ASPARAGUS
This season at Chris & Maries Plant Farms we have MARY WASHINGTON asparagus to offer to
our customers. Asparagus is easy to grow and when established will grow for 15 -20
years. It adapts to most soil types that provide good drainage. For permanent planting they
are best dug deep in well worked soil. |
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PLANTING
The best time to plant is June to August, in a
trench about 20cm deep and 25cm wide. |
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WHILE GROWING
Gradually fill the trench up as the plants begin to shoot, allowing the growth to remain above
the surface. We are selling two year old plants; no spears should be cut from them until they
reach four years old, as this is when they reach full bearing. This allows the plant time to
establish and ensures good crops thereafter. |
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HARVESTING
You may harvest your plant for about 10 weeks after the spears appear in early spring. It may
be necessary to harvest every 2-3 days.
Green spears can be cut before the tips start to open. For white asparagus the soil should be
hilled up to 20cm over the row late in winter. Harvest the spears from below the ground. |
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AFTER HARVESTING
Leave the fern to grow on until it turns yellow
in winter, then cut off to ground level. Soil can then be levelled, cultivated, fertilised and
made ready for healing up again in late winter before the new season’s crop begins. |
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| Asparagus will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days
after harvesting or alternatively, can be boiled for several minutes and then placed in the
freezer. |
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