[Arid_gardener] asparagus planting

[derGartenArzt]

----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle B" <mmb at storyteller.net>
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 11:37 AM
>I wish to prepare a bed for planting asparagus. I need to know the cultural
>requirements of asparagus, such as sun -vs- shade, etc. Is there a
>publication or web site I can be referred to, or someone who would like to
>share growing tips? I really appreciate it!
=======================================================

Grow in full sun.  It stops producing spears and starts to produce ferns in
March and April.  The following, taken fron old a_g archives at
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/old_archives/arid_gardener/2001-November/007057.html
may be helpful.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ
http://home.att.net/~millero/VSG/desert_gardening.htm

" In the low desert, you can plant asparagus crowns from now [this was
wrtten in November] until mid February.  But it may be best to wait until
after January 1 because there won't be much growth until the soil warms.
Mail order purchases are usually 1-year-old crowns.  Most suppliers refuse
to ship until after some  hypothetical "frost free date for your area" not
realizing (or caring) that we often need to push the envelope a little
because of our very short spring and very hot summer weather.  Another
problem with mail order is potential freezing in transit if the crowns are
moist and fleshy.

Male plants produce the thick spears.  With Mary Washington, the traditional
variety, the male:female ratio is about 50:50.  With the newer, all-male
"Jersey" hybrids (Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant, Jersey King), all of the
plants produce thick spears and the yield theoretically should be double for
the same space and the same number of plants.

Spears should not be harvested until the second year.  Spears will emerge in
late February and the harvest season is relatively short, probably because
of the short spring season and also because of the short dormant period.  In
late fall when the ferns of unharvested plants die back, the stalks should
be cut off and the entire asparagus row (or bed) should be covered with a
breathable, organic mulch.

Although asparagus plants are perennial, in my experience the useful life is
only a few years before the yield starts to decline, unlike temperate
climates where useful life may be 10-25 years or more.

You can also purchase and grow plants from seed but it will take a year
longer for the first harvest."