Growing Asparagus

[Mackay]

I have two asparagus beds. One is Martha Washington that got no higher than 3 inches this year.

The second is New Jersey Giant, second year roots that I planted this spring. Ive had many skinny shoots coming up in this bed that get pretty tall, 2 to 3 feet but none of the shoots are like you see in the supermarket, also the shoots get tough quick and if Im not out there picking them the day they come up Im out of luck.

Should I cut down the shoots after they feather out?
Will the stalks get thicker next year?
What should I feed to an asparagus bed?

and what happened to my second year Martha Washington Asparagus? No action there at all.

 

[catjac1975]

You are not supposed to harvest the first year or two. Leave the ferns they are the solar collectors to gain strength in the roots. I would mulch heavily and feed with manure. They will increase in size each year.

 

[OldGuy43]

Yeah, what CatJac said. The only thing I know about asparagus is what I learned from my grandmother's Victory Garden that she planted during "The Big One". (WWII, you've heard of it. It was in all the papers. ) You will recall that war ended in '45. She still had asparagus growing in her back yard 10 years later.

That's why I don't understand why it's so expensive in the stores. Once you get it started it's nearly impossible to stop growing.

 

[Mackay]

I've only harvested 4 stalks. Ill go out and feed them some goat and steer manure right now and leave them be. thanks.