The perennial vegetable known as asparagus is a delicacy that is both gourmet and exceptionally healthful. Asparagus can be grown from seed or cuttings; once established, it requires little care and continues to provide harvests year after year. Some gardeners have even found asparagus patches that are 100 years old!
The fact that it takes two to three years for an asparagus plant to begin producing edible shoots is the most significant disadvantage of growing your own asparagus. However, if you grow your asparagus from cuttings rather than seeds, you can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes until you can harvest it.
How To Grow Asparagus
It is possible to propagate asparagus from cuttings by splitting either the plant's crown or its root. After that, each of the plant cuttings is cared for as if it were its own separate plant. You will save a lot of time and be able to pick the spears with the most robust tissue if you grow asparagus from cuttings rather than starting from seed.
When the danger of frost has passed and the temperature is approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you should plant the asparagus cuttings in the spring. You shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself to get rid of them right away because it will be a few years before they provide a good harvest.
When you have the cutting in your possession, you should immediately plant it. Delaying planting can reduce the number of plants that survive, and it will have an impact on the crop for at least two years. Since asparagus plants do not want to be transplanted, making quick transitions will help reduce the amount of stress they experience during the process.
Care & Maintenance
The following are some helpful hints to grow cuttings of asparagus:
You should begin your cuttings inside. If you intend to use the water approach, you will need to begin your cuttings inside so that you can shield them from any wind that may blow their way. You can also begin your cuttings indoors before spring, giving you the ability to easily transfer them after they have matured.
If the cuttings you took continue to decay, the soil needs to be kept dry. If you find that your asparagus clippings are decaying after you plant them in the soil method, you should switch to the misting way of watering them and ensure that the soil remains dry until the plants begin to grow again.
Harvesting
Because the plants require time to become established, you shouldn't harvest your asparagus during the first year. This will allow them to produce the best spears possible. In the 2nd year, you will be able to begin harvesting; however, you should be careful not to get ahead of yourself. It is recommended that you remove little more than half of the spears from each plant.
Either the early morning or the late evening is ideal for gathering the asparagus spears for harvest. To break the spear, simply pinch it between your thumb and pointer finger and flex it until it snaps.
Common Pests & Diseases
When it comes to predators that are detrimental to the growth of asparagus, spiders are among the most dangerous and harmful. On the other hand, there are other insects that can be just as damaging, particularly when you are cultivating asparagus from cuttings.