How Much Asparagus Can ONE Family Eat?
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Today marked the beginning of a long-awaited project on our homestead: planting our very own asparagus beds. After prepping the soil a couple of days ago - a mix of grass lawn, dandelions, violets, and clover - we were eager to dive in. Armed with our trusty tiller and a single bottom plow, we tackled the task of breaking up the ground to make way for our future asparagus haven.
It was quite the sight seeing our tractor pulling that plow, a tool Todd had acquired years ago in a trade. We managed to create neat trenches about 12 to 14 inches wide for our precious asparagus crowns. Once the groundwork was laid, it was time for some enriching - composted manure, about 3 to 4 inches deep, to give our future greens a nutritious start.
We meticulously followed the "head to tail" planting method we learned from Living Traditions Homestead, ensuring each crown was snugly nestled in its new home. With two rows down the length of our trenches, spaced about 12 inches apart, we felt a sense of accomplishment.
As we worked, thoughts turned to future care - watering diligently, mulching for moisture retention, and contemplating how to handle potential weed pressure. Despite the rain threatening to pour down on us, the excitement of what's to come kept us going.
Sure, it'll be a few years before we enjoy a full harvest, but with our dedication and a little luck, we can already picture those fresh, tender spears gracing our plates. Until then, it's all about nurturing these plants and watching them thrive on our homestead. Can't wait to share the journey with you all!
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Living Traditions Homestead is another great channel.. They could use some prayers tho🙏🏻💕🙏🏻.. Asparagus is going to be a great addition to you and Todd’s homestead!!!
I started my patch about 7 years ago in a raised bed in the PNW. It does great. I let the “berries” fall to the ground throughout the fall and then cut back all the dead foliage in the winter. I continually have new babies popping up amidst the huge grandma & grandpa plants. It’s a multi generational patch for sure! Have fun!
We bought our crowns from MI gardener on clearance three years ago. I thought they were dead when I first got them. I planted into a ruth stout straw the first year after I soaked them. I then transplanted into their forever home and I now have a bunch of plants from four! Just enough for me since my family doesn’t like it. 😂 Lookin great guys! It’s been nice seeing your hands in the soil again after your break.
I started a patch last year of the Martha Washington variety. I did the octopus method, and they all did well. But the Head to Toe looks so much more efficient! I’m planning to extend the patch into the bed next to it, and will try this. You guys are always one of my go to resources, I’ve learned so much from you! Thank you!!
Sarah and Kevin have taught me so much. I love their channel.
Nice! About the lifespan, I'm not sure if it matters much. What I've seen around here, it does some lateral self propigation. So it can continue on for years and years. I have also gathered the seed during spring clean up and dropped it other places, and it does grow. Takes a few more years than planting crowns. Doesnt matter to me,though, our sons will enjoy it when we're gone.
my bed is 10yrs old and produces like crazy, I handle weeds by cutting then weed wack and the cycle starts again..I usually let them go around July 1...im upstate NY zone 4, mine are just coming up this week and boy am I loaded with it
Great job. I've found wild asparagus on the side of the road, and of course, I pulled over and picked them. Now I stop every year . I dug some up too in the middle of nowhere.
I enjoy watching you both. I miss your "what's for dinner" too.
rachel, i just want to thank you for your calm positive attitude. i enjoy your video's because of your demeanor, i know when life is going crazy for me i can watch your videos and relax, i love your attitude when things go wrong and you just laugh, thats what the world needs and i need, is to learn to just laugh.
Asparagus sre so tasty. Will you be eventually trying the white and purple asparagus.
Nice job. I do worry you'll be fighting weeds like crazy however.
I love seeing you dig in the dirt with bare hands. I love the feel of dirts in my hands too! I love your t shirt Rachel. “worlds okayest mom”
The ONLY thing I miss about Michigan, is the wild asparagus. I also had a large bed in my yard. The secret to trouble free asparagus is MULCH..DEEP mulch... I prefer wood chips. Few weeds.
Year 3 this Spring for us! Great harvests so far! Heavy wood chip mulch. Weeds.....rock salt! Heavy softener salt in late Winter. Asparagus is salt tolerant. Old vid on YT on this subject...worth a search.
My answer to your video ? headline, not enough!
My neighbors yard chickens love their asparagus patch once the plants go to ferns.
They're thick n shady n great protection from hawks.
Before that the hens have to be kept out lest they eat it all.
Experience speaking from planting asparagus for the first time 7 years ago. Weeds took over my bed with a good mulch topping so I think you'll want to do something because you won't be able to mow .
i dug a 12 inch trench by hand for 20 crowns last year. Then i planted them all octopus method. This year, I know that I wasn't suppose to pick them, and I didn't. But they were very big and I think that I could have actually picked them. They have multiplied and for each crown that I got one piece from last year, this year four or five are coming up. I am so excited that I put in the effort to plant them and you will be too. Well worth the up front work. I have heard that onions and strawberries grow really well with them. I will be trying that real soon to see how that works.
"that's the story I'm telling myself", love it!! 😂
I know. I will be borrowing that phrase.
That is one thing that I have never grown!!! I only pick it in the wild!!! Thank you for sharing the process with us!!! Please Everyone Pray for all those Effected by the Tornado's!!! God Bless Us All!!!
That single bottom plow is awesome! But your teamwork is unmatched 💪🏽 haha
I put asparagus crowns in our garden and it’s our first year growing food so I honestly wasn’t expecting much to happen the first year or two. I was worried because I figured it would be a guessing game to know if they are doing well but we actually have little baby asparagus popping up out of the ground! It’s so cute lol and it’s good to see that they’re actually rooted and doing ok so it’s really exciting to see 💃🏽
I’m so excited to see what yall do with all the asparagus in the future 🥳
I started asparagus from seed inside in the winter of 2020, planted those out in Spring of 2021 and this year (Spring 2024) is the first year it has produced a lot of harvestable sized spears. Half my plants died in a polar freeze and we only have 2 crowns left growing. But from those 2 crowns we have had enough for a side dish of fresh grilled asparagus at least once a week for the past 4 weeks (just my husband and I eating it). I'll get at least one more meal from them, maybe more. One crown has started to go to seed (sending up only thin fronds now) but the other is still putting up thick new spears. If even half your crowns survive, in 3 years you are going to have SO MUCH asparagus! We don't like it frozen or canned either...mostly just grilled fresh...I wonder if you can freeze dry it and how that would turn out? I'm sure you will be trying all the things to preserve it 3 years from now. 😀
One of the best mulches for the Asparagus plants is Asparagus ferns after they have dried out. :)
PS: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Asparagus and haven't planted any yet (must get some crowns!!)
😂 I wish this came out last week. I finally planted asparagus too
I agree only fresh asparagus here
I am picking asparagus from an old bed that my brother and his wife put in here at my farm back in 1969! It's the healthiest asparagus on the property. I have one other bed that is really near a bunch of sumacs, and it really doesn't do as well as the old bed. The second bed I put in about 2003, and I'm thinking of moving some of the babies from that bed to the first bed, since I'm thinking the soil must be better in the first bed.
Once your asparagus crowns get established, they will be very hardy, it just takes a few years. That looks like a prime place you chose, good luck!
🌻
I ate my first two stalks today. Several more ready tomorrow 😊yummy ❤
I just made a pickled egg Sarah had on Living Traditions 6 years ago. Also, Kevin has an English muffins recipe that is my favorite 😍
Perfect timing for your video…. heading out to plant my first asparagus bed….. Sweet Purple and Jersey Knight, 10 or each. So glad temps have gone down a bit here in NE PA too.;
This is such a timely video. I will be headed out to the Mennonite greenhouses this weekend. I need to buy asparagus because some of mine died over the winter. I'm not sure what happened. I will do my homework too but this looks like a much better way to plant. My asparagus plot is a LOT smaller than yours. I have heard that if you put salt on the weeds they will die and the plant will be OK but it really does a number on your soil. Nature doesn't weed the ditch asparagus and it grows and multiplies every year.
Looks like you created a pan of compacted clay with the tilling intoo wet soil. You’ll probably need decompacting. Good luck.
Oh boy! I planted 10 crowns in a 6x3 raised bed and that is plenty. I love asparagus but I couldn’t ever eat that much. You guys will have to start your own asparagus stand lol!
Perfect timing! I just got asparagus plants from MIGardener and Gurneys in the mail. Didn't know there were updated planting methods. Will be planting my new plants in the next day or two. My 3 year old plants are just starting to come up out of the ground.
Planted seedlings straight up and down into clay and was kicking myself, but 4 yrs later and I have great harvest daily, about 40 plants. NYz6
When asparagus starts growing, it grows to chopping height in 24-48 hours. Maybe even 12 hours. Lol. So when it starts growing, be out there on a regular to start harvesting.
as for the weeds, I mulch my asparagus with wood chips and the asparagus like the wood chip mulch and I have minimal weeds at the end of the season before winter and the ferns have turned brown completely I mow it down and rematch for winter
Rachel and Todd, love your channel. One thing ive seen that seems to work good is put down annual rye grass they forms a thick mat then dies in winter.- yay! Weed barriers. Now to be honest ive never tried it but its said to work. I cover mine in bunny manure and shredded lesves!
Best wishes to you both!
TOO massively wet out yet. Otherwise, anxious to get my crops in. Did get my first Oriole in today at my grape jelly. No hummers yet. Might need some vinca colorful flowers to entice them in.
Your suppose to leave the crowns above grove just a touch. Iearned the hard way. I hope you dont loose all that work, wish i had that, mine is just a little patch , actually i think / know i can pick this yr. Rachel try it raw it is so good.
Weeds...
An older farm said to disperse the weeds, and you need to add salt to the patch before the asparagus starts to pop up. White cheap cattle salt works great for this.
The weeds are mostly shallow roots, and the asparagus will not be harmed by this method.
I have not done this yet, as I am only getting my asparagus this year.
It’s not too often I feel outdated, let alone told I’m outdated! The octopus technique is outdated! I didn’t do much research, just followed what the bag advised. But I will be sure to add mulch to ensure moisture in the roots!
Hi Rachel and Todd. It is wonderful to see some new plants growing in a new patch. Asparagus is very healthy. Hope to see some soon. And yes Re Rachel, it is a messy job. Your the best. God Bless you Rachel and Todd. HUGS 🤗 you two. Mari'a. ❤️❤️❤️🤗🤗🤗😎😎😎👋👋👋🌼🌺🌸💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
I wonder how it would be to freeze dried it if you don’t like it pickled or frozen? It might be good enough to put in omelettes or casseroles that way.
I started my patch 3 years ago :) crowns and seed , I sow seed every year I get it :) I will continue to sow seed every year :) we can never have enough asparagus 😂
I have been wanting to plant asparagus for 4 years now and finally making a raised bed for it. This is a neat idea. Love your ideas.
Whoa that soil looks too wet....I hope it doesn't turn into rock. Around here it's a major no no to till up soil when it's too wet, because u will pay for it all year
One of my favorite spring veggies. I also pickle it for eating year round, so good!
I let my asparagus grow out and cut it back in early spring also for weed pressure I use coarse salt about two or three time during the growing season help with weeds
My Dad had his asparagus planted in the lawn and he never weeded. In the fall he just mowed it all down. He always had tons of spears the next year
End video. Dirt knees. Look at these. That made me giggle. :-)
From this time onto winter my fingernails stay stained with dirt that will not budge. 🤣
Ferment asparagus is wonderful and so healthy!
Lots of worms in that soil. I'd feel bad about using a tiller.
Asparagus soup is something you need to try Rachel!! Sooooo good
I wonder if head-to-tail style works with bareroot strawberries.
Chop and freeze, and then make cream of asparagus soup!
Old man told me to put oak leaves on top of the asparagus in the fall to help keep the weeds out.
I started mine from seed last year. I have a bit before a good harvest.
It’s great grilled or baked in olive oil with salt and pepper
Freeze dry the asparagus you dont eat. It is a nice crunchy treat.
Woodchip/mulch heavily to help with weeds
You can plant some strawberries in the rest of the rows!
We make asparagus leek soup from our frozen asparagus.
Then there are the little new sprouts from all the seeds.
Greetings,
That diamond in the mud 😬
what are the white blossoming trees please?
I like the tops not the stems on asparagus.
Fresh raw asparagus and some ranch dip ❤
I’m taking back my bags of Black Kow from Lowe’s because of what happened over at homestead heart.
So sad.
It looks like you have some rich soil.
Thanks for sharing all you do. I have always grown asparagus from seed. Maybe just build a wooden raised bed around your asparagus garden which will contain the asparagus & keep the grass & weeds out. Then you can just add soil & compost inside the raised bed. I grown mine in a raised bed & it works well.🪴
That’s a LOT of asparagus!!! 😋
I planted my asparagus crowns that method last year and only two of them survived. It was probably because of our terribly hot summer. I'd paid top dollar at a local nursery for them and for soil amendments. So this year I just bought some cheapos at Walmart to try to fill in as well as starting some from seeds. By hook or by crook I'm going to get asparagus to grow, haha! With your rich soil no doubt you'll have beautiful fronds growing in no time.
PS...if you pressure can asparagus it goes to mush which makes for a super fast cream of asparagus soup base. Can it with the broth of your choice then for service add some dairy and run the immersion blender through it. Delicious and another way to preserve that lovely vegetable.
Mine never make it into the house. I love it raw.
Canned asparagus soup is fabulous!
THANK YOU! Everyone says they don't do well with competition from weeds. I had no idea it just grew wild! I got mine from stark bros 3 years ago. I planted 10 purple asparagus in a trench I dug 12 inches wide and 10 inches deep 16 feet long, which was a feat with my rocky soil. I thought I would help them along when I planted 10 more Washington plants in the next row. I sifted all the rocks out of very wet soil, planted them 10 inches deep with a little compost and fertilizer and covered with the sifted wet soil. Did you know that sifted clayish soil that is too wet makes concrete😢. My first row came up fine.... My second row, with all my help, only 2 out of 10. Wish I had known how easily they grow with no help❤
I planted 2 yr old purple passion crowns several years ago early spring. I added a bunch of amendments, i forget now. they all came up with multiple canes within a few weeks so we let it grow. to my surprise, in fall they began growing more canes. I wasn't expecting it to be a twice a year crop. next spring we were picking them, but we always leave one cane per plant. the biggest healthiest cane. they are really juicy and sweet! theyre so good we like eating them raw like a carrot. Some of our spears been an inch in diameter. This spring we were picking them up to a foot and a half tall before we got to the woody part. Theyve died off twice from frost, as well, and they still came back. All and all we picked about 2 1/2 gallons off 50-60 plants. we slacked on weeding so there are a ton of weeds, wildflowers and grasses but they came up just fine. Such a fun plant to grow. Last fall we got tons of berries. I think because its been so hot and dry, in a drought, the last couple of years. Now I'm hoping to expand our beds to grow a ton more. Each berry will have about 3-4 seeds on average. we planted them 8-12 inches deep to grow a short rooted companion groundcover perennial, strawberries, but that didn't work out in the strawberries' favor because of too much shade. i might try growing mint instead. people say...but mint will spread and take over. Fine by me. i eat a lot of mint in soups and stir fries. besides. Have you ever mowed mint? O M G it's the best. The bees and butterflies love it as well. Asparagus has largely been a hands off plant for us. even if we decide not to harvest any, it would still grow and thrive. I wish all my favorite veggies grew that way lol.
Of course you'll be outliving your asparagus. Enjoying life and God's gifts and many blessings.
Mowing works best
I think all that Asparagus planting is quite something,we have Asparagus planted for about 20 years now. Every year I plant a couple more so that they stay in production , some die on occasion .... I can't wait for this years crop , yum,yum...
They are very strong! We’ve had ours 20 yrs and cover in wood chips, they bust through no problem - we have two 50’ x 10’ ft beds and a really old 40 sq ft patch on its way out - our spring farm stand customers always are so happy!!!!!
This is my second full year of my asparagus in a raised bed. It came up beautifully. I picked maybe a dozen that were pencil sized or bigger. I planted octopus as I did not any other way. My ferns are at least 4 feet tall now. I will cut them down early winter. Sometimes I get asparagus for months. Here weeds would kill it.
Last year I decided to add asparagus. We have a patch now, but decided to add a fresh patch in the garden. It has been going well. I started the new asparagus from seed. I winter sowed them in jugs and had good germination. I planted them similar to you. I left dirt on the side and continued to back fill them as they grew. They have come up this spring and look good. I did start another round of jugs to fill in any gaps this winter. Again the jugs germinated well. I have found it pretty easy to start from seed. It does take an extra year before harvest. Not an issue if you already have a patch going.
If you have sandy soil, that is the place you should have planted the asparagus. Where I am now the soil is clay, so the asparagus has been in this soil for 34 years, so it can be in any old soil, and is still going strong. My favourite vegetable.
Thank you! Moved into the mother-in-laws house 5 years ago, planted fruit trees and 50 asparagus plants. Pick the shoots and then let the rest grow up with the weeds cause you can't mow between them.
I love cooking fresh asparagus in my cast iron skillet either in butter or bacon grease and let them get some browning on them. Delicious! I wish I had a place to plant some, but I don't right now.
My asparagus bed is over 20 years old and still going strong, fertilize it every year and I add peat moss to mine . It makes a wonderful soup , and that freezes well.
I started an asparagus bed this year too! I hope they work for y’all. Mine is doing pretty good here in Mississippi
I've never heard of buying crowns. We always just went into the wild with a shovel and dug up a patch and transplanted it to where we wanted it.
My asparagus grows in a bed that I let go back to grass. They still grow perfectly fine that way.
Where did you say you bought your asparagus from?
Https://migardener.com/1870
Oh I am so glad you tackled this. I really want to learn about growing asparagus before I attempt to grow them.
You are going to be inundated with asparagus in 3 years. It will interesting to see how they grow.
You can use salt to kill off the grass and weeds. It does not hurt the asparagus.
Fun video! Good info on the planting method too! Thanks!!!
I never been able to make Asparagus happen. Good luck guys.
I love my asparagus plants! We have 36 plants.
I don't think it was nice that you said Rachel was falling behind
I was just joking around 😀 with her. We do that all the time.
@@1870s
You two are very competitive.
you guys are so fun love seeing you work together
Todd, please post what kind of tiller that is.
Craftsman 208cc Rear Tine. I don't remember the exact model, we got it on FB Marketplace used maybe 5 years back.
@@1870s thank you
Asparagus soup!