It's been a while since I've paid any attention to my asparagus plants. I had planted one year-old crowns earlier this year. The plants are about waist-high at this point and are producing these rather interesting looking berries that are more reminiscent of Christmas than Halloween. Pretty soon I'll have to add a nice layer of mulch for addition protection during the winter months.
I'm looking forward to harvesting my first spears next spring. According to a fact sheet put out by Ohio State University:
The year after planting, asparagus can be harvested several times throughout a three-week period, depending on air temperatures. Research shows there is no need to wait two years after planting before harvesting. In fact, harvesting the year after planting will stimulate more bud production on the crown and provide greater yields in future years, as compared with waiting two years before harvesting.
Sounds good to me! I consider myself a reasonably patient person but having to wait two years to harvest anything would have pushed my tolerance to the limit.
Ooooh, those berries are so cool! I planted 2 asparagus plants this year. I can't wait to harvest next year.
ReplyDeleteThats is wonderful news that you can harvest your asparagus earlier. Asparagus berries looks very cute.
ReplyDeleteThomas, our plants are waist high (not saying much considering my height) ;) and beginning to turn brown. And I agree on harvesting your plants next year. It is a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteHard to believe that Oct is nearly over... I remember starting seeds (March) and now its fall. Have a wonderful weekend.
PS: if you want any seeds, let me know: Pineapple tomato, San Marzano 'Gigante', both wonderful producers even in our funky summer, Sadie's Horse Beans, Mizuna, Tatsoi, lemon cucumber...
will trade for that Meyer's lemon ;)
My mother had asparagus planted by the fence row on the farm when I was growing up. I don't remember the asparagus plants getting berries on them. How pretty! I wish that we had room for asparagus here.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be planting those next spring. I can't wait to have fresh asparagus. Yum. They do look more christmasy. I wonder if the berries will hold over until then.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous aren't they? I harvested lightly this year, really looking forward tp taking a "full" harvest in spring.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! Here we have to keep to patience. Perhaps because of our very cold climate, I do not know, but we tried harvesting already after one year and we got less and less of crops each year. This year we bought new asparagus and we will wait until 2012 until we harvest, and just a little bit. From 2013 and forward, we hopefully will have a great harvest:)
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Charlotta
The berries are pretty and interesting. I did not know they put berries on the plants. Will be adding asparagus next year.
ReplyDeleteI REALLY must get round to planting some asparagus!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend :)
That's the first advice for quicker harvest I have seen. That is great news indeed because waiting two years for a new bed is a commitment of space (unproductive) for too long a time in my books.
ReplyDeleteInteresting berries! There are quite a few asparagus fields around here. They are really nice planted on mass, especially in the fall/winter when they turn to yellow and then brown. Here is a photo of one of the fields: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21950260@N05/4856394617/
ReplyDeleteWe we were little my siblings and I would pick asparagus berries and use them as pretend money in out games. Your post brings back this long forgotten memory:-)
ReplyDeletePlanting trees is not only time-consuming, it is also hard work, especially when you do it right like you said.
ReplyDeleteAsparagus Plants & Raspberry Canes