new spot-it's about 3X larger when filled in. So when it's going I'll really get sick of it. I give it away to neighbors--until they quit answering door.

I'm doing that now w/bantam eggs. The neighbors are almost locking the door when they see me come walking up. I like to think it's the horse we call our dog that makes them do that and not me w/more eggs.............

 

[Rozzie]

Very nice! We had wild asparagus in quite a few places growing up. We never had to plant it. I hope mine does as well as yours! This is my first time planting it. I intentionally planted mine a bit too close together. We'll hope the gardening gods don't frown on me for it.