The Upland Gardener
by M.L. Wells
Some of you may remember Ruth Stout, the Queen of Mulch. She
wrote that iconoclastic book, How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back
more than half a century ago. I still remember coming across it on a rainy,
green day in April. I have sort of been a follower ever since – especially with
asparagus.
Anyone familiar with British gardening knows what double
digging is all about; if you aren’t, look it up. But there is an easier way to
grow asparagus, courtesy of Ruth Stout and me! It’s how I have grown mine in
three states over the decades. The method does very well here in Allegany
County with its poor drainage soils.
Plant your new bed 4 feet wide by whatever length you can
afford to do. Mine is 20 feet long and 8-12 inches deep, wherever possible.
Site it in a part of your garden in use for a couple of years, so there is no
sod, OR remove all sod in case it is a new bed. This should be done in October
when the soil is usually dry enough to work (although that was not the case in
2018). Then, in April of the following years make a trench 12 inches wide and 4
inches deep. Spread out one-year-old asparagus crowns 1 foot apart. Cover the
crowns with 2 inches of soil scooped from the side of the trench. As the
asparagus grows, cover to a full 4 inches. This should be done by August. Just
be sure to keep your bed weed-free. This will be the only time you have to
weed, so DO IT! In August, mulch the entire bed to a depth of 3-4 inches. Then,
in every October, add a total of 8 inches of mulch on top of that. Yes, 8
inches.
If you have a windy garden site, like mine, you will need to
run some twine at 2 feet and 4 feet around stakes set 5 feet apart on both
sides of the row. This will keep the shallow asparagus crowns and stalks
upright. When the ferny tops of the plants turn gold in October, cut the stems
at ground level and toss them on the compost heap. That’s when you add the
mulch (I add mowed leaves as mulch). If you wish to use some slow-release
fertilizer, add 5-10-10 (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) in mid-March.
Now comes the hard part: waiting! to harvest in May-June of
the 3rd year. Harvest lightly but, after that, asparagus provides an eight-week
harvest for scrumptuous eating.
To summarize: eat, freeze in May-June. Twine in July. Trim
and mulch in October. Fertilize in March. Enjoy for decades.
P.S. in May-June look for asparagus beetles. Easy to spot
and squish. If squeamish, use gloves.
If you’re interested in learning more about asparagus,
Master Gardener Mary Lu Wells will be hosting a free workshop Saturday March
16th 2019, from 11:00AM-12:00PM at the Tinkertown Hardware, in Alfred
Station. 833 NY-244, Alfred Station, NY
14803.
