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    Home » Garden » Vegetables

    Asparagus is coming up!

    By: Jane · Updated: 23 Feb, '12 · This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

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    Today was a beautiful, sunny day in South Carolina. Leo and his brother Jim worked in the garden putting in an irrigation system. I had just received my March issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and there was an article in it about asparagus. So I decided to take a look at our asparagus bed, and this is what I saw. One asparagus spear had peaked its head above the soil. We were so excited!

    Irrigation 024

    We have never grown asparagus before now. In fact, if you've been reading our blog, you know that we have only been gardening for two years. Since asparagus is one of our favorite vegetables, we wanted to grow some. Last spring we planted 18 crowns.

    Most people don't know much about how asparagus grows. In fact, we didn't. After the asparagus started growing last summer, I saw some new spears and I just couldn't resist snapping off a few and eating them right in the garden. But after doing a little research, I found out that I shouldn't have done that. You see, growing asparagus is a lesson in patience. You really have to allow 3 years before you can enjoy the bounty.

     

    Asparagus diagram
    http://extension.missouri.edu

    Asparagus is a perennial plant. It pops up out of the ground from its root mass after being dormant all winter. You can harvest a limited amount of spears in the second year after planting. If the spears are not harvested, they develop into large ferns which manufacture and store energy in the crown for next year's crop.

    Lucy flowers and garden 049

    This is what our asparagus looked like last fall after growing all summer. After several frosts, the foliage turned brown and Leo mowed it to the ground.

    And today, we saw the first evidence that it's growing again. Hooray! Spring is on its way at the Crossroads!

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    1. Brent

      March 02, 2016 at 5:34 pm

      Mine shot up before march 1st! Don't remember this in Kansas before. It's the third year,we've already enjoyed about a 1/2#!

      Reply
    2. Mary

      February 29, 2012 at 6:43 pm

      Spring IS on its way! There is something so rewarding about planting something and seeing it grow! Wishing you a bountiful harvest 🙂

      Reply
    3. Judy

      February 26, 2012 at 10:28 pm

      Great image of your asparagus coming up. I can remember as a young girl cutting it along the railroad tracks where my grandparents lived. Thanks and thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a message.

      Reply
    4. Ann

      February 26, 2012 at 8:59 pm

      I think roasted asparagus is my all time favorite veggie. Your gardens are to die for.

      Reply
    5. Ginger

      February 25, 2012 at 1:35 am

      I envy your wonderful garden space and garden. I shall just enjoy seeing what you grow and harvest. I still have, bookmarked, Leo's post on collards.
      Thanks for sharing your garden with us,
      Have a great weekend, Ginger

      Reply
    6. Mrs.B

      February 24, 2012 at 6:43 pm

      We love asparagus! We have a small garden. I wish we had planted some too!

      Reply
    7. Kim

      February 24, 2012 at 2:57 pm

      I love asparagus and did not know they grew that way. I guess that is what an asparagus fern comes from which I have in a large urn outside. It finally turned brown after the last cold snap.

      Reply
    8. HolleyGarden

      February 24, 2012 at 12:29 pm

      How fabulous! I started some last year, but hubby forgot where it was and plowed it into the ground. So, this year I'm going to put some in a steel container. Hopefully in another 3 years I'll be able to eat some! The ultimate lesson in patience, I think!

      Reply
    9. Jean Windham

      February 24, 2012 at 11:33 am

      Jane how exciting. I have never grown asparagus and neither did my parents but I love to eat it. I hope you have good luck growing it. Jean

      Reply
    10. Pondside

      February 23, 2012 at 10:55 pm

      An asparagus patch is really a labour of love and patience. We have a small one - just enough for one really good feast of asparagus...but, oh, do we enjoy it!

      Reply
    11. Linda A. Young

      February 23, 2012 at 10:07 pm

      Oh, I love asparagas, I eat it raw while I'm preparing it, and I like to saute it in a small amount of olive oil and herbs. Did you send for it ? Hope yours does well this year and you get to eat a little of it! Love your raised beds!
      I used to live in Charleston, back when I was a young Navy wife!
      Have a happy gardening season!
      Be blessed! Linda

      Reply
    12. [email protected] Porch Musings

      February 23, 2012 at 6:13 pm

      We absolutely love asparagus! It is not only a beautiful plant it is delicious!

      Reply
    13. Lois

      February 23, 2012 at 5:23 pm

      Our neighbors planted asparagus a few years ago and I'm looking forward to them harvesting some soon. They always share! Enjoy your day!

      Reply
    14. [email protected]ousepitality Designs

      February 23, 2012 at 5:22 pm

      Oh my...is that the "asparagus fern" we buy at the garden center...I used to have lots of it in my yard in Florida..Love asparagus...love reading about your garden...I learn something from each post!

      Reply
    15. dawn

      February 23, 2012 at 9:41 am

      Asparagus grows wild here in our roadside ditches. We can collect a truck bed full in a couple of day. So great that you have it growing right in your garden.

      Reply
    16. Audrey

      February 23, 2012 at 8:30 am

      Did not know asparagus required so much patience. Makes me appreciate its goodness all the more.

      Reply
    17. sue

      February 23, 2012 at 7:08 am

      ummm I'd love to plant it, but oh Lord that would mean digging up more garden space...I don't think my back can take it!!

      Reply
    18. vickie

      February 23, 2012 at 6:46 am

      I need to check on my asparagus. There is nothing better than fresh asparagus. I planted cabbages yesterday. We are to get three more inches of rain tomorrow-we have already had 19 inches or so this month-I do wish it would dry out some.

      Reply
    19. Jane

      February 23, 2012 at 5:11 am

      It's always exciting to see something new pushing it's way out of the ground! I love asparagus and there are so many ways to make it! Yum!

      XO,
      Jane

      Reply
    20. Rita Cagle

      February 22, 2012 at 11:37 pm

      Hey, thanks for the info. Need to plant me some.

      Reply
    21. Barb

      February 22, 2012 at 10:55 pm

      I love fresh asparagus! I hope yours does well this year.

      Reply
    22. Sweet Bee Cottage

      February 22, 2012 at 10:26 pm

      Oh my stars! I adore asparagus. I'm not sure how it would do in our climate, but it looks pretty as it grows its food for the next season. Hmmmm......I can be patient. I'll have to check into how it would do here in central California. In the meantime, will you eat some for me?

      Reply
    23. Barbara F.

      February 22, 2012 at 10:16 pm

      Looking forward to your bounty this year, and I am sure you will be sharing some tasty recipes. xo

      Reply
    24. Nana Diana

      February 22, 2012 at 10:06 pm

      Oh- we so love asparagus. My sister-in-law had a huge bed of it. She sold her house and moved but the ground was frozen or I would have dug some up for planting at my own house. We cannot plant anything outside here until after Memorial Day (Green Bay, WI)...there's a reason they call it The Frozen Tundra. Hugs- Diana

      Reply
    25. Lavender Dreams

      February 22, 2012 at 9:33 pm

      We had asparagus in our flower bed in NC....a welcome site in the Spring! Nothing tastes better than fresh from the garden...or flower bed! I started something new this week! I hope you can stop by and see...just go down 2 posts! I would appreciate your thoughts! Hugs! ♥♥♥

      Reply

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