Beginner needs help with asparagus

Hi, I moved to a new house with an existing, established asparagus garden last year. Unfortunately I was travelling all spring and summer and didn't have time to care for it well. We cut maybe a dozen spears and the rest went to ferns and also the garden became weed filled. In the fall I simply left everything because I was not part of this forum and didn't know how to cut it back. I now know that I really messed up, and want some advice for this season. It is raining today and the garden will be clear of snow for the first time this year and if I believe the weatherman, it might stay that way all week. I could go out and work to clear the weeds, cut the ferns, whatever. Please help me with best advice. THANK YOU.

I think you probably did the right thing by accident :). I am just starting with asparagus, and had a hard time leaving it be last year, and this year will be even worse. But, for your established bed, you can harvest. I'm been told to let about half the stalks go to fern, and that they should be left alone over winter, and then (if needed) cut down in spring, if you wish. My ferns are petty much gone by themselves, but I didn't have many (sniff).

dschicke - leaving the ferns over-winter is a good thing! Once the cold weather has left your area, cut back all the dried-up ferns to ground level.

As to the weeds, it's always best to keep vegetable gardens weed-free as the weeds compete with the veggies for food. I look at it this way: I pay an arm-and-a-leg for organic fertilizer, and it's not for the benefit of weeds!

Thanks for your help. Should I cut the ferns after last frost or when the weather breaks (but still expect frost and maybe snow)? We are currently expecting the first 5 consecutive days since December with highs above freeezing this week (lows still in 20's or teens). Also, should I pull the weeds as soon as possible, even if the ground is frozen or wet, or is that risky to disturb the asparagus plants underground (sorry I don't know the right words...) I plan to do a better job with the weeding this year!!

THANKS AGAIN.

dschicke - I have read that the dead ferns help to protect asparagus from cold weather. I don't know how true this is. I cut mine back on Feb 13th because I could see new shoots pushing through.

I would wait on pulling the weeds. As you said, you might disturb the asparagus roots.

I pull at least one weed everytime I go out in the garden, so it doesn't seem so much of a chore.

Asparagus spears should be allowed go to ferns every summer after the harvest is complete. They should be cut down to the soil level the following spring before the new spears start pushing through. Weeds in your asparagus is a very bad thing for the asparagus roots. As soon as the soil warms up enough to pull the weeds, you should get started removing them from your asparagus bed. Enjoy your asparagus!

My asparagus has finally begun to show up. It's coming up all different sizes, so I've decided to let it go for this year, rather than just harvesting a few.

Sure is fun to think about next year....

Ok, I'm glad I stumbled on this thread. Sigh. Like you, ds, I inherited my asparagus patch. And I value their existence!! Just don't know a THING about growing them.

I know for a fact they are well beyond their 2year waiting period.
I've tried to keep that bed fertilized and weeded. However, my dilemma is always WHEN to pick the dadgum things!!!

They are teeny one day when I go out (smaller than a pencil) and then the next day I go out and all I have is FERNS! dang!!!!

What do I do here? Help!!!

Ii can only tell you what I've seen. This is the secondish (they were fall planted, so this is their second spring). Last year they were all pretty skinny. This year, there are some that are skinny, but some have been larger. They don't get larger (which is what I had expected), they break ground that way. I was advised that I could cut some of those if I wanted, but I've decided to let them go.

The patch is a bit sparse for my liking, but I knew if I added more, I'd have to wait for _all_ of them to be ready before I cut any. Yesterday I had an "aha" moment. I found roots of purple asparagus *G*, I shall plant these amonst the green, and will be able to know what's ready, and what should stay put:)

I think....

Cajun2 - the fatter asparagus stems are the ones to harvest - those fatter than a pencil. The trick is to not let them get too tall. I'd like to give you some guide lines, but I just "wing-it" - if I think one will be too tall and begin ferning by the next day, I harvest it. If not, I wait until the next day.

I picked enough yesterday that I was able to steam and freeze the excess. They are going to taste "extra special" come some cold winter evening.

ok so right now, i'm stuck with over a dozen that are 'ferny' ~ do i do anything with those at all? cut them back so they're reproduce??

i'm sorry if i sound 'thick' but my asparagus ISN'T (thick)

No, Cajun, no cutting. I was told to leave them all summer, and over the winter to help the roots gain energy for next year. Cut just before spring.

I have ferns too :)

Ok, do they need more WATER? Anything special?
Special diet? Do I need to learn French?
I mean, WHY are mine so teeny???/
*sniff*

Babies are teeny. They may need more water. They may be drowning. They may need fertilizer. They may be burning. It takes some time to get them big. I planted crowns two years ago, and now they are generally as large as my thumb when I harvest, but the last two years, they've been scrawny things. They just need time and patience.

Ok so I'm 90% sure they're NOT getting enough water, and only until I dumped the load of bovine dung in the bed, they probably weren't getting enough fertilizer either.

Now, yet another silly question... I seem to recall my [ex] MIL having her bed in the shade.
Mine is in FULL sun, and in South Texas.
Whadaya think?
And is it too late to move if it's in the wrong spot?

Mine are in full sun, and SC may not be Texas, but it's pretty hot *G*. The first year all the spears were tiny, but now some are big, even bigger than I actually like.
I think all yours need is tincture of time...

At least i hope so.

Cajun2 - do not cut the ferns. They will eventually turn brown. Leave them there until just before the asparagus sprouts next year, and then cut them back to the ground.

I fertlizer my asparagus at the beginning of March, but you will probably want to use a different date.

When the soil is dry, I give mine water, otherwise I let them be.

Mine are in full sun.

Some of my asparagus has already formed ferns.

If your asparagus is not "thick" then it's probably too young to cut, or it has not had enough fertilizer. Let them go to fern, and fertilize them next year before they sprout. I do not recommend trying to transplant them - they have huge "spider looking" roots that will break easily if disturbed.

My asparagus bed is now 5 years old and some are as thick as my thumb.

I gotcha! You guys are awesome.
This bed is at least 4-5 years old. Probably has NOT gotten enough water or fertilizer in the past to make them larger.

Much more hopeful now that I [think I] know what to do!

MUCH appreciated ;-)

Cajun2 - I didn't realize your asparagus bed was that mature. Perhaps they are too crowded.

Hopefully someone else on Dave's Garden will know if this is a possibility. My asparagus still has lots of room to expand, but perhaps yours does not.

hmmm Honeybee.... the bed itself would provide them PLENTY of room to stretch and grow. do you think then the roots are too tangled (or whatever)?

Cajun2 -

I fertilize with cow manure and compost twice a year. Spring and Fall. I'm in zone 8b, and my asparagus is in full sun. I think it does really like water. It's been raining here since Saturday, and the asparagus has sent up its fattest stalks yet, in response. Definitely larger than my thumb. It also sends up smaller stalks, that I leave. It is definitely spreading on it's own, and I think that I initially planted the crowns too close together. They've got room to move, and they are doing it, which makes me happy.