Transplanting Asparagus Crowns
Asparagus spears have been enjoyed as a food for centuries. Once established an asparagus bed will continue to produce spears for 15 years or longer, if the bed is maintained. While most home gardeners' plant purchased asparagus crowns, it is possible to create the crowns in the garden to transplant to a second prepared bed. The asparagus variety known as Martha Washington is the most popular for growing crowns as it produces both male and female plants, which in turn will produce seeds. Varieties such as Jersey Gem produce only male plants, which do not reproduce.
List:
Composted manure
Tiller
Garden hoe
Asparagus seed
Garden spade or shovel
Apply three to four inches of well-composted manure to the bed you want to start the crowns. Till the compost into the bed, using a tiller to distribute it well into the soil.
Create rows, using the handle of a garden hoe, 1 inch deep and two to three feet apart.
Plant asparagus seeds 3/4 to 1-inch deep in the rows, spacing the seeds two inches apart in the row.
Cover the seeds in the row with 1 inch of removed soil.
Allow the seeds to germinate in the bed. This will take 10 to 14 days. The seedlings will create crowns that are ready to transplant in 8 to 12 weeks and be 6 to 10 inches tall. The seedlings can continue to grow in the bed until the permanent bed is established.
Transplant the crowns in the prepared permanent growing bed. Create rows 8 to 12 inches deep and 4 feet apart for the permanent bed.
Words to the Wise:
Asparagus prefers rich, loamy soil with added organic compost or manure. The permanent bed should be developed in the year before you plan to plant the asparagus crowns.
Mulching the asparagus bed over the fall and winter months will add needed organic material to the bed for the next season's growth.
