Hi all,
I started an asparagus bed this spring; 5 feet by 20, 25 two year old crowns. I prepared the soil very well, double dug, added compost, tested ph, etc.

Here is my question: my asparagus is still sending up new shoots. Is this normal? It has been a VERY dry June & July; almost no rain to speak of. I read that adequate water is particularly important the first year of planting & I have been trying to water. It is difficult because all water must be hand pumped and lugged from the well at the CG. So, maybe it is my imagination but I think I get new shoots every time I water the asparagus.....Is it normal for asparagus to be still sending up shoots? Or is it because I am not watering enough & asparagus is trying to catchup?

If the asparagus is still sending up ferns, it means it's happy.
Quite a bit easier to grow up there than down here.... Mine set all those little red balls, but very few stalks...
You think it's dry up your way... I have a rose of Sharon that dropped all it's leaves in June... Still blooming, though.... Flowers on bare branches...

Hi Stone,

Thank you so much for answering my question. It has been very dry here...hardly any rain all of June & July, & temps in the 90's...very unusual for New England. Your reply has heartened me. I'll just keep trying to lug buckets of water as often as I can.

I am sorry you are experiencing drought as well. I checked out your website & it looks like it is a long term situation that you are trying to adjust to. Your website was interesting.

Yep, that's normal. They might be a little close together but they wouldn't notice that for a year or so. Or I'm just paranoid about that because my asparagus killed off the other one that was too close.

Let the shoots fern and grow, the plants are gaining energy.

I agree, it basically means your plants are happy.

I usually stop picking around the 4th of July -- by that time most of the shoots coming up are quite thin and we have pretty much glutted ourselves on asparagus; perfectly okay if they are still growing.