Did anyone else read the featured article about growing asparagus? I've been growing it for years and always get plenty, but found this statement in the article interesting:

"In spring, instead of harvesting all the spears as they emerge from the soil, let the first three large spears per crown grow to ferns. Then begin harvesting the other spears as they emerge. By leaving the first three spears, the crown is being constantly fed by these ferns, so you can harvest asparagus weeks longer than normal"

I've never heard/read that advice before and think I'll give it a try with at least part of my patch; I think it will make the following spears a bit more difficult to harvest, having to work around the tall stalks, but can see how this could be a good practice in terms of the health of the crown.

"In spring, instead of harvesting all the spears as they emerge from the soil, let the first three large spears per crown grow to ferns. Then begin harvesting the other spears as they emerge. By leaving the first three spears, the crown is being constantly fed by these ferns, so you can harvest asparagus weeks longer than normal"

Very interesting. I have eleven plants about to start growing for the season and will certainly give this item a test on five plants. Last year the production was 14 pounds so I have good records.

http://durgan.org/2016/June%20... 6 June 2016 Asparagus
One half pound cut today. This is a total of 14 pounds from the bed to this date.

http://durgan.org/2016/June%20... 6 June 2016 Asparagus
One pound cut today. Total to date 13.5 pounds.

http://durgan.org/2016/June%20... 2 June 2016 Asparagus
One pound cut today. 12.5 pounds to date.

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 31 May 2016 Asparagus

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 30 May 2016 Asparagus
One pound of asparagus harvested today.

http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/27 May 2016 Asparagus/HTML 27 May 2016 Asparagus
One point five pounds (1.5) of fresh asparagus was cut today. The shoots are of excellent quality. Some of the thinner stalks are allowed to grow.

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 25 May 2016 Asparagus
Two pounds of asparagus cut today.

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 23 May 2016 Asparagus
One pound cut today. Still producing about one pound every other day.

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 20 May 2016 Asparagus
One pound of asparagus cut today.


http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 16 May 2016 Asparagus
One half pound cut today.

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 13 May 2016 Asparagus
One pound of asparagus harvested.

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 11 May 2016 Asperagus

http://durgan.org/2016/May%202... 10 May 2016 Asparagus
First of the season asparagus was harvested. One half pound was cut. The bed is permanent about 8 feet by 5 feet, and was planted with 11 crowns of Guelph Millennium about 8 years ago. It will produce harvestable shoots around 12 pounds over about 4 weeks.