Strive for sustainable asparagus growth

IN MY rush to get your as-
paragus into the ground, I
seem to have left one or
two minor details out of
last week’s columm.

First, 1 told you to remove the

top 12 inches from your future -

asparagus bed. Put it back! |
didn’t intend that you get rid of it
permanently; just to set it aside
long enough to prepare the sub-
soil.

Next, I seem to have forgotten
to offer some suggestions as to
good varieties for this area. Out in
front is Mery Washington, with
Viking running a close second.
One benefit of growing asparagus
from seed is knowing what the
heck you are growing. I have
never seen asparagus roots sold as
named varieties.

Lastly, let’s talk about quan-
tities.

Ten strong plants should be all
that is required to feed a family of
four. This translates to one
package of rooted starters or one
package of seed per average
household. If yours is a household
of real spear-chuckers, however,
you can always plant more. Just
remember to give them enough
room, i.e., 18 inches by 10 inches

per plant.

OK, Iet’s assume our asparagus
is properly planted; in fact, the
stuff is growing like a weed. Many
aspiring asparagus growers will
promptly clear-cut every spear
that manages to emerge from the
ground and after a short visit to
the cooking pot, consume it with
much gusto (and a little cream
sauce}. And what do you suppose
they will do for next year?

Remember we said that aspara-
gus is one of the very few peren-
nial vegetable crops. Although it
dies to ground every winter, it can
come back every summer and
supply us with many years of
bountiful harvests. Assuming, of
course, that you leave enough of
the plant intact to generate next
year’s growth.

Sustainable growth has become
the catch phrase of the 1990s for
environmental concerns in the
forest industry. You might want
to consider adopting the same phi-
losophy in the asparagus beds. Do
not harvest any of your asparagus
for the first two years; get your
plants established and growing
vigorously first.

As your spears will emerge over
a defined period, you can insure
this ‘‘sustainable growth’? by
harvesting through only a portion

Share ideas on environment

THE SIERRA Club-Lower
Mainiand Group has com-
menced its second annual Sus-
tainable Living Contest to
coincide with Environment
Week, which runs from Mon-
day, June I to Sunday, June 7.

The project, designed to
promote the sharing of ideas
between cultures, has been
made possible by a grant from
Environment Canada.

‘Until the Friday, May 22
contest deadline, elementary
and secondary English-as-a-
second-language students in
the Lower Mainland are invited

to participate in the form of
essays, posters or class pro-
jects, which show ideas for
more environmentally friendly
means of reducing waste.

Students are encouraged to
share ideas of non-wasteful
habits from their cultures,
which Canadians could adopt.

Selected entries will be
displayed in malls and libraries
during Environment Week, as
a means of teaching people
about sustainable living. Prizes
will be awarded to winners.

For n:ore information, call
Jane McRae at 669-7292.

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OVER THE GARDEN GATE

of the growing season.

In the third year after planting
you can harvest over a two-week
season, the fourth year a four-
week season and six weeks in the
fifth. From six years onward you
can harvest up to eight weeks per
year,

Having said all this, [ fully ex-
pect you to break the rules and
sneak out a few servings early.

Harvest your spears as they
reach six to eight inches in height.
Use a sharp knife to slice them off
an inch or so below the surface of
the soil.

44 Do not harvest any of your
asparagus for the first two years; get
your plants established and growing

vigorously first. 99

Since asparagus plants are
heavy feeders, you shouki mulch
early every spring with a well-
totted manure or enriched com-
post.

Apply a balanced fertilizer such
as 6-8-6 at the end of June, and
water your plants well through
any dry periods. This is especially
important in the first two years as
deep watering will encourage deep
roots. Regular weeding will reduce
the nutrient and water loss to un-
wanted competition.

Pests common to asparagus in-
clude aphids, asparagus beetles
and cut-worms. At the appear-
ance of aphids, spray three -ap-
plications of Safer’s Insecticidal
Soap five days apart. Cut-worms
can be controlled with applica-

tions of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)
at label recommendations. Lady
bugs and predator wasps should
be able to handle most infesta-
tions of asparagus beetles. Use the
organic pesticide rotenone only if
things get out of control.

Companion planting is generally
a better method of pest manage-
ment,

Plant te:nutoes in front and in
back of your asparagus row and
parsley among the tomatoes. The
tomatoes discourage the asparagus
beetles, while the presence of
parsley will increase your garden’s
population of predator wasps.

Well, that’s about it for aspar-
agus. I hope you have the chance
to grow this nutritious, attractive
and fun vegetable.

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