In professional cultivation, asparagus rhizomes are used to cultivate the vegetable. Few grow small plants themselves from seed, because this extends the time until the first harvest. Cultivation is possible in your own garden.
Asparagus roots grow up to three meters long
growth
Asparagus officinalis develops an underground storage organ, which forms roots up to three meters long. Fleshy shoots sprout from the rhizome, which are covered with spiral bracts. The shoots are whitish to pale red in colour. Above the ground, they branch out and form the plant stems with leaf-like branches.
development
During the summer months, the above-ground green parts of the plant produce carbohydrates via photosynthesis. These substances are stored in the rhizome in autumn so that the asparagus can sprout the following spring. The more energy is collected in the storage organs, the stronger the asparagus shoots grow. Shortly before winter, the plant withers and the parts of the plant above the ground die off.
harvest
The young asparagus spears are suitable for consumption. The harvest time extends from the end of March to the beginning of April. The asparagus can be harvested for the first time in the coming season, although you should let the asparagus plants grow undisturbed for another year for a better yield. The harvest usually takes place from the third year of growth. Do not clear all plants at the same time. This gives the stock the opportunity to thrive more vigorously.
Green vs. white asparagus
White asparagus must be harvested relatively early, even before the shoots push through the soil. When they come into contact with sunlight, they develop a green color. These above-ground asparagus spears are called green asparagus. Both belong to the species Asparagus officinalis.
Plant asparagus yourself
Asparagus rhizomes are allowed to migrate into the garden bed between early April and mid-May, while transplanting drawn seedlings after the last frosts. A warm and not too wet soil provides a good basis for growth. Cold and wet substrates restrict growth, so rotting of the roots and rhizomes quickly occurs. Asparagus is commonly planted out in ditches.
How to plant rhizomes:
- Plant green asparagus 15 centimeters deep
- White asparagus can grow up to 25 centimeters in the substrate
- Spread the root shoots out in a fan shape in the planting hole
- Cover the root system with a layer of soil eight to ten centimeters thick
tips
Once the asparagus grows and becomes visible at the surface, fill in the trench with fresh soil.
fertilization
The asparagus plants grow for up to ten years in the same location if you create optimal conditions. Provide the bed with compost before planting, or sow legumes for green manure in the fall. After the asparagus plants have died off after the season, carefully work a slow-release fertilizer into the soil. Liming can be carried out every three years so that the environment has a pH between 5.8 and 6.5.