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Garden Gate:  Asparagus  |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 1:53:20 PM
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Is asparagus a annual or a perinial (sp), if it does come back yearly how do you do that? Just not pick it all, like you would garlic, onions, chives and such?
Also I know Rhubarb comes back yearly, how do you cut it to make it come back yearly? Like where on it would you cut?
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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SarahJ
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Shreveport
Louisiana
198 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 3:12:38 PM
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I think asparagus comes back yearly, but when you plant it, it takes a couple of years to come to maturity before it will start producing.
SarahJ
Farmgirl Sister #116
http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/ |
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TJinMT
True Blue Farmgirl
211 Posts
TJ
Billings
MT
USA
211 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 3:14:42 PM
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Hey there! It's a perennial, it lasts a long time! 15-20 years sometimes. Just don't harvest *all* the spears, take maybe 50-75%. If it's a new plant, first year don't harvest at all, second year just 1 or 2, 3rd year a bit more, and so on. It naturalizes sort of, so you will get more plants coming up every year! I looooooooove asparagus!!
Re: Rhubarb - I don't cut mine at all, but live in Montana where the winter will slay it to the ground. Not sure about other climates, I'm zone 5. But when you DO cut a rhubarb stalk, don't cut it! If that makes any sense... you carefully pull it off from the base, so there are no bits of open/cut stalk left to get diseases. They come off pretty easily. Mine is gy-normous!! It really needs dividing but... I just walked in from dividing peonies, I'm not sure I'm gonna *get to* my rhubarb!!
~TJ of Green Willow Place
www.MyWesternHome.wordpress.com
"We make a living by what we get, but we build a life by what we give." ~Thomas S. Monson |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 9:07:23 PM
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A new small rhubarb plant needs to be treated like the asparagus. The first year (if grown from a typical purchased new start) you really should not harvest. General rule is not to harvest more than a third of the plant for the next two years. Then all holds are off. Just leave enough for the remaining to keep the root alive. They get huge so leave plenty of room around them. They die back here in zone 7 too.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 11:02:09 PM
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Thanks! I'm really wanting to start a good perrenial veggie garden! I hope I can. UHG at least it will be here on my dad's land, but just means I will have to start all over when we get our own property! lol haha Oh well, at least I can come visit and get some when we get a home of our own.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2011 : 06:27:58 AM
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When you cut asparagus just cut at the ground. Don't go any deeper. Same is true for rhubarb as you don't want to ruin the roots. The others have covered the basic, but I did spend this year cleanign up some old asparagus patches of the older dead stuff. This makes it easier to harvest the new crop because the old stuff is hard brittle andhurts when it pokes you. Trimmed it back to ground level, but these were wild ones around the orchard that had been there for years. Aspargus can get a beetle depending on where you live and someone had mentioning burning back all their dead material in late fall. it does like water to get started. Rhubarb like to begin with too, but then no more than once a week and I live ina very dry climate.
Good luck, laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
697 Posts
Emily
Chambersburg
PA
USA
697 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2011 : 6:20:21 PM
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I just read that asparagus likes sandy to fairly sandy soil too. It was in an article in Grit
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Currently renting-farmgirl wannabe |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2011 : 06:32:30 AM
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We have clay soils and in the orchard they have had some loving over the years, but definitely not sand. We have so much wild asparagus and it is everywhere along the ditch edges, it is family outings for the neighborhood to go pick for the meal of hte evening.
Laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
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FG Vicki
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Vicki M
Etna
CA
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2011 : 5:00:55 PM
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I hope you all don't mind me jumping in.
I planted 100 plants 3 years ago and just mulched my plants with horse manure. I'm so waiting for them to start coming up this year. It will be the first year we can eat them. I just got 25 purple passions to plant this year. I'm so excited. My plan is to have enough someday to pickle them. Can you imagine asparagus all winter YUMMMMM !!!!
Vicki
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything"
Vincent van Gogh |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2011 : 8:06:04 PM
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Vicki that's my dream! To have a huge enough garden to live completely off it and not have to buy at the store, year around! UHG I think I am getting a late start on that though! lol Will probably be 40 before I even start the one at a home of my own!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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FG Vicki
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Vicki M
Etna
CA
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 7:14:37 PM
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To funny Heather,
It's never to late to start, I started my first bed about 9 years ago and then started this bed 3 years ago. I'm 54 and going strong :) I have a big garden but can only expand a little every year. I work full time and our garden is new on very yucky soil. so I mulch a little more every year. I love it :)
Vicki
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything"
Vincent van Gogh |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 8:40:41 PM
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Same here, I'm living with my dad right now on a 80 acre nature preserve so we don't have a lack of land for garden, do have a lack of funds for said garden though! lol I bought some tomatoes, strawberries and onions today. Next is zucchini, asparagus, and rhubarb! lol I also want grapes, cherries, pears and tons and tons of stuff. I can see though it will probably take me 10 years to get the size strawberry patch I want with the money I have to spend! lol I do plan on buying some Mary Jane garlic this fall though! I think onions looks like the cheapest perennials so far for me to buy. I bought a set at our local feed and seed store that was only 3 dollars, for about 50 starts! lol Took me quite a while to plant them all! lol And I bought two bunches.....um one of the bunches didn't get planted today! lol A thunder storm started so they will have to wait till tomorrow! lol hahaha I also noticed the asparagus around here is very expensive to buy....it will take me a lot of years to get the asparagus patch the size I want. But, like you I have a long term plan of adding a little bit each year, till I get what I want. Hopefully my kids will inherit it and take care of it.
I just moved back to Kansas, after living in NYC for 10 years. The other day I drove by the neighborhood I grew up in, and there used to be a house, with a beautiful french garden. The whole property was a garden, no grass, no bare patches, all flowers, plants, veggies, fruit, just lovely. The house itself was a beautiful yellow stone house. The lady was elderly when I was little. I remember one year in 4-H I needed to make something for competition for the state fair and we went to her house and asked her if she would cut us some of her flowers for flower arranging competition, her flowers were the most beautiful at the state fair and one first place! I was sooooooo sad when I drove by the other day and all of her garden is now a big ole dirt pile! Not one stick of her garden is left. All I can assume is she died and who ever bought it or inherited it had no appreciation for all her years of labor and expense, or even the just basic beauty of the garden she had to of taken decades to acquire. As I was growing up that's all I seen her do work in her garden, perfecting it, making it a masterpiece to see. I used to love to walk by or drive by her home just to look at it all and try to take it all in (which you never could do in one viewing!). I was sickened and really mystified why some one would be so destructive to it. Made me mad and sick at the same time. UHG! Any way, I hope my kids don't do that to my garden when I go! lol hahaha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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adnama
True Blue Farmgirl
171 Posts
inge
fargo
north dakota
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2011 : 6:05:29 PM
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| Just a suggestion, as you know people sometimes buy more of a plant then they really can use. Post an ad on craigs list and ask for extras, gardeners are some of the most generous people that I don't know. They start their seeds and suddenly they have this abundence of seedlings, and like our children we want them to flouish. Ask and you may recieve. |
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FG Vicki
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Vicki M
Etna
CA
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 4:04:31 PM
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I agree, I ask my friends for any extras that they have, either vegetable starts or perennials that they are dividing. Also if you have one in your area join a local garden group or community garden, then you'll have people around you that are ready and willing to share all the time. Think to about starting your asparagus from seed. It only takes one year longer. My plan was always to have 400 plants, I'm up to a little over 100 so I'm thinking that I should buy seeds now and start the next 300 from seed.
Very sad to hear about the beautiful house and garden :(
Vicki
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything"
Vincent van Gogh |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 4:44:38 PM
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yeah I'm highly considering the seed route.
I'm not sure where to find a local garden group right now. I'm new here. My parents have lived here 20 years, but don't have many friends. I mean their friends they have had since they were literally in kindergarten. They don't have any farm friends, all their friends are in the city. I hate to say this, cause it sounds awful. But, the locals where we live don't like us too much. My dad bought this 80 acre farm, cause he wanted out of the city, and wanted water (it has a lake on it) my step mother wanted to stay in Kansas. My dad wanted to move to Arkansas. So as a compromise he said he would stay in Kansas if he could live in the country, she agreed. Any way long story long, my dad is Mexican. My step mother believes in helping orphans. My dad is a registered nurse, step mom is a dr. They volunteer much of their time to orphanages all over the world, from Russia, to Haiti, to Hondurus. They have adopted 6 Haitian children over the last 18 years. The town folks are all white. They weren't too fond of dad, and well it's been H E double hockey sticks for the kids in school here cause of being Haitian. So.....um friends are far and few between out here. I wish I knew a few that would accept us. The only people who are nice to us in the least is the Amish! I will have dad ask a few of the Amish men if any of their wives are interested in trading with me. I so far haven't really met many of the Amish women so far, cause of it being winter. I have only met a few at the fabric store so far. But, dad is very good friends with most the Amish ministers out here cause they work together at the hospitals in ministry. They have daily prayer together before visiting people-dad just recently became a chaplain, and so are some of the Amish Ministers. Any way.....thanks!
I had decided though for sure I think some asparagus seed is the cheapest route to go! Will be trying soon!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2011 : 11:00:23 AM
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beautiful!
I think I got in too late in the game this year in my garden planning and too low on money. BUT, there's always next year, next year, I'm going to buy the seeds and go for it! We will see what happens.
I just bought a few more cheap tomato plants (cherokee purple and such) at the grocery store, so heading out to plant them, along with some seeds they were selling for 15 cents a package!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2011 : 2:43:00 PM
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Don't forget asparagus and rhubarb are heavy feeders. They love a big top dressing of composted manure or just good ol' homemade compost every year. It's also a good idea to remove the big center flower stalk when it comes up, don't let it bolt and go to seed. You will know it because it comes right up in the center, shoots straight up and has a big bud on it.
Mary Ann
www.gardensofthewildwildwest.com
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2011 : 2:45:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MagnoliaWhisper
Same here, I'm living with my dad right now on a 80 acre nature preserve so we don't have a lack of land for garden, do have a lack of funds for said garden though! lol I bought some tomatoes, strawberries and onions today. Next is zucchini, asparagus, and rhubarb! lol I also want grapes, cherries, pears and tons and tons of stuff. I can see though it will probably take me 10 years to get the size strawberry patch I want with the money I have to spend! lol I do plan on buying some Mary Jane garlic this fall though! I think onions looks like the cheapest perennials so far for me to buy. I bought a set at our local feed and seed store that was only 3 dollars, for about 50 starts! lol Took me quite a while to plant them all! lol And I bought two bunches.....um one of the bunches didn't get planted today! lol A thunder storm started so they will have to wait till tomorrow! lol hahaha I also noticed the asparagus around here is very expensive to buy....it will take me a lot of years to get the asparagus patch the size I want. But, like you I have a long term plan of adding a little bit each year, till I get what I want. Hopefully my kids will inherit it and take care of it.
I just moved back to Kansas, after living in NYC for 10 years. The other day I drove by the neighborhood I grew up in, and there used to be a house, with a beautiful french garden. The whole property was a garden, no grass, no bare patches, all flowers, plants, veggies, fruit, just lovely. The house itself was a beautiful yellow stone house. The lady was elderly when I was little. I remember one year in 4-H I needed to make something for competition for the state fair and we went to her house and asked her if she would cut us some of her flowers for flower arranging competition, her flowers were the most beautiful at the state fair and one first place! I was sooooooo sad when I drove by the other day and all of her garden is now a big ole dirt pile! Not one stick of her garden is left. All I can assume is she died and who ever bought it or inherited it had no appreciation for all her years of labor and expense, or even the just basic beauty of the garden she had to of taken decades to acquire. As I was growing up that's all I seen her do work in her garden, perfecting it, making it a masterpiece to see. I used to love to walk by or drive by her home just to look at it all and try to take it all in (which you never could do in one viewing!). I was sickened and really mystified why some one would be so destructive to it. Made me mad and sick at the same time. UHG! Any way, I hope my kids don't do that to my garden when I go! lol hahaha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
Heather, you almost made me cry when you wrote that about the old yellow house and garden. I feel exactlythe same way when I drive by my grandmother's house. I learned to garden there and its been trashed.
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2011 : 9:42:17 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions Mary Ann. And yes me too, I almost cried when drove by it the first time and seen what had happened!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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rebekahj
True Blue Farmgirl
128 Posts
Rebekah
Santa Cruz
CA
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 2:10:09 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MagnoliaWhisper
yeah I'm highly considering the seed route.
I'm not sure where to find a local garden group right now. I'm new here. My parents have lived here 20 years, but don't have many friends. I mean their friends they have had since they were literally in kindergarten. They don't have any farm friends, all their friends are in the city. I hate to say this, cause it sounds awful. But, the locals where we live don't like us too much. My dad bought this 80 acre farm, cause he wanted out of the city, and wanted water (it has a lake on it) my step mother wanted to stay in Kansas. My dad wanted to move to Arkansas. So as a compromise he said he would stay in Kansas if he could live in the country, she agreed. Any way long story long, my dad is Mexican. My step mother believes in helping orphans. My dad is a registered nurse, step mom is a dr. They volunteer much of their time to orphanages all over the world, from Russia, to Haiti, to Hondurus. They have adopted 6 Haitian children over the last 18 years. The town folks are all white. They weren't too fond of dad, and well it's been H E double hockey sticks for the kids in school here cause of being Haitian. So.....um friends are far and few between out here. I wish I knew a few that would accept us. The only people who are nice to us in the least is the Amish! I will have dad ask a few of the Amish men if any of their wives are interested in trading with me. I so far haven't really met many of the Amish women so far, cause of it being winter. I have only met a few at the fabric store so far. But, dad is very good friends with most the Amish ministers out here cause they work together at the hospitals in ministry. They have daily prayer together before visiting people-dad just recently became a chaplain, and so are some of the Amish Ministers. Any way.....thanks!
I had decided though for sure I think some asparagus seed is the cheapest route to go! Will be trying soon!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
Heather,
That is so sad that people are not nice to your family when it sounds like they are doing an incredible thing helping orphans. Your family would be celebrity status out here in Santa Cruz, CA. Diversity and compassion is what the majority around here preaches. I sure wish people would wake-up and see skin color like they do eye color and not judge based on ethnicity. Small minded people is what they are. Bless your family for all they do!
Rebekah
Urban-Farmgirl Sister #2173
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 3:20:49 PM
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I know it's really rather pathetic, really ticks my step mother off. Cause would they really rather see these children still in Haiti starving to death. Probably the ones she has adopted wouldn't of even lived to the age they are now truth be told. The oldest was so severely malnourished they thought he would have permanent brain damage when he had his first physical and blood work done here. Funny enough he's the swiftest one! Very humorous and fast thinker! He's pretty gifted as well, always on honor roll. Along with doing well in track and football. But, believe it or not he was kicked off the track team cause some one else called HIM the "n" word! Yeah some one called him the word, and he is the one kicked off? How in the world that makes sense we don't know. And the person calling him the word was not doing it in a teasing or joking manner either, it was meant to be venomous and mean spirited, not that that word should ever be used in teasing, but I do know how kids are and sometimes they are playing around not fully understanding the total depth of what they are saying. That was not the case here. Yet that student is still allowed to run track? Hmm? Any way...such is life. And it's the way life is a lot of places. So my dad just tries to be a good example in showing how to retain dignity in such and go on with life, in a dignified manner no matter what. His mother always used to say, don't worry, I've dealt with ignorance all my life. lol haha I always remember those words when such happens!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Garden Gate: Asparagus |
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Asparagus
