Asparagus planting...

I bought some asparagus "roots" at the store the other day and really want to try to incorporate them into our garden. I'm not sure however when the best time to plant them is. We are in SW PA, zone 5b/6a I believe. I know that you are supposed to plant in the fall for spring for these guys...is it too late to try to get them in the ground? If I plant now, will it be too early with temperatures? We don't put anything not frost resistant in the ground here until after mid-May. I know that the asparagus will take 3 years to get a harvest, so its not as if I'm counting on it. I just want to get it started for the most success in the future.

Help?

This message was edited Apr 4, 2008 10:14 PM

I would say in your zone, it is still to cool (the soil needs to warm up a bit) the way to speed this up is to dig the trenches and free them of weeds etc, then cover them over with black polythene, (stops the weeds regermination, and also warms up the soil as the sun gets onto the black Polly) when you are ready to plant out the Asparagus roots, you dig the soil out of each trench, at the bottom of the trench you lay animal manure, then add some soil on top to leave a nice mound of soil so the roots are laid on a little hill/mound, and not on a flat bottom, then as you place the roots onto this mound, you gently spread the roots out over the mounds, at the space recommended for the type of asparagus your planting, then fill in the trench gently firming the soil in the trench, if you wish, you can then make tent with clear plastic to work as a mini greenhouse and protect from late frost, but to be honest, as this is brand new plants you have, then no part of the greenery should be above ground till they start to sprout naturally. You are correct to say you dont harvest your Asparagus for the first 2/3 years as they need time to build up strength and even the first harvest should never be to clear the asparagus tips off each plant completely. In case you dont know, there is a knack to harvesting your crop, the right way is to run your fingers down each shoot/tip and cut from the bottom, with a sharp knife, old gardeners use a knife specially for Asparagus as it has a curve on the blade, never pull off/out your tips, or you will weaken your plants and let disease into the plants as well. each autumn, it is a good idea to place a mulch of well rotted animal manure over the trenches to protect the roots from frost and also to add extra extra nutrients as these plants are hungry feeders, the animal manure also composts down into the soil helped by the worms and will benefit the soil no end, be careful if you use a garden how as the little tender tips can be just under the soil and you dont want to chop them off,
As for right now, I would get a large bucket and fill it with nice moist compost, not wet, put the roots into this and store in a dry but dark place till the weather gets warming the soil more, keep a close eye on the roots till you plant them out mid to late spring.
Your Asparagus Beds should last for about fifty years with proper care and they dont like being moved about, so plant where you know they will be happy for many years to come, My Dad had an Asparagus bed before I was born and it was still being harvested when I left home and got married, sadly after my parents moved, the whole area was knocked down for the so called urban redevelopment, now that's gone as has the beds he so lovingly cared for all those years, such is life eh. Good luck. Weenel.