This is purple asparagus. I grew it because it was different, though it turns green when it's cooked. It grows different, too, producing fatter stalks and more of them.
You can see in this picture that some stalks are visible. I think I'm supposed to cut them below dirt level in case of fungal growth? Like I said, I randomly do different things.
Here's a look at my potato bed for this year. I planted my potatoes late, only about three weeks ago. This is the amount of straw I put over each potato piece, basically just a little hill. You can find more details of how I plant potatoes with this straw-planting method by reading this post, but basically I make sure to loosen the straw (it comes off the bale in flakes that sometimes take some effort to get apart) so the new growth can push it's way up.
Here's my one little new growth, though I did pull back some hills to see if the others were growing (yes, they are!).
I went ahead and pushed the straw closer around the growth. I will put more straw around/over it when it gets about 10 inches to a foot tall. I might put a little more on them as they grow, but usually not, so each plant has maybe a foot and a half of straw around it's base. The straw is used to keep the sunlight from turning the potatoes green, but some tubers grow in the soil, too, just not deep enough to need a shovel to harvest.
Since then I just buy it at the feed store to make sure I get the right stuff. And I've not had that same experience again, so I feel comfortable recommending it to others. Anyone else have experience with this method?
And thanks for the questions! Keep 'em coming, I'm happy to answer (as best I can...).
-Jami
Marie says
I am making a potato tower out of pallets. I will layer hay and sifted soil on the potatoes and then harvest the potatoes and put in asparagus. Does this sound like a good idea?
Jami says
It should work with the potatoes. Will it be permanent for the asparagus? They are long-lived and need a permanent spot.
Justin says
Hello. Love your aspargus bed. I am getting one stalk per crown on my 2nd year aspargus. When does it start to produce multiple stalks per crown at the same time?its the Jersey variety.
Jami says
Thank you, Justin. Hmmm, I got more than one stalk at the two year mark, but asparagus does take a long while to get established. Usually by year 3 or 4 you can harvest like normal. Did you plant deep enough?
Justin Ruger says
Did you have more then one stalk at a time or just one at a time ?
Jami says
On established plants, there will be 4-10 stalks (or more) on each plant.
Root Tracey says
I am just getting started with planting the asparagus bed this year, this site has been very helpful!
[email protected] An Oregon Cottage says
Witchymee- I get a lot more than 4lbs. over the course of the season, though I don't know my total amount because I don't always weigh what I bring in and this is the first year I'm going to harvest for the full six weeks. I have two beds set aside for asparagus, each 3x12. I planted 10 crowns in each, but they didn't all make it, so I have about 15 established plants. I have this much because, frankly, I had the room and I wanted to have enough to pickle and eat plenty fresh and give away. Hope that helps!
witchymee says
How many asparagus plants did you plant to get 4lbs?
[email protected] An Oregon Cottage says
Candi- I do cover the seed potatoes in dirt, just very shallow, and then hill up with straw instead of dirt so you should be fine!
Striving- Oh, I've read somewhere about getting the asparagus to be fall and spring. I'll have to try to get my beds to do that one day!
StrivingSimply says
My mom had two asparagus beds, a spring and fall bed. She'd let one go to fern while the other we'd harvest. Even years after she got rid of her garden, we'd harvest straight out of the grass. It took her 3-4 years of mowing the bed over twice a week to get it to stop producing. And even then, it might have stopped only because it was a 20 year old bed.
We just started our asparagus bed this year. I hope it will look as good as yours. Enjoy!
Candi says
Wow! Your asparagus look awesome! That is a really cool vegetable to be planting. I did plant the purple potatoes like you said, but I put them under some dirt...I hope they'll be ok 🙂
Daniel says
Thanks Jami, for the update on the asparagus and potatoes plants. I can not wait until my asparagus (2 year old now) can produce like yours! and I'm loving your videos. Dan