Asparagus is a high-yielding, early-season vegetable for home gardeners and commercial growers across Missouri. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), which is in the same family of vegetables as onion, is grown as a perennial vegetable in Missouri and can yield for 10 or more years.
Can I grow asparagus in Chicago?
Chicago weather is ideal for growing asparagus. Since well-drained, fertile soil is a must, hard clay soils should be amended in fall with compost, or asparagus can be planted in raised beds. It takes five years for a planting to become mature.
When should I plant asparagus in Illinois?
Asparagus should be planted in April or early May. But remember our Illinois weather the past two springs – cold and wet. With fall bed prep, you will enjoy a head start if the ground remains too wet to work next April. Choose a spot in full sun and where a 5-foot-tall hedge won’t be a problem.
Where does asparagus grow the best?
Choose a fertile, sunny, well-drained site with soil that holds moisture well. Late spring frosts can kill emerged spears, so find an area that is not low-lying or exposed to frost. Asparagus plants have deep root systems. Avoid areas with shallow soils, or soils prone to water-saturation.
How many years does it take to grow asparagus?
3 years
Although asparagus can be started from seed, the plants take 3 years to mature, so it is usually grown from 1-year-old crowns. However, the plant can be productive for 10 years or more, so it’s worth the wait. You can start planting and growing asparagus as soon as the soil is workable in late winter or early spring.
Does asparagus take 7 years to grow?
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable so it comes back year after year. The fern-like stalks will grow up to 6′ tall. While asparagus may use more space and take about 3 years to come into full production, they ultimately pay off, providing spears for 15–20 years in spring.
Does asparagus take 3 years to grow?
Learning how to grow asparagus is simple. Asparagus is a dependable favorite in the home garden. Plants take 2 or 3 years before they are ready to harvest, but then produce tasty spears for the next 10-15 years. Asparagus stalks increase in circumference and number over time — it definitely gets better with age.
Is asparagus worth growing?
Asparagus is a nutrient-packed perennial, meaning this good-for-you veggie will produce year after year when properly cared for. Yes, that does mean it takes years to develop a crop of healthy asparagus, but the payoff is worth it.
How cold can asparagus tolerate?
Asparagus Fern Care Tips
Asparagus ferns prefer warm and humid climates (about 70°F) and cannot withstand temperatures below 55°F for long periods of time.
What happens if you don’t harvest asparagus?
You should harvest all of the spears that come up until the end of the harvest period, even the small diameter ones. If you don’t, asparagus beetles will lay their eggs in those ferns.
What states can you grow asparagus?
The United States produces around 20,000 to 25,000 acres of asparagus with a value of $70 to $100 million annually. The largest asparagus-producing states are Michigan, California, New Jersey, and Washington. Asparagus is produced on 4,900 farms in the United States and 75 percent of those farms have one acre or less.
Is asparagus hard to grow?
Asparagus is easy to grow, producing tasty new shoots from mid-spring to early summer – a seasonal treat to be savoured. These large perennial plants need to be grown in the ground, rather than in containers, where they will crop annually for many years.
Which state is known for asparagus?
Asparagus production in the United States is concentrated between three states: California, Michigan, and Washington.
How many spears do you get from one asparagus plant?
You won’t be able to harvest your asparagus for the first two years after planting. But once it’s established, each asparagus crown can produce up to 25 spears per year and will continue cropping for 25 years!
Does asparagus come back every year?
Unlike most vegetables, asparagus plants are perennial, which means the same plants grow in your garden year after year. The spears that we enjoy as a vegetable are the new shoots that emerge in spring.
Why do you have to wait 3 years to harvest asparagus?
In no year should you be considering asparagus harvesting for more than 8 weeks from the first cutting or you will weaken your crop for the following year. Whichever year you are in you need to cut your asparagus when it reaches about 4-6inches (10-15cm)in length.
Does asparagus multiply on its own?
Of course yes. Asparagus can multiply on its own as long as the seeds or roots are planted correctly and the plant is properly taken care of. The plants normally have strong roots which tend to shoot up sticks everywhere.
Does asparagus need a lot of sun?
Growing Conditions
Site – Full sun is ideal. Asparagus needs at least 8 hours of sun per day. Since asparagus is a long-lived perennial, do not plant where trees or tall shrubs might eventually shade the plants or compete for nutrients and water.
What happens if you let asparagus keep growing?
If you notice decreased production and vigor in your asparagus plants, stop harvesting and let the plant store energy for next season. Any spears that reach a height of more than ten inches should be allowed to continue growing to strengthen roots and store energy for next year.
What is the lifespan of asparagus?
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning it will come back year after year on it’s own. Once you have an established asparagus patch, relatively little effort is required to maintain the plants. Most asparagus plants have a 10 year life expectancy.
Can you eat asparagus after it ferns?
Overgrown Asparagus Isn’t “Bolting”
That’s not the case with asparagus, so don’t be tempted to cut back the overgrown asparagus plant as it opens up and begins to fern. Its culinary value is just about nil, and you’ll be weakening the plant.