What maintenance does asparagus need during its first year?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.First-year asparagus care. Spend the entire season developing the roots from the crowns, and get no harvest of the first shoots! Watch for moisture without water-logging. I water deeply in well-drained soil about twice weekly, probing at least 6 inches down to test saturation. Over-watering rots the crowns, and drought puts a check on the roots.
Water Management
- Deep irrigation: 1 inch weekly penetrating 8 inches
- Avoid foliage wetness: Use drip systems only
- Drought response: Increase to 1.5 inches in heat
- Signs: Wilting indicates immediate need
Weed Control
- Hand removal: Within 8 inch radius of crowns
- Shallow cultivation: Never deeper than 1 inch
- Mulch application: 2 inches straw after planting
- Critical period: Weeks 4-8 after emergence
Nutrition Plan
- Pre-emergence feed: Balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer
- Mid-season boost: Compost tea every 4 weeks
- Fall preparation: Potassium rich feed in September
- Avoidance: No nitrogen after August
Be vigilant about weeding, for young plants do not thrive under competition. Hand-pull unwanted plants back to within eight inches of the crowns to avoid damaging any surface roots. I make a 10-minute round of inspection through my beds each day while they are making rapid growth. Mulching weeds is held down but should be replenished after a heavy rain.
Apply balanced fertilizer before ferns emerge in spring. I like a 5-5-5 organic blend scratched lightly into the soil surface. Mid-season feed with compost tea every four weeks. Never fertilize after early September to harden the plants for winter. I measure the height of the fern to gauge if it needs feeding.
Absolute harvest prohibition. It protects our developing crowns. When we cut our spears, we rob them of the energy to expand their roots. Place a big red no harvest reminder circling each of your days. I take photos of my spears to inspire myself, but I don't cut them. This discipline pays dividends in growing potential!
Preparation for winter. Scatter 4-inch mulch around plants after the first frost has passed. Cut ferns only when they are a dull, dark brown, if they are tall and twisty, or later, when they fall altogether. Place barriers for rodents around your beds, and you have completed the first year. Your waiting will be well rewarded with a big, bushy growth next year.
Read the full article: When to Plant Asparagus: Essential Growing Guide
