Planting and caring for asparagus

If you sow the plants timeously (early March) in the greenhouse, you will have plant material in May of the same year that can be planted in a temporary waiting bed. After the winter, these plants can immediately be replanted in their final spot, where they will remain for about 15 years. You will be amazed at how sturdy these plants are after just one year. When harvesting, it is clear that the roots of the plants have already gone deep into the ground and that transplanting couldn’t have come too soon.

Location

The choice of soil is especially important for white asparagus. Green asparagus, on the other hand, is less demanding. Because they do not need to form white stems underground, it is not necessary to make ridges. They don’t need to be planted deeply and earth banks are not needed. It is better to grow green asparagus on heavier soils types. Choose a piece of land with as little shade as possible, as this helps the warming up of the soil and speeds up the harvest. The sturdy stems of the asparagus can serve as a windbreak during the summer. It is logical to plant them on the outside of the vegetable garden rather than in the middle. So be aware of which side of the garden you place them, because the tall foliage provides a lot of shade. Asparagus requires space, both in depth (roots), height (foliage) and width (row spacing). Make sure not to place your asparagus in a shady spot. White or green asparagus is a sun-tolerant plant and its spring growth is helped by soil that warms up quickly.

Soil preparation

If you have soil that is not naturally deep-rooting or has hard layers that are difficult to root through, it is best to prepare it in the year before planting. The lifespan of the plant will depend on the depth of the roots. We should aim for a rootable depth of 80 cm. If this is not the case, then it is advisable to dig to a depth of 60-75 cm the year before planting asparagus. Digging deep means that you dig a wide, deep furrow, and loosen the soil in the furrow with a digging fork. This should of course be done in dry conditions. Organic fertilizer is recommended when planting asparagus. Use farmyard manure or compost. Add it at the time of deep digging. Use at least 10 litres of compost or farmyard manure per square meter. After deep digging you can add green manure. In doing so, the selected piece of ground is perfectly prepared for planting asparagus next spring.​