Hello, I have 3 year old asparagus beds and just read in a book that the crowns can be divided. I had not heard this and would like to know if anyone who grows gus has done this or has more info on this?
When would be the best time to divide if one was to do so?
Thank you,
Susan in NC
Asparagus Division
Since year three is usually the first decent harvest year from crowns, I hope you're not considering doing it right away!
As far as I know, folks don't divide their aparagus- since the roots get very matted & entwined, & reach way out from the center, it'll be difficult & damage the plants, & set back yield.
Maybe if your patch was starting to encroach on another area- or was really ancient/neglected and for some reason wasn't producing well- then I'd do it in the fall, while they're dormant. Otherwise I'd leave 'em alone unless I was moving or wanted to share. (Or realized that my location wasn't so great after all.) Not to be overly critical to your book there, but I doubt that that dividing has any benefits. Any yield problems can be addressed with lime, salt or manure.
Seeing double, but here's a good page about Asparagus
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2004/3-26-2004/asparagusfaq.html
I have had the same asparagus bed for almost 30 years. When I noticed a couple of years ago they were no longer producing as well I really cleaned them out of all weeds, added a lot of compost and mulch and fed well with organic fertilizers. The bed was back to its old self again this year producing wonderful, succulant stalks. Simply leave then alone, but cut off DEAD stalks in early spring before the new ones emerge. One can feed in the early spring as well. I used to add Epsom salts every spring but got sloppy. Now I tend to them better again and they are rewarding me. I also started some new beds last year so hope to harvest a few next spring. Do not dig around the roots any more than you can help or you can damage them. Weed carefully but do keep them weeded.
Thanks to those of you who replied. I had never heard of dividing and so thought I would ask before considering to do this. I don't think I will touch anything.
Thank you again,
Susan
Depending on the variety of asparagus you are growing, you might be able to harvest and grow the seed produced at the end of the year for additional plants. Obviously this would not work too well for a hybrid var, but non-hybrids would probably work OK. I know my patch occasionally produces extra plants from spurious seed. These plants get weeded out during the course of the summer because I am not increasing the size of my patch. I started my purple asparagus patch from purchased seed, and was able to get some taste by the second year. It grows pretty fast if given some care and water.
Ned, How do you use salt to address yield problems? I've been arguing with family regarding using salt in any part of my garden. I'd like to get your input.
Doesn't it help add trace minerals? Epsom salt adds magnesium, I believe. I use it every year in starting up my roses.
RatherB
I'm excited to hear that you can rejuvenate an old asparagus bed. Half of my 27-year-old bed was less productive last spring, so I'll give it the boost as recommended.
This is my first year to tend our 3-4 year old bed and I'm learning so much here. I unwittingly did well by mulching it really good last fall with pine straw, uncovering it this year, and weeding it really well. But I cut back the dead stuff after it was dried last fall/winter. How important is it that I leave it till Spring to do?
I'll definitely amend the soil organically with manure, epsom salts, and then mulch it good.
I would be careful with the pine straw, I don't know but it may lower your Ph. I use oat straw, lots of manure (aged) and bone meal. Every other year I add some bagged garden soil or compost for another layer of soil. I only do this because my gus are in raised beds and I am amazed at how the bed level drops after a Winter.
I got gus poppin through as of yesterday. I still would like to spread some of my crowns out, I know in one bed they are too close but I can't seem to get a fork or shovel between them, I can tell they are real thick under there. I may try again in the Fall.
I have some nice seedlings going in my greenhouse, the seeds germinated in about 21 days with botttom heat and I am getting a new bed ready to put those out. I hope to sell crowns next year.
I'm sure glad I read this thread - my asparagus is in it's third year and just beginning to sprout. I had been wondering about transplanting the plants in the fall because I only have ten plants and they are spread out in a 25' x 4' raised bed. I initially set 25 plants, but only ten survived. Guess I'll just buy some more plants and put them in the same bed.