HOW TO Tips For Growing Asparagus In Raised Beds

Growing asparagus in raised garden beds provides perennial asparagus plants a secluded spot for controlled growing conditions.

It allows for undisturbed growth each year. A raised bed isolates the seed and crops from invasive weeds and grasses. With shallow roots Asparagus don’t compete well with weeds.

Growing Asparagus In Raised BedsPin

Keep weeds at bay by creating a 2 ft.-wide of landscape fabric or black plastic sheeting and covered with bark mulch, chopped leaves or straw.

Another raised bed advantage lets you use the ideal garden soil mix specifically tuned to the needs of the individual plants. Asparagus wants rich, well-drained soil amended with lots of compost, organic matter or rotted manure. [source]

Space plants 18 inches apart minimum, so you will need a large raised bed to accommodate several of the asparagus plants.



Quick Tips For Growing Asparagus In Raised Beds

Here are some quick tips on how to grow asparagus in a raised bed vegetable garden:

  • For best results, plant asparagus seeds about 18 inches apart at a minimum. More space is better.
  • This spacing means raised bed needs to be of a good size. Make beds at least 12 inches tall. This height allows for enough soil to accommodate plants.
  • Asparagus thrives in a deep nutrient-rich soil.
  • Take time preparing the raised bed as once prepared properly this perennial vegetable can grow in the ground level for 10 to 20 years without a problem.
  • For the best results, till the soil about 12 inches deep from the soil surface and add compost to the ground. This will increase soil nutrient content asparagus needs to thrive.
  • Dig furrows about 12 inches deep in the asparagus raised bed. Dig two furrows running the length of the asparagus beds as most beds are no more than 4 feet across.
  • Before the asparagus planting, mount loose dirt into 4-6 inch cone-shaped piles. Place plants at the bottom of the furrow. Leave at least 18 inches of space between each dirt mound.
  • To plant asparagus, place its crown on top of the each dirt pile in the furrows. Position roots so they dangle down over the dirt pile.
  • After placing asparagus add dirt to the furrows until the asparagus crowns are covered with about one inch of the soil.

Video by Thompson & Morgan

How to plant asparagus roots. How do you plant asparagus?

  • Water asparagus plants enough to keep the surrounding soil moist. Make sure not to drench the soil with water. Watering plays an important role for asparagus plants, as it prevents them to grow thin, tough stalks.
  • When asparagus begins to grow, add more soil to the furrows. Make sure to cover the emerging asparagus spears gradually until the furrows are filled to the soil level in the raised bed.
  • Do not harvest in the first two or three years after planting. Give plants time to grow stronger, which results in a larger crop. The harvest season for asparagus spears is usually during early spring.
  • When you begin harvesting spears, choose the ones at least 8 inches tall. To harvest, cut just below the soil line.
  • In the first year of harvesting, harvest for about two weeks only. Starting the next year, harvest your asparagus plants for about four weeks.
  • As the plants die back each year at winter time, make sure to cut them to the ground.
  • If planted properly, asparagus will grow almost undisturbed. [source]

Choose a good fertilizer with higher phosphate and potassium levels. A 5-10-10 or 8-24-24 fertilizer formula will work well. [source]

Learn about the Asparagus Beetle.

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