I’ve had an asparagus bed for probably 5 years now – it’s healthy and happy, and growing in size moderately each year. The harvest this year is nearly over. So yesterday I decided to google asparagus, and find out what to do to avoid the ferny fronds taking over the rest of the garden all summer.
Learned a lot. For one thing, I discovered I should have been harvesting it very differently, cutting off stalks at ground level or a bit below. And that I should quit cutting now, and let the remaining stalks grow up into that green cloud that is so spectacular for months.
I have been doing the right thing by waiting until the fronds are yellow and dry in the fall, and cutting them off near the ground. And my plan to build a fence with branches and hemp rope to keep the fronds harnessed this summer is a good one – because if they blow over during a storm, it could cause a major reduction in next year’s crop.
My roping-it-in plan had been based on aesthetics and maintaining more gardening room, but whatever the reason, I’m glad to know it’s a good idea.
The first harvest several years ago never made it into the house. I would pick a stalk or two and eat it while walking around and planning the rest of the garden. This year, I had enough to give it away to probably 10 people – and that’s about right, so I’m not going to encourage more spreading. Now that it’s teenage asparagus, a bit more control seems indicated! : >