Asparagus tips

Today as requested from my friend Anne is a little about asparagus.  I really enjoy eating asparagus. If you like it from the store I would suggest putting in your garden...even better tasting and tender.  Its so easy to have in your garden.  It comes back each year so no replanting.  It just comes up each April/May and you cut and enjoy.  Keep the area weed free though so the stalks have nothing to compete with in the ground for nutrients and space. 

 

You cut the asparagus stalks when they are about 10inches tall.  If you let them grow tall they may flower on the top or tend to get bitter in flavor.  Don't cut them right at the dirt line but maybe 2inches or so above the ground. 

After cutting put the stalks into a cup filled with 6 inches or so of water.  This will help them not dry out.  They have lasted me weeks in the fridge this way.

In June it will be time to let the plants grow out.  You just stop cutting the stalks and then the plants will grow out bushy and get little orange balls on them...almost looks like a fern.  Those orange balls are little seeds so the plant does tend to spread a bit if you let it.  If you get any bug issues I would cut the busy plant once its all dead and wilted maybe in the late fall/early winter.  But if you don't get a bug or beetle issue just leave the bushy plants until spring and cut them back early in March.  You will need to do that to make room for the new crop coming up soon.