How to grow asparagus from seeds: tips for experimenters

Asparagus is a wonderful vegetable that makes easy-to-prepare but very delicious dishes. Buying it for hard cash in the supermarket is not the only option. Experienced gardeners say that you can easily grow asparagus from seeds yourself.

However, it should be borne in mind that this is a perennial plant that may not produce its first harvest immediately, but only 3-4 years after planting. Therefore, you will need patience. If you're ready for such an experiment, OBOZ.UA will tell you what experts advise to start your own asparagus garden.

How to plant asparagus seeds

It is best to germinate asparagus in pots that you will keep indoors for the first year. In this case, you can start as early as February. Fill a small vessel with light, well-drained soil, such as sandy soil. Then bury the seeds to a depth of 1 cm and place the pot in a place where the temperature is 20-25 degrees. Make sure that the soil in the pot is moist, but not wet. It is better to water the asparagus seeds with a little water, but more often.

When the asparagus sprouts, move the pot to a sunny spot and continue to water the plants regularly. After about 12 weeks, the asparagus will be ready to be moved outdoors. But you can also wait with it. It is important that the air temperature no longer drops below 15 degrees Celsius.

Asparagus seedlings should be placed in rows at a distance of 80 cm to 2 meters from each other. In each row, there should be 45 cm of space between your seedlings.

If you want to grow asparagus directly outdoors, first wait until the frost has completely stopped. Then sow the seeds to a depth of 2-2.5 cm and with a distance of 7-8 cm between them. The distance between the rows should be at least 30 cm. Once the seeds germinate, they should be watered once or twice a week and the plants should be covered with soil as they develop.

How to care for asparagus in your garden

A year after sowing, asparagus should be moved to a place of permanent growth. Plants should be placed in places with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. But keep in mind that asparagus grows tall and can block the sun from short crops. For dill, such a neighborhood can even be beneficial.

Bury young plants 30 cm deep in sandy soils and 20 cm deep in clay soils. The distance between the plants should also be 30 cm.

One of the key techniques for caring for asparagus is regular hilling. The root system of the plant should be well protected from external influences. Do not forget to prune asparagus in spring and fall, and in the third year, you will be able to get the first harvest. The plant can bear fruit for up to 20 years.

Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.