Frank J. Dainello,
Extension Horticulturist
Department of
Horticultural Sciences,
Texas A&M University
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VARIETIES
UC 157, UC 72, Jersey Giant, Jersey Gem, UC 500W, Jersey King, Jersey Centennial
SOIL PREFERENCE
Deep sandy loam or clay loam with good drainage; pH 6.0-7.5; will tolerate saline conditions better than most other vegetables.
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS
Cool season crop, does best at temperatures of 60-75oF; most varieties require a dormant period.
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS
From seed, transplants or 1-yr-old crowns (preferred).
Optimum time=
| Direct seeded- soil seed zone temperature above 70oF. | |
| Seeding rate lbs/A= | 2 - 3; depth- 1 - 1.5". |
| Approx seed / oz= | 1,200 |
| Seedling spacing= | 1 - 2" in-row with 2 rows 1.5 - 2.0' apart/80"bed. |
| Transplant (crowns)- After danger of frost has past, in furrows 8 - 10" deep and 4 - 5' apart, with crowns spaced 14 - 18" in-row. | |
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION
Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P205, and K20 (base actual rates applied on soil test results).
Generalized rate:
| Crop establishment= | 200-150-100 (followed by 100 lbs/A N for the first three years); phosphorus placed at bottom of furrow 0.5-1" beneath crowns |
| Established crop= | N- 50 P- 100 K- 100 Plus 80 lbs 2 weeks prior to end of harvest. Broadcast in early spring (prior to growth initiation) and disk lightly. |
WATER/IRRIGATION
10-18"; critical time is during planting establishment and during fern development.
PEST MANAGEMENT
| MAJOR DISEASES | CONTROL |
| Crown rot | Aliette, Bravo, Ridomil Gold |
| Cercospora leaf spot | Bravo, mancozeb |
| Rust | Bravo, mancozeb, Nova |
| Nematode | K-Pam, Nemacur, Telone II |
| MAJOR INSECTS | CONTROL |
| Asparagus beetles | Lannate, malathion, permethrin, Sevin |
| Cutworm | Lannate, permethrin, Sevin bait |
| Grasshopper | permethrin, Sevin |
| WEEDS | CONTROL |
| Preplant incorporated | None |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | Devrinol, Karmex, Lorox, Sencor, Sinbar, Solicam, Treflan |
| Postemergence | Banvel, Lorox, Fusilade, Poast, Stinger, 2-4 D |
* NOTE--The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST
| Days after planting= | 1 yr. |
| Normal method= | Hand, when spears are 9-10" in length with a little white butt (at least half of the length should be from above ground area). Cool immediately. Place butts in cold water or in contact with other moisture holding material to prevent moisture loss (maintenance of quality). |
| Grades= | Based on trimmed spear diameter: |
| Very Small | <5/16" |
| Small | 5/16-1/2" |
| Medium | 1/2-11/16" |
| Large | 1/16-14/16" |
| Very large | >14/16". |
| Packaging= | 32 lb crates (loose pack), or 15- to 17-lb half-pyramid crates, or, 24- to 25-lb crtns holding 16 1.5-lb packs, or 30-lb pyramid wire-bound crates holding 12 2-lb bundles. |
| Anticipated yld/A= | 2,500 lbs |
TRANSIT CONDITIONS
32-36oF (deteriorates rapidly at 40oF) at 95-100 % RH. 3 week shelf-life.
COMMENTS / PRODUCTION KEYS
- Plant crowns with buds up into moist soil.
- Spears easily damaged by sand blasting; wheat or oat windbreaks are suggested between rows.
- Properly managed crop can be productive for 10 to 15 years.
- Do not plant in field where perennial weeds such as johnsongrass, bermuda grass or nutsedge are known to be a problem.
- Lime to a pH 6.5 or above (East Texas).
- Asparagus is very deep rooted (10-12'), can withstand doughty conditions; avoiding drought stress during first two years is critical to establishment; supplemental irrigation may be needed to maintain good fern growth.
- Do not cultivate established planting; control weeds with herbicides.
- Shred yellowing or frozen fern growth in mid-winter or early spring depending upon location.
- Normal harvest period is 3 to 5 weeks.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series
Revised November, 2003
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/asparagus.html
Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger