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I am proud to say all 12 of my asparagus plants came up last year. BUT now I am wondering when is the best time to trim back the old dead canes.I didn't do so last fall because I assumed the plant feeds on the green stalk--was I right?? Help!! I love this veggie & want everything to go well.
Posts: 30 | From: Worden, Illinois | Registered: Oct 2006
| Logged: 66.242.193.81
It's probably best to clean up the dead canes after the coldest part of winter has passed (the fallen canes act as mulch to protect the crowns in the coldest part of winter)and before the new shoots appear (so it's easier to harvest the asparagus).
If you planted crowns and your asparagus has only been in the ground for two years, you may be able to harvest a few spears this year. Keep in mind that the thinner the spears, the weaker the crown. The first spears of the spring should be nice and thick. If they aren't don't harvest any as your asparagus isn't fully established yet.
bbbbbbbbb Composting is more than good for your garden. It's a way of life. Posts: 144 | From: Illinois | Registered: Apr 2005
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Thanks much--Now that my yard grass is established, I intend to use dead grass clippings as a permanent mulch for my asparagus--I have used clippings for years as a weed deterant---it seems to work well as long as I do not add any clippings from seeded grass. Posts: 30 | From: Worden, Illinois | Registered: Oct 2006
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I remove last years growth in the spring. I went out last month and mowed everything down. I will use wood chips for mulch this year
My asparagus is already up, well most of it, it is about 4 years old now. I have already picked some of it.
bbbbbbbbb One OS to rule them, one OS to find them: One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie. Posts: 1077 | From: Haskell Oklahoma Zone 6b | Registered: Feb 2005
| Logged: 152.132.9.73
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Wow Amigatec, I am in zone 7 and I have not even seen any green life coming out of my crowns yet!! This will only be the start of my second year, so I really have my fingers crossed that they make it. I mulched them pretty heavily with straw and grass clippings and have just now cut away the old canes. I guess only time will tell....
Posts: 77 | From: Unionville, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2006
| Logged: 169.253.4.21
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Juniegirl: your right to let the stalks to go after harvest time is up. We never cover them for winter (illinois) Inthe spring we burn the weeds and old stalks off and thats it. the patch is 15 years old and still going strong. I cant for that first taste of fresh stuff. Posts: 32 | From: Illinois | Registered: Apr 2006
| Logged: 64.12.116.73
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posted March 20, 2007 12:32 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juniegirl: your right to let the stalks to go after harvest time is up. We never cover them for winter (illinois) Inthe spring we burn the weeds and old stalks off and thats it. the patch is 15 years old and still going strong. I cant for that first taste of fresh stuff. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Illinois | Registered
Posts: 32 | From: Illinois | Registered: Apr 2006
| Logged: 64.12.116.73
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This is my 2nd bed of asparagus and the 2nd year with this bed--& Wow I agree with Budman I have not even seen ANY green from my asparagus yet this year---far to early for here (as far as I can remember anyway) I think I am in Zone 6B Posts: 30 | From: Worden, Illinois | Registered: Oct 2006
| Logged: 66.242.193.60
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Im not sure if this is good advice, but I used to always PULL OUT my old asparagus spears in the spring!! They usually came out pretty easily and it really cleaned things up. Ive had pretty good luck with the bed, it's about 7 years old now.
On a side note, this time I trimmed them back to about 4" in the fall. Im going to relocate them very soon, and I wanted to know exactly where all the plants were. Wish me luck....they HAVE to go away from where they are, and I hope they survive!
Posts: 264 | From: Lehigh Valley, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
| Logged: 24.229.242.122
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Back at the farm, I transplanted some of my asparagus plants one year--because I found I needed to shift my garden a few feet---most of them did very well.-- but be sure to be tentative.
Posts: 30 | From: Worden, Illinois | Registered: Oct 2006
| Logged: 66.242.193.55
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