Can I cut asparagus back in the summer?

When to Cut Asparagus Back

Ideally, asparagus should be cut back in the fall but it is important that you wait until all of the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This will normally happen after first frost, but it can happen without frost in areas that do not receive frost.

Consequently, can you pick asparagus all summer?

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, which means that a well-established bed can produce fresh spears for twenty years or more. Usually considered an early season crop, asparagus isn't just for spring anymore. By following a few simple planting and growing tricks, you can harvest asparagus all summer long.

Likewise, how do you cut asparagus from the garden? Harvest and Storage. Once asparagus plants are strong enough to be harvested, cut all new shoots in spring when they are about 8 inches tall, snapping them off at the soil line. Many seasoned gardeners use a knife to cut below the soil line, but it is important to avoid cutting into emerging spears nearby.

Accordingly, does asparagus grow back after you cut it?

After harvest, allow the ferns to grow; this replenishes the nutrients for next year's spear production. Always leave one or two spears. Cut back asparagus AFTER the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This is usually in the fall after frost.

When should I trim my asparagus?

When to Cut Asparagus Back Ideally, asparagus should be cut back in the fall but it is important that you wait until all of the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This will normally happen after first frost, but it can happen without frost in areas that do not receive frost.

35 Related Question Answers Found

When should you stop cutting asparagus?

Stop harvesting when the spears are about the size of a pencil -- usually in 4 to 6 weeks. Allow the spears to open and take on their fern-like growth, which can reach 4 to 6 feet tall. Cut the plants back in late fall or winter, only after they've turned brown.

Will asparagus spread on its own?

Because asparagus is a perennial, you'll need to pick an out of the way spot in the vegetable garden, an area you can till around. Asparagus also needs space, about 4 to 5 feet for each plant. They won't spread out much the first couple of years, but once established, they will quickly fill in.

Should you let asparagus go to seed?

Coppice In Flower

Asparagus does not go to seed every year. Your harvest should end when the next spears come out scraggly and thin. There is no correlation between the two (harvest & seed).

Why is my asparagus skinny?

Thin asparagus spears appear for a number of reasons, but the root cause is ultimately the same: the asparagus crown lacks the rigor to create bigger shoots. The ferns that grow from the crown aren't simply waste material to cut down, they need to be allowed to grow so your asparagus can recharge its batteries.

What is best fertilizer for asparagus?

Asparagus can be fertilized in early spring before the spears emerge. An application of 1 to 1.5 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, per 100 square feet should be adequate. Asparagus can also be fertilized after the last harvest in June. Using a nitrogen fertilizer, apply .

Why is asparagus so expensive?

Asparagus is expensive because the part you eat is the green* shoot of a woody plant. The green shoots are only on the plant for a brief time. Traditionally, it was a vegetable that was only available in early spring for that reason, but now it is imported from other parts of the world.

How many times can you harvest asparagus?

Early in the season, 7-to-9 inch spears might be harvested every two to four days. As air temperatures increase, harvesting frequencies will increase to once or twice per day. Growers can have up to 24 harvests per season, after which crowns are allowed to fern and grow out.

How much asparagus should you cut off?

Simply take the end of the asparagus between your thumb and forefinger and bend until it breaks. Lest you think we are belaboring such an obvious point, let us say that the fun in this is that the asparagus automatically breaks just where the woody part ends and the fresh, juicy asparagus begins.

Does asparagus like sun or shade?

When grown from crowns, asparagus plants take two to three years to produce a harvest. In the right conditions, asparagus plants remain productive for about 15 years. Asparagus thrives in full sun, but it will tolerate shade for part of the day as long as it gets at least eight hours of light.

How fast does asparagus grow in a day?

How fast does asparagus grow? About 7 inches in a day under optimal conditions. Beds are cut every day, sometimes more, during the average 70 to 80 days of peak harvest.

How healthy is asparagus?

Asparagus is a nutrient-packed vegetable. It is a very good source of fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as chromium, a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. That's good news if you're watching your blood sugar.

How often do you water asparagus?

Watering Asparagus Plants

During the first 2 years after planting, asparagus plants need 1 to 2 inches per week. If you are not receiving adequate rainfall you will need to water.
Mulch around the plant with compost or grass clippings to help soil moisture and reduce weed growth.
After year 4 you can reduce irrigation to every 2-3 weeks.

What is a good companion plant for asparagus?

Basil, cilantro and parsley are attractive, useful companion plants for asparagus, though basil and parsley are invasive in some U.S. states. Basil and cilantro are annual plants, and though parsley is a biennial, the herb is usually grown as an annual.

Can you eat asparagus raw?

Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten cooked or raw. To reap the greatest health benefits, consider incorporating both cooked and raw asparagus into your diet.

How much asparagus do you get from one plant?

1 Answer. From here, a mature asparagus crown will produce a half pound a year, which is about twenty spears a year per plant. A good rule of thumb is to plant ten plants for each family member.

Are coffee grounds good for asparagus?

* Coffee grounds alone would be too acidic, but if you're mixing them in with other kitchen waste and especially yard waste like leaves, they're fine. Asparagus prefers a soil pH between 6.5 and 7, which is mildly acidic. The grounds also add some nitrogen, which is a regular nutrition need of asparagus.

When should I stop watering before harvesting?

Stop Watering 1-3 Days Before Harvest – After flushing, in the final days of harvest, you can further stress your plants by stopping watering. You want to allow the plant to start to wilt just a small amount, because then the plant “thinks” it is dying and as a last-ditch effort, it will increase resin development.