Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2022 - 58

Specific Crop Recommendations
For further information about Insect, Disease and Weed Control, see the appropriate control section after these
specific crop recommendations.
ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis)
VARIETIES1
AL
ASPARAGUS
Jersey Giant 2
Jersey King 2
Jersey Knight 2
Jersey Supreme 2
Purple Passion
Millennium 2
UC157 F1
1
Abbreviations for state where recommended.
A
A
A
A
A
2
GA
G
G
G
G
Male hybrid.
Soil Preparation. Be sure to soil test in order to determine liming
and fertilizer requirements. The ideal pH for asparagus is
between 6.7 and 7.0. Asparagus does not tolerate acidic soils
and will not grow well at or below a pH of 6.0. Fungal diseases
that contribute to asparagus decline (Fusarium Crown and Root
rot) survive better at lower pH. Liming the soil 7.0 - 7.5 will
reduce the survivability of Fusarium. Apply 100 lbs/acre of nitrogen.
If no soil test is performed, supply sufficient phosphorus
and potassium so that the soil contains 250 lbs/acre of available
phosphorus and 300 lbs/acre of available potassium. Phosphorus
does not move readily in the soil and cannot be incorporated into
the soil after the asparagus is planted, so it must be incorporated
prior to planting.
Asparagus grows and yields best in a deep, well-drained
sandy loam soil, but will tolerate heavier soils as long as the soil
has good internal drainage and the water table does not come
within four feet of the soil surface as this would interfere with
the extensive and deep root system.
Broadcast the fertilizer and plow it under when preparing
the land for the planting furrows. Then, each year after harvest is
complete, broadcast 100 lbs/acre nitrogen and other nutrients (if
needed). Lime can also be added at this time. For the first four
years, soil test yearly to determine if fertility and pH adjustments
are necessary. Fertilizing in the spring before spears emerge will
not benefit the developing crop since the buds on the crown were
formed utilizing nutrients from the previous year. After four
years, soil test every two years.
Planting. An optimal soil temperature of 50ºF is critical for rapid
growth by crowns. See " Asparagus Planting Dates " table for
suggested dates. Avoid planting crowns into cold soils. Prolonged
exposure to cool, wet soils will make crowns more susceptible to
Fusarium Crown and Root Rot. If crowns are received before
the field is ready to plant, crowns must be stored between 33
- 38ºF. Otherwise, the buds on the crowns will sprout, causing
the fleshy crown roots to shrivel and die.
Asparagus crowns and transplants are placed into furrows.
Make furrows 6 " deep. On a heavy soil, plant crowns no deeper
58
than 5 " and on a light textured soil, no more than 6 " . Apply fertilizer
in the bottom of the furrow before planting crowns. Place
crowns in the bottom of the furrow and cover with 1 to 2 " of soil.
The fertilizer will not burn the crowns. Although crown orientation
is not important, crowns placed with their buds oriented
upward will emerge faster. Research shows that pre-plant applications
of phosphorus below the crown are an important factor in
long-term asparagus production. Omitting the phosphorus placed
in the bottom of the furrow will reduce yields in subsequent years
as compared to not applying the additional phosphorus.
NOTE: Asparagus crowns are received in bulk or in bundles of
25 crowns per bundle. After receiving, separate the crowns by
size into small, medium, or large. When ready to plant, plant
all the smalls together in the same row, all the mediums together,
and all the large crowns together. Do not plant a small crown
next to a medium or large sized crown. This will cause the larger
crown to shade the smaller one, which will then never attain its
full growth potential.
Spacing. Crowns can be spaced 12 " to 18 " within the row. Research
shows that there is no advantage of planting 9 " between
crowns in the row. Although a larger yield is obtained earlier
with 9 " spacing, after 4 or 5 years, the yield will be the same as
with 18 " in row spacing. Also, the closer the crowns are spaced
in the row, the more crowns needed, increasing cost (for example,
18 " in row x 5 feet between row = 5,808 crowns per acre;
12 " crowns in row x 5 feet between row = 8,712 crowns per
acre).
Asparagus crowns should not be planted in a solid block;
rather, plant the field with drive rows spaced between a block of
five rows. In order to obtain optimal spray coverage, an air-blast
sprayer is needed to evenly apply insecticides and fungicides
into the dense fern canopy from both sides of the five-row block.
Boom sprayers usually cannot be set high enough to prevent the
knocking over of ferns causing damage.
The furrows can be filled-in completely to soil level after
planting without damaging the crowns. Do not drive on or com2022
Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
KY
K
K
K
K
K
K
LA
L
L
L
L
L
MS
M
M
M
N
N
N
O
NC
N
N
O
OK
SC
S
S
S
TN
T
T
T
T
VA
V
V
V
V
V
V

Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2022