How to Grow Asparagus

By Donna Sundblad

As a gardener who wants to learn how to grow asparagus, be aware that it is unlike any other vegetable. Along with patience, you'll need a small garden plot and three years to start to grow this perennial vegetable.

Prepare the Asparagus Bed

Asparagus is usually grown in a prepared bed of its own. As it grows the first year, the fern-like foliage should be left to stand through the summer and into the fall when it becomes dormant. It grows tall enough that this foliage shades plants around it, so instead of placing it in your garden, plant it next to the garden or in a separate bed of its own. However, when choosing a site for your asparagus bed make sure it will get plenty of sun. Prepare the soil well, by removing all weeds. Asparagus thrives in rich organic soil. If you take the time to prepare the bed in the beginning, it has the potential to produce for at least 10 to 15 years. If you're reading this article and the season to plant has already passed, take advantage of the time you have to prepare your plot for next springs planting. Enrich the soil with the following:

Rotted leaves
Compost
Manure

Size of the Asparagus Plot

Just like any garden plot, the size of your asparagus bed will depend on the yield you hope to harvest. Each mature asparagus plant has the potential to send up 15 to 20 spears. Plants should be planted about one foot apart.

Buying Asparagus Plants

Asparagus growing does take patience and is almost impossible to grow from seed. For most home gardeners, purchasing plants from your local nursery or by mail order is best. Here's what to look for:

1-year-old asparagus crowns (these are the roots of the plant)
Bundles with 10-15 dormant fresh, firm roots

Basics for How to Grow Asparagus

Once you purchase your plants, get them into the ground as soon as possible.

Dig a trench of about 6 inches
Set crowns in the trench about a foot apart
Cover with about two inches of soil
Gradually work soil into the trench throughout the first season as plants begin to grow
Water weekly if you don't get rain

source:http://garden.lovetoknow.com