Question
I've planted several Jersey Giant asparagus crowns in good organic soil, expecting several shoots to emerge at roughly the same time, at which point I would cover w/ a couple more inches of soil, repeating the process until the trench was topped off, etc... but all crowns have produced just ONE shoot. As I was waiting for more shoots to emerge before adding soil, the existing ones grew too tall to cover.

QUESTION: How should I proceed? Should I go ahead and add more soil, expecting the crowns to eventually produce more shoots or do I clip the existing shoots to hopefully promote more shoots to grow now (THEN cover a few inches at a time)?

Answer

asparagus   Ted,

Sorry I have not got back to you sooner.  Asparagus plants usually only produce one or two shoots the first year of growth, a few more the second year and then are in full swing in the third year.  I would put more soil in the trench and each year mulch with aged manure or compost.  The one shoot that has come up can be left until it dies back naturally in late summer.  They are a beautiful addition to your garden.  Next year when they start producing asparagus shoots only cut the ones that are thicker than a pencil, let the others produce the fern like heads.  The third year you should be able to cut all the shoots that produce. Well tended asparagus plants will produce for up 15 years, enjoy.

I have attached a picture of asparagus plants in my first back yard garden.

If you have any other questions please let me know.

Happy gardening,

Catherine Abbott
www.your-vegetable-gardening-helper.com