Asparagus Asparagus officinalis

A spring staple for millennia, may have originated around the Mediterranean Sea, perhaps in Asia Minor. The pharaohs, Greeks and Romans were all aware of its highly nutritious qualities and delectable flavor. The earliest known American horticultural advertisement, from March 1719, is for “English Sparrow-grass Roots.” Uncut shoots become a light green feathery hedge, a beautiful backdrop to a flower garden. Honeybees love the dainty dangling flowers, which develop into bright red spherical seed pods on female plants. Occasionally non–spear-forming females will show up in a planting. Leave them be or rogue them out as you wish.

Growing Asparagus

• Soil: Requires fertile soil and high levels of phosphorus.
• Sun: Full sun.
• Planting: Plant 14–18" apart, 6–10" deep, in trenches 4' apart. Or dig your trenches somewhat deeper and fill the bottom with 4" of compost and rotted manure. For an extra fertilizer boost, use Fedco’s own Gungnir Asparagus Mix.

  Lay plants with crowns up and cover with 2" of soil. Plants emerge very slowly. As young shoots grow, add soil gradually, just covering the shoots, until the trench is full.

  In late fall, remove dead stalks and mulch with 3" of manure.

  • Second summer: Add lime, rock fertilizers and compost as needed. Control weeds but do not injure crowns.
  • Later years: Same routine but increase fertilizer. Be sure to leave some spears each year to grow stalks that will nourish the roots and give you more spears next year. Keep the bed weed-free and mulched heavily.
• Harvest: We recommend caution in harvesting too much too soon. Before the third or fourth season, harvest only the largest shoots from vigorous plants so the young plants can establish themselves.