5 TIPS How to Grow a Ton of Asparagus in a Raised Garden Bed Container

If you would like to know how to get a massive harvest of asparagus from the one raised garden bed or container then this is the video to watch! I give my 5 top tips on how to increase asparagus production.

Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland Australia about 45kms north of Brisbane - the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). I started Self Sufficient Me in 2011 as a blog website project where I document and write about backyard food growing, self-sufficiency, and urban farming in general. I love sharing my foodie and DIY adventures online so come along with me and let's get into it! Cheers, Mark :)

[iasimov]

There once was a Greek named Pythagoras
Who liked to play on an abacus.
When he wanted to feed
He sated his need
With fish and a side of asparagus.

[stevecole]

I throw an inch of peat moss over my asparagus bed, 1/2 inch in the spring, and 1/2 inch in late summer. When I started doing that, my asparagus went crazy. Now I not only get about three times more harvest, I also get a lot of new seedlings sprouting, which I use to fill in areas, expand the bed, or give to friends for growing. Also, I always allow one stalk to grow from each plant, without ever cutting it. If I cut all of the stalks from a plant, it sometimes takes a month or two for a new stalk to emerge. But if I make sure that each plant always has a large, growing stalk, then the plants sprout continuously. The plants never die using this method, and I get a lot longer harvest season, almost 4 months in Illinois. Also, I keep weeds and non-asparagus plants from growing among the asparagus. This eliminates the hiding places for asparagus beetles, and allows birds and wasps to catch and eat them. Asparagus beetles usually drop to the ground and hide when they sense a disturbance. By using only a thin layer of peat moss, and keeping the ground otherwise clean, I no longer have any significant issue with asparagus beetles. The occasional Japanese beetles still get a soapy water bath, since they don't seem to have predators where I live. I put a sturdy steel garden post at each corner of my 4X4 meter asparagus garden which support a loop of string or rope around the garden. Asparagus likes to sprout up and then fall over. The string containment helps to keep the main stalk from each plant growing tall and healthy, about 7 feet. I noticed that sometimes an asparagus head will emerge with a curved or crooked shape. These never grow more than about 20 cm/8 inches, so I harvest them, even when they're the only stalk from a plant. Usually a new and healthy sprout emerges pretty quickly.

[brokendad]

I am in Oklahoma (central part of the U.S.) we usually harvest for one week the second year the one more week each year until about five years. I prefer rabbit manure, it can be used without composting. When the kids were young I told my wife the asparagus beds were going to have to go, no production. While talking about it one of the kids spoke up and said oh the green sticks, we break it off and eat it all of the time. Now they are grown and I get asparagus. Excellent videos.

[thedannyd]

Asparagus grows wild and crazy where I live. Every spring, go for a country drive and fill up a bag or two. Works great for pickling!

[LouisEmery]

You mentioned how good they taste raw, right out of the bed. I started eating my 2-year old asparagus this year. I've never eaten something so refreshing. I'm going to expand.

[TheTrock]

We've grown asparagus for about 20 years and just redid our bed. I particularly like pickled asparagus substituting caraway for dill seed. Our old bed produced some spears over an inch in diameter that were just as good as the smaller ones. If the asparagus gets ahead of you and gets hard but hasn't bolted you can peel the tough skin off and use it just like bamboo shoots in stir fries.

[CarnivoreChristina]

The Steve Irwin of gardening-love this channel!

[quasarsmom]

My grandfather had a ground patch of aged asparagus on the side of the family garden. I think it was over 30 years old, and oh so delicious. Still one of my favorite veggies. Never weeded the patch, the grass grew right with it.

[j.munday]

He is the daddest dad who ever dadded. XD Who knew gardening could be this fun??

[Johnny_Benson]

Burn your dead ferns in a metal bucket and then put the biochar on the top of the bed. Kills winterizing pests (asparagus beetles) and it provides "biochar" which is crucial for soil nutrients!

[NoName-mbiw]

Asparagus does not grow in Galapagos,
however, in greece was grown by Pythagoras.
No, you can not smoke it like Cannabis, however it does taste quite fabulous.
Thank you very much!

[whodad]

Mark knows asparagus and I can not understand why so many gave a thumbs down. Eating it fresh is a treat of life. iI you have cancer and you can't get enough. I have cancer.

[new-man]

my grandparents kept asparagus growing wild. once established. asparagus is one food source a family can count on season after season.

[jeremythekingoftheoutdoors]

Hello Mark! Jeremy here in Northeastern Ohio U.S.A. I've watched many, many, many videos you have posted on YouTube due to your methods, humor, and all around "Good Guy Persona" that you seem to be. Thank you for striving to share your knowledge and tips to gardening. They have been incredibly helpful. Please don't give up on making videos... they are invaluable to so many of us.

[dondouglas]

Thanks for the video! We have a 4'x12' raised bed that is about 20 years old and we love to see those asparagus tops pushing through the soil each spring! We are just starting to harvest this spring. Our large garden is deer fenced so the Oregon deer don't eat our garden but the fence also works well to keep our lab and our boxer from eating the asparagus. They LOVE it and will sneak past us when we are working in the garden if the gate is open to chow down on the spears...bad dog!

[Goosebump_clips]

No matter what mood I'm in this man always cheers me up

[waltersherwood]

I've planted asparagus in the rocky soil of New England while in college.
It came out splendid.

[bartacomuskidd]

You just became my favorite Internet Gardener.. Id never even thought about buying aged Asparagus. Man.. thats brilliant. *TIP* _Ever see White Asparagus in jars? Or have to ask your local Specialty Produce Market for White Asparagus? It costs 3 or 4 times as much. Well... to get White Asparagus, you just dump loose dirt over the new shoots.. NO SUNLIGHT. Harvest before they breach.. and charge 3 times as much at the Farmers Market. PLUS, youll be the only farmer with the secret Asparagus that people have to ask for. Be sure to keep harvested spikes, in sealed containers.. even picked they will start to turn green exposed to light._

[MightyGodofGods]

Tips:
1 - lots of variety. Grow several types. Buy established crowns and plant them to increase success.
2 - be patience. Takes 2 to 4 years before harvesting.
3 - cut the spears around 8". Harvest regularly to encourage more spears.
4 - after a few months of harvesting. Let it grow out. To rejuvenate it for next season.
5 - mulching and feeding. Mulch to protect and encourage growth. Feed with compost, chick or cow manure.

[Andysfishing]

Nice one Mark, sounds like anyone can grow a tone of Asparagus like that, didn't know they last 20 years.