How and When to Harvest Asparagus
I just purchased a new home complete with an asparagus patch. I am a new gardener and need some harvesting advice. How and when can I harvest asparagus?
Established plants (three to four years old) can be harvested in spring as the tender spears emerge. Cut or snap off the shoots just below the ground when they are 5 to 8 inches long. Cut carefully to avoid damaging the tips of nearby spears that have not yet emerged from the ground. Or snap off the spear by bending the stem towards the ground. Regular picking will give you fresh better tasting spears. Stop picking after 6 to 8 weeks. The stems will develop into a large airy plant. Leave the leaves intact throughout the season to produce needed energy for next year's harvest. The yellowed foliage can be cut back to the ground in fall or allowed to stand for winter to capture snow (in northern gardens) for added insulation.
Related
Categories
Upcoming Appearances
March 11, 2021
How to Plan a Vegetable Garden
Webinar
March 24, 2021
How to Select Rain Garden Plants
Webinar
Register today! Plus, watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND
for a limited time.
Learn More
Book an Appearance
Win Plantskydd Animal Repellent package
