How to Plant Asparagus
When space it at a premium in the garden, but you want to grow vegetables, it makes sense to grow things that taste better fresh from the garden and are expensive to buy in the shops.
Asparagus really fits the bill, what’s more it is easy to grow, tastes divine, even in small quantities and once established will grow for years and years. Buy Unwins pre-packed asparagus crowns in spring and plant them immediately.
Step 1
Choose a sunny, well-drained site sheltered from stong winds. Dig over the area thoroughly and incorporate plenty of well-rotted organic matter. If the soil is poor dig in Gro-Sure Vegetable Growing Compost. If you only want a few plants these can be planted into individual, flat-bottomed holes. If you want a large permanent bed of asparagus then its best to dig out a planting trench. Dig out a planting area that is 20cm (8inches) deep and at least 30cm (12inches) wide.
Step 2
Gently spread the roots of each asparagus crown out over the surface of the soil in the trench/hole, so that they lie flat on the surface and make good contact.
Step 3
Cover over with 5cm (2inches) of sifted soil straight away, it is very important not to let the crowns dry out. As the plants start to grow continually cover them over until there is a mound of good soil over the top of them. Do not harvest the spears of asparagus in the first year at all. Allow them to grow into ferny foliage and establish. Next year, if possible resist the temptation again; it will pay off in the long run. In the third season you can harvest spears when they reach 15cm (6inches tall).
