| Several years ago we put in an asparagus bed and had a good yield after the second year. This spring we got almost no asparagus spears. My question - when is the proper time to feed the asparagus and how? How long does an asparagus bed last before it has to be replanted? Thank you. |
| Asparagus beds won't need to be replanted for at least 10 years. Your harvest will get progressively larger as the crowns mature. You should wait two years before harvest if you started with new crowns. Pick only the thicker spears, and allow the rest to turn into ferny foliage. The foliage is what strengthens the crowns and encourages them to produce more and more. Keep the beds as weed free as possible and side dress after harvesting with 10-10-10 fertilizer. In late fall you can allow the foliage to lay on the bed to provide some winter insulation or you can cut down all the foliage and compost it. Hope this information helps. |
