Asparagus is one of only just a few perennial vegetables you can grow in the garden. It is usually ready for harvest during the spring. When planning to plant asparagus, take note that it will stay in a similar spot for several years. With that in mind, you have to look for a spot that can meet all its growing conditions and requirements.
Another important fact about asparagus is that it is one of those veggies that are slow to mature. In most cases, it takes around 3 to 5 years for this vegetable to fill in and finally mature. Once it begins to hit the stride, you can harvest its spears for at least a month during the spring seasons.
To ensure the proper growth of your asparagus plants, you need to fertilize them regularly with the right product. This article will give you an idea about the best asparagus fertilizer recommendations so you can make this plant thrive.
Choosing the Best Fertilizer for Asparagus
So what should you consider during your search for the best fertilizer for asparagus? Here are just some of the deciding factors:
NPK Ratio
The NPK ratio should be a deciding factor during the selection process as it helps ensure that your asparagus receives the nutrients it needs and in the right amounts. It represents nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – all of which are truly vital for the survival of the asparagus. To make this vegetable grow, it would be best to use a fertilizer featuring a balanced formula or NPK rating.
In other words, their fertilizer needs to have equal amounts of the three nutrients. For instance, you can go for a 15-15-15 blend. At the start of the fourth year of your asparagus plants, fertilize them after your last harvest either in early summer or late spring. You may continue applying the balanced fertilizer in this case.
Alternatively, you can replace it with a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content, like a 15-10-10 blend. This higher nitrogen content is better, especially if you notice that the asparagus’ foliage is weak and yellowish.
Soil Condition
You also have to spend time scrutinizing the soil condition thoroughly. Note that almost all things related to growing this plant depend greatly on the soil. During the process of assessing the soil, you may realize that it would be much better for you to grow the asparagus plant in a raised garden bed.
Even if this vegetable literally grows in all kinds of soil, it is still necessary to determine if it is indeed good. You may want to check out its pH level in that case as it will let you know right away if the asparagus is in good soil. Note that this plant will most likely grow well in well-drained soil that has a pH level of around 6.5 to 7.0. It can’t handle extremely acidic soils, too. Asparagus is also capable of growing in sandy, medium, and heavy soils, provided such soils drain well, thereby preventing them from accumulating too much water, especially after rain.
Organic Vs. Synthetic
You also have to decide whether to use an organic fertilizer or a synthetic one. One advantage of synthetic fertilizers is they are capable of quickly releasing nutrients. You also have to apply it during the spring. Synthetic fertilizers are available in spikes and granular and liquid forms.
Organic fertilizers for asparagus, on the other hand, work by slowly releasing nutrients. It would be best to apply this organic type during the fall. One important fact about organic fertilizers is that they are not usually concentrated. This means that they have a low chance of killing your asparagus plants.
Decide between the organic fertilizer and the synthetic one based on what you think is best for your asparagus. Spend time assessing the plant’s needs so you can make a wise decision in this case.
When and How to Fertilize?
The best time for the asparagus to be fertilized is during the early spring. This is the time when the spears of the plant are not out yet. You also have to fertilize around June, which is usually the time for harvest. It will supply your asparagus with the best nutrient capable of supporting its growth and development.
It is also advisable to supply the soil with additional nitrogen during the final harvest of the season. This means you have to use a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content compared to the others at this time.
Another crucial fact you should remember regarding growing asparagus is that it requires regular fertilization in the first three years after planting it. This will guarantee the plant’s healthy root and development.
To use the fertilizer, apply around two pounds of it for every one hundred square feet of garden bed. This should be enough to supply the young plants with enough nutrients. If you are using a granular fertilizer, then just sprinkle its granules on the soil or ground surrounding the asparagus. Ensure that it does not touch the plants, though, as direct contact may only lead to the plants burning.
Once you have finished applying the fertilizer, water the bed well. Note that it is an important step as it lets nutrients penetrate the soil, which assures you that the root system gets to absorb it.
How Do You Know If the Asparagus is Ripe?
Now that you have cared for and fertilized the asparagus appropriately, you may have been waiting for the moment when it ripens up, so you can finally do the harvest. One sign that the asparagus spears are already mature and ready for harvest is when their size reaches around six to eight inches tall. They also need to be at least one-half-inch thick.
However, if the spears’ tips already began opening up and producing foliage, then it could be a sign that they are too old. These spears are still edible technically. The problem is that they are most likely tough and woody. You will also know that you have already reached the end of the harvest season if the asparagus spears begin to become thinner. You will also notice their diameter resembling that of the usual sizes of pencils.