[Arid_gardener] Re: Vegetable Asparagus Ferns

[Olin Miller]

----- Original Message ----- From: <miccio2 at cox.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 7:54 PM
> 85303,  miccio2 at cox.net
> Our asparagus are almost a year old. They are ferns and lay over. 
> Should we be triming these? They are about two feet long. They look 
> like they have seed balls on them? We planted them last fall but don't 
> know a thing about what they are supposed to look like.
=========================================

Spears will elongate and become fernlike so it sounds as though yours 
are normal.  But usually the ferns will be erect until they become 
dormant (brown and brittle) , then they should be cut back at ground 
level.  This happens in the fall.  After cutting back, cover with a 
2-inch layer of organic mulch and let dry until the new spears start to 
emerge in the spring.

There is a photo of the fernlike foliage at
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_vegetables/article/0,1785,HGTV_3650_1384819,00.html
but it may be another  year or more before yours will be so lush.

"The opinions or statements expressed herein are my own and should not 
be taken as a position, opinion, or endorsement of the Maricopa Master 
Gardener Association or of the University of Arizona."

Olin Miller
Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ