M T E V E LY N G A R D E N C E N T R E
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0 ASPARAGUS
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Your planting guide for a successful crop
A S P A R A G Ui nSa l i s
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Asparagus of
Asparagus is a perennial, herbaceous garden
vegetable which produces tender, edible spears
for 15 or more years...
Wha t to do
A
Asparagus has been grown
for thousands of years. It is
native to the coasts of Asia
and Europe and is grown for it’s
tender, edible early spring shoots or
spears, which grow upwards every
spring from underground rhizomes.
Growing Asparagus requires a
reasonably fertile, well drained soil,
with a regular water supply. Before
planting, it is important to dig the
soil well. Animal manures and
composted materials will assist in
continual production
Asparagus production is a three-
year process. When purchasing your
asparagus ‘crown’ from our nursery,
it must be planted below the
Fact Sheet: FS900
Garden Centre
Notes
First
Winter
M t E v e l y n 
Soil Preparation
Work the soil well, and add in
animal manures and compost.
Crowns must be planted in Winter
and can be purchased bare-rooted
First and Second
Spring
Water regularly
Thats pretty much it, you don’t need
to do too much else to your crop
over spring and summer
The Second Winter
Remove Dead foliage and
revitalise the soil.
grounds surface with approximately
Between late autumn and early
2.5-3cm (one inch) of compost above
winter, the tall canes will have wilted
it. A dozen plants is sufficient for and died back. Remove them at
an average families needs over the ground level. Be sure to apply
harvesting season. The first two compost and/or sugar cane mulch
years of production the spears over winter so it can break down
should be removed in winter and and produce nutrients for spring
left until the 3rd season. In the 3rd
year, the collection of the spears The 3rd Spring
should be limited to 4 - 6 weeks,
and as the plants mature can be Time for harvest!
increased to a maximum of 12 Harvest the shoots when
weeks. they are 4-10 inches long.
Remember to cut into the
soil when harvesting.
Following Seasons
Please turn over
for more
information.
Repeat the information for seasons
two and three.
 Growing Asparagus is simple and easy, but a
little looking after is all that is needed...
(Continued from previous page)
...In the first 2 seasons of asparagus,
as tempted as you may be, do not
remove any of the asparagus plant.
The asparagus plant will produce
tall slender canes with fern-like
foliage reaching up to 2 metres in
height. At the end of autumn, these
canes will begin to wilt and die
down. Only when they are
completely yellow or brown can
they be removed and cut back to
ground level.
Keeping crops healthy: It is
recommended that during each
winter, a layer of compost and/or
suger cane mulch (or similar) be
placed on-top of the soil to break
down for the following season.
Harvesting: Harvest asparagus
spears from established beds for
about 8 weeks. Harvest spears when
they are 4 to 10 inches long. To
prevent spears from becoming
fibrous, harvest at least every other
day. The fibrous condition is caused
by over-maturity or inadequate
fertility. Spears with loosely formed
heads are overmature.
Cut asparagus spears 1 to 2 inches
below the soil level. At least one-
Be sure to eat your Asparagus in
half the length of the spear should
next few days, preferably as soon as
be above the ground. Never cut the
possible. Sugars in the crop cause it
spear within 2 inches of the crown to wilt and become tasteless and
to avoid damage to the developed bland over time after being
buds. Never cut asparagus spears harvested. Consult us at our garden
above the ground and allow stubs to centre if you need any more
remain (figure 4). Discontinue assistance.
harvest when spear diameter
becomes less than 3/8 of an inch.
Mt Evelyn Garden Centre.

G ro w yo ur asp ar ag us o r g ani c !

Asparagus
* 1 bunch of mediu
m sized
asparagus slicing the asparag
us at a slight
* 2 Tbsp of extra vir diagonal.
gin olive oil
* 2 Tbsp freshly gr
ated Fill a medium sized
Parmesan cheese saucepan half
“Asparagus is a good way with water, bring
to a boil. Add
* 1 teaspoon lemon
zest - the asparagus and
source of vitamin A and freshly grated lem reduce heat
on rind slightly to a simme
r. Parboil the
asparagus for exac
vitamin C, as well as Prepare the asparag Drain the hot water
tly 2 minutes.
us by rinsing . While the
them thoroughly, bre asparagus are still
other minerals. Home ak off any hot, toss them
in a bowl with the oli
tough, white bottoms ve oil,
and discard.
Parmesan, and lem
grown asparagus tastes a Cut into 1 to 2 inch
sections,
and pepper to taste.
on rind. Salt
Serve warm
hundred times better or room temperature

than store-bought”
Brad Smith
Mt Evelyn Garden Centre