Asparagus Bed

[Durgan]

Asparagus bed.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MNJPH 13 September 2009 Asparagus bed.
Growth is excellent for one year. The bed was planted in May 2008. Only a few spears will be taken in 2010, then the main harvest will begin in the Spring of 2011.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SummaryA Summary: Asparagus

[Debbie-cat]

Wow, that looks awesome durgan!!

[littleplum]

Fascinating. We are thinking of putting in an asparagus bed in our front yard.

How many people did you plant for? Is 11 rhizomes enough for a family of 4 or 5?

[fixer]

Fascinating. We are thinking of putting in an asparagus bed in our front yard.

How many people did you plant for? Is 11 rhizomes enough for a family of 4 or 5?

The rule of thumb is one-half pounds of asparagus for each rhizome.

[Greebo]

Funny - I read the title at first as "Asparagus bad" and immediately agreed.

[Durgan]

Fascinating. We are thinking of putting in an asparagus bed in our front yard.

How many people did you plant for? Is 11 rhizomes enough for a family of 4 or 5?

Fixer answered you question pretty well. Ten rhizomes is probably plenty for a family of four, and the produce is by your own hand.

The front lawn is an ideal place. The last place where I lived I had a circular bed about 3 to 4 feet in diameter on the front lawn. People use to stop and ask me what the pretty fern was, when the plant had finished producing in the Spring. The vegetation is quite attractive in the Summer and Fall.

[Charles C]

I had until this year 2 100' x 10' asparagus beds, mostly Mary Washington. Deer knocked my fence down, and I didn't bother, plants are still there. Am going to rework the beds . Which really means move all the plants, also going to get some of the latest varities.

We eat it but it sure is an early source of revenue on the corner table. I do know if you let the crowns go too long, many of mine when I transplant will have far more than 50 crowns to transplant.

I'm sure those sayings that beds go on for 50 years might be true, but I can guarantee you they aren't producing much.

[littleplum]

Fixer answered you question pretty well. Ten rhizomes is probably plenty for a family of four, and the produce is by your own hand.

The front lawn is an ideal place. The last place where I lived I had a circular bed about 3 to 4 feet in diameter on the front lawn. People use to stop and ask me what the pretty fern was, when the plant had finished producing in the Spring. The vegetation is quite attractive in the Summer and Fall.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Most people in our neighborhood have non-fruit-bearing trees in their front yard, which I think is a shame and a waste. (But it's their yard, I guess!) I want a yard that is both attractive and that will feed our family.

[littleplum]

Funny - I read the title at first as "Asparagus bad" and immediately agreed.

It's not the asparagus that's bad - it's the morning after you eat it that's bad! PU!

[Charles C]

Funny - I read the title at first as "Asparagus bad" and immediately agreed.

Greebo not everyone may like asparagus, but if you sell it, I doubt you could grow enough to satisfy the demand, in any given area. just with a small roadside sign.

So I like it ok, but I like the revenue even better, especially since it is earlier than most garden income.

[Surilda]

Charles,
I have never tried asparagus, although I think it looks good.

Does the taste resemble any other vegetable at all?

Just wondering....

[Durgan]

Charles,
I have never tried asparagus, although I think it looks good.

Does the taste resemble any other vegetable at all?

Just wondering....

Most vegetables have the same flavor. Usually the condiment used is the flavor. Using only butter for a condiment, other than appearance, one would be hard pressed to determine the difference in taste amongst many vegetables. I look upon most vegetables as just another type to try, sort of increasing the variety.

Asparagus when not overcooked (limp) with a bit of butter is most pleasant, since it has no profound flavor of it own.

[Charles C]

Charles,
I have never tried asparagus, although I think it looks good.

Does the taste resemble any other vegetable at all?

Just wondering....

Sorry Surilda first time back in here, I'd say closer to pea's taste, but it's got a taste of it's own.

[Charles C]

In looking at Durgans Asparagus beds, which are attractive and growing well. He probably knows it already but will state it anyway. Asparagus takes a great amount of nutrients, manue and bedding compost is great, and a little nitorgen doesn't hurt.

While I think those beds are well set up. One thing I like to point out is uncomposted woodchips tie up any nitrogen untill they decopose, so if your plants aren't looking well fed, I would feed them something, and with your set up, my manure and bedding compost, wouldn't be appropriate.

Also in nature asparagus comes from marshy salty places. So a bit of salt added to your bed every year will do it good.

[Charles C]

Garden will soon be gone, all my old plants were ravaged by the deer last year. Have my sons Loader setting here, don't know if anyone has ever dug up existing asparagus plants. Well there is one reason, most people don't . It is very hard work. Just thinking that machine would get under them and I could lift them out and set them in some compost and sand till I have a new bed ready. One thing about existing plants are, they are hard work, but you can start chowing down the first year