How to Grow Asparagus in Texas

If you live in Texas and want to grow asparagus, it’s important to know the right steps to take to ensure a successful harvest. This article will guide you through the process, from planting and trimming to picking your crop.

Planting

Planting asparagus in Texas is a very easy task. Asparagus grows well in sandy soils. It needs a good drainage. In addition, it requires full sun. Although it is not a very efficient crop, it does produce a good yield.

Asparagus plants should be planted in the late winter/early spring. They can also be started from seeds four weeks before the last expected frost. The bed for asparagus should be prepared with organic fertilizer. When planting asparagus, it is important to keep weeds under control. A thick layer of mulch can help with this.

Asparagus crowns can be bought from your local nursery or home garden catalog. They should be planted six inches deep and spaced twelve inches apart. Cover the crowns with two to three inches of soil. Fertilize the bed with a complete organic vegetable fertilizer and a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10.

Asparagus is a perennial plant that will grow and produce for many years. For this reason, you should prepare your bed at least two years before you plan to plant.

A good quality compost should be added to the bed. If you have acidic soil, you may need to add lime. You can also use mycorrhizal root inoculants. These products will increase your asparagus yields.

After the asparagus has been harvested, it is a good idea to fertilize the bed with a balanced fertilizer. Your asparagus will need a lot of nitrogen to survive. Apply 1 to 2 pounds of fertilizer per twenty feet of row.

In Texas, the asparagus season is a two-month period. This is called the low production period. It is recommended that you cut back on spear harvest time during this period.

During the main asparagus season, which peaks in March through May, you can expect to harvest 24 to 30 pounds of asparagus per 100 square feet of row. The secondary asparagus season occurs during the months of September through November.

You will need to keep your asparagus beds well-drained and weed free. Using a soaker hose or drip irrigation system can help with this. Overwatering can cause crown rot, so you may want to avoid this type of irrigation.

Diseases

If you grow asparagus, you need to know about the diseases of asparagus that can affect your production. Rust, stem rot, crown and root rot and purple spot are among the common diseases. These diseases are caused by pathogenic soilborne fungi. Fusarium species play a major role in these diseases.

Asparagus rust is a fungal disease that occurs on the asparagus plant. It causes a reddish brown vascular discoloration and small orange patches on the spears. This fungus produces black overwintering spores. The spores are easily recognized when rubbed against white paper.

Asparagus rust can be an extremely damaging disease. In some areas, the disease causes a significant loss of yield. When the crop is not cooled after harvest, the quality of the spears and the flavor decreases rapidly.

Asparagus crown and root rot can cause a significant reduction in yield. The crown and root parenchyma is damaged by this fungus, which can also resemble winter injury. Affected sites can be difficult to establish, so re-establishing your asparagus may not be a viable option.

Fusarium root rot can be introduced into your field from transplants. In addition, it can be introduced from infected crowns. You can control this problem by using good management practices.

Fusarium root rot is a fungus that can live in the soil for years. Several different approaches have been used to control this disease. Some varieties of asparagus are relatively resistant to this disease, while others can be susceptible.

In addition to damage to the plant, Fusarium root rot can also reduce yields. Roots are fibrous, which absorb water and store carbohydrates. After harvest, the sugars decrease rapidly, resulting in a loss of flavor.

If your asparagus fields are affected by these diseases, you need to take measures to avoid yield losses. To minimize the damage, you should apply a fungicide after the harvest season. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office to find out specific control recommendations.

Fortunately, some varieties are quite resistant to Fusarium root rot. However, the fungus can be intensified by insect damage. Therefore, insect management should be carefully considered to reduce the threat of this disease.

Harvesting

Asparagus is one of the first vegetables ready for harvesting. However, you should not overharvest the plant. Overharvesting can weaken asparagus plants, and yields will be less than desired in subsequent years.

While asparagus has a fairly short shelf life, you can preserve the freshness and sweetness of the spears by freezing them after harvesting. After freezing, keep the spears in a cool place. You can then keep them in the refrigerator for a few days. This will reduce the bruising and moisture loss.

Another method of harvesting asparagus is snapping the spears. The benefits of this technique include less bruises and a longer shelf life. If you do not have an electric snap, you can also use a knife.

In general, you should harvest asparagus in the last week of May. When you do, make sure you cut the spears below the soil level. Otherwise, you could accidentally damage nearby spears.

It is a good idea to fertilize the asparagus bed after harvesting. A nitrogen fertilizer encourages maximum fern size. Mixing in a 16-0-0 fertilizer every 20 feet of row can help achieve this goal.

Another tip is to remove any mulch from the area. This will cause sprouts to emerge sooner.

You can also apply a pre- and post-emergent herbicide mix to eliminate small emerging weeds. Using a combination of the two is a safe and effective way to kill weeds and prevent new ones from re-emerging.

For the best results, you should allow your asparagus to grow for at least a year after your initial planting. During this time, you should also burn any old ferns and chop them into pieces. These will help to ward off asparagus beetles.

Lastly, after harvesting asparagus, you should store the spears in a cool, humid environment. Ideally, they should be stored at 32 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some varieties, such as the Jersey Knight hybrid, tolerate heavier soils. Their yield is also impressive.

Aside from the obvious, there are other things you can do to help ensure a good harvest. First, you can mow the bed once after the removal of the spears.

Pruning

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning that it will grow and produce food year after year. Pruning asparagus in Texas can help keep the yield and quality of your crop. You’ll need to start with good soil. Keeping the bed weed free will also help. A good mulch can help suppress weeds.

The best time to fertilize asparagus plants is in late summer and early fall. This will provide the plant with fresh nutrients for the spring harvest. It is important to use a high nitrogen fertilizer.

The roots can be divided during the winter. This will encourage growth during the cold weather and help the asparagus grow better. If you have acidic soil, you may need to add lime to increase the pH.

Asparagus spears are usually planted in the spring. They can be harvested throughout the season, but they should be harvested after they have reached full maturity. Once you have harvested the spears, they should be cut back to the ground.

In the spring, the foliage will begin to turn golden. Cutting the leaves back can be done in late March. However, the foliage should be left in place over the winter so that it can protect the crowns from freezing.

In the spring, you’ll be able to harvest asparagus from the asparagus crowns. These plants can be planted in January or February.

To plant the crowns, you’ll need to dig a hole that is two inches deep. Place the crowns in the hole and cover them with topsoil. For a more even distribution of fertilizer, place a mound of soil over the crowns. Make sure to cover the crowns with compost.

Having a bed that is weed free will greatly improve the amount of asparagus you can harvest. A thick layer of mulch can also help keep weeds at bay. Mulching around the beds will also keep the soil moisture.

When it comes to pruning asparagus in Texas, a few simple steps will ensure that you’ll have a great crop the next year. Cleaning your pruning shears with hot water and dishwashing liquid can be helpful.