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Asparagus
How They Are Grown & Harvested
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Did you know it takes about two years to establish a field of asparagus? Asparagus seeds can be planted directly into a field, or grown in a greenhouse and then transplanted into the field. You can even start an asparagus patch at home. |
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Growers usually begin with one-year-old crowns of asparagus grown in nurseries from seeds. These crowns are picked by special mechanical diggers in late fall, placed in cold storage, and then planted in the spring.
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At planting, the crowns are set by hand in prepared furrows, 8–10 inches deep and covered with about three inches of soil to protect them from dehydration and frost. Did you know that asparagus uses fewer nutrients to grow than most other plants? Now that’s an efficient plant!
Asparagus plants grow very deep roots underground. In fact, the roots can grow as deep as 20 feet. That’s twice the height of an average room!
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On the surface of asparagus fields, the young crowns sprout tiny spears that develop into small, bushy ferns.
While the crop is developing, soil temperatures are carefully monitored. This is done because asparagus grows at its best at temperatures above 52 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature is warmer, asparagus spears grow very quickly. Can you believe that in temperatures of 78 degrees Fahrenheit it can take just two days for a spear to grow 6 inches? Some growers say that at 90 degrees Fahrenheit it’s actually possible to watch the asparagus spears grow!
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Asparagus spears are harvested in the spring. During the harvest, workers walk through the fields to select spears about 10–12 inches long, with tight compact heads and a rich green color.
Every spear of asparagus is cut by hand using a special knife. Asparagus spears are cut about 1–2 inches below the soil level to allow the spears to stay fresh longer.
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