Very Early Spear Appears

by Jim COx
(New Bern, NC)

I planted two raised beds last year, mostly three year. I had great growth.

Last weekend a single spear, from a single plant poked up through the surface. Today, 3/18 it is over a foot tall, and a second spear has broken the surface and is really growing.

I understood this would not start until late April or May.

Should I let this early emerger go, or cut back. I think it is now to large for a one spear meal, I was really surprised to see one this early. Our days are 50's and nights are 40s.

Help, please.

Jim Cox
New Bern, NC

Harvesting asparagus

by Sue
(VA)

I'm trying to find out when to start looking for wild asparagus to harvest in N.W. VA?

Harvesting Asparagus

by Christie
(Ft Pierce, FL)

When I planted them the package said they were two years old. That year the plants produced six or seven stalks each that became ferns. This year one plant produced one stalk that became a fern, the other plants has produced four asparagus so far. I cut the first three ( they have come up one at a time) the fourth one has just started. I don't know if I should cut it or let it grow.

Letting Go

by wing
(washington d.c.)

If I can not harvest asparagus in the first year of spears from seed.
How do I go about it the right ways???

Did I damage my plants by cutting before they were mature?

by Mary
(Northern Indiana)

I was impatient with my asparagus shoots when they were just a year old. I planted from crowns, and the stalks looked hardy enough. but now in the second year, the stalks are spindly and small. Should I let these stalks go a year without picking, and hope that they grow more hardy for next year? Or should I just go ahead and harvest the spindly shoots?

Do I let the big spears grow?

by dave
(Sioux falls sd)

I'm a beginner, third year.I missed some spears.now they are tall and fat, starting to open. Do I leave them to grow? Thanks for your great site.

only one spear each crown

by Lee Busfield
(Herts UK)

Hi it is the end of April and we only have one spear for each crown (3rd year) we haven't harvested any before, should we cut each spear now or wait until there are more?

2nd Year Cutting

by Chip
(Upstate New York)

Spears are about 6" and growing fast, is it too young to cut or should I harvest and enjoy?

Deformed and Angled Spears

by Bill
(Michigan)

Some of my spears are not growing straight up, and some are s-shaped at or near the tip. Is this a problem?

Asparagus

by Debbie
(Finchampstead UK)

Hi,

This year we do not seem to have much asparagus growing.

We left for the first year.
2nd year we only cut a few.
This year we don't have very much.

We have always left the ferns and cut down in Autumn, but we have never removed the berries, which I will start to do.

1) Do we not cut any this year to make it stronger?
2) Do will leave one spear on each crown uncut to make it stronger?
3) Do we cut cut everything that comes up.

I welcome your information and look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Debbie

HARVESTING ASPARAGUS

by ELISABETH
(FERRING SUSSEX UK)

Should I cut down every spear as it grows , or should I be leaving at least one spear per plant to develop into a fern and cut the second and following appearing spears? My plants are all mature.
Thank you for your advice.
Liz

Need help getting back on track

by Chandra
(Charlotte, NC)

We spent a great deal of time planting the bed and had a great crop year 3 but we didn't fertilize or pick red berries or add compost. Now we are in year 5 and are seeing very little results and lots of small ferns. I am keeping up with the weeds each Saturday. Is there anything I can do to get this bed back on track and producing again?

Cut fronds too early

Hi- I cut all the fronds off too early (June). This is year 2. Will they come back next year? Did I completely weaken the plants for years to come?

New Asparagus

by Brian
(Calgary Alberta Canada)

I just planted asparagus this year,they are growing but there are no spears they are just growing into the ferns and I don't know what to do. Do I just let them grow this year as is or do I cut the ferns off? HELP!

Harvesting asparagus

by Rick
(Ontario)

After four years should you leave at least one spear to grow or will the plant die

Is my bed lost?

by Jody M Devlin
(New York)

I had a beautiful aspargus bed and normally can harvest through June each year BUT i was away for 2 weeks visiting my family in Texas and came home to find most of the bed had gone to seed even though several friends said they would love to come by and cut i do not believe anyone was able to for whatever reason. Can i cut the bed back or will that do more harm than good? We sure do love our asparagus!!! Thank you for you time and help...JMD

Cutting Overgrown Spears

by Joe
(Midland, MI)

Went away a few days in mid season and some of our asparagus grew 20 inches. Should I let them go or cut of? Why? If an asparagus spear is tall, does it hurt to snap off just the top tender part? Thanks

Harvesting the Year Following Transplanting Older Crowns

by Michael
(Ohio)

Despite all of the warnings, we are about to undertake the transplanting of about 40 6 year old crowns. We understand the risks and will do our best to ensure the roots are treated with care.

The question is about the year following the transplanting. You mention to avoid over cropping the next year. What do you mean by that? If you mean to not harvest a lot, how long do you allow the shoots to get before cutting them to prevent them ferning out?

Thank you.

It is only March... Harvest Time in California

by JUDY
(West Sacramento, CA)

I live in the Sacramento valley. You likely have heard of our drought conditions, finally we are getting well needed rain. My asparagus is in its 3rd year and it is sprouting now (early March). You mentioned harvesting in May but I don't think I can wait that long. What to do? Do I start my 8 weeks of harvest now?