Asparagus Planting Methods and Techniques

Asparagus is a perennial herb with strong adaptability and diverse varieties. Selecting varieties that are suitable for the local environment and have excellent quality and high yield is a key factor in achieving high yield and quality of asparagus. Below is a brief introduction to asparagus planting methods and techniques.

1. Seedling stage

Selection of nursery site: Choose loam or sandy loam with good drainage, fertile soil and good air permeability as the nursery site. The pH value should be controlled between 6.0 and 6.7. Ensure there are good irrigation and drainage facilities. It is best to choose a plot that is sheltered from the wind, facing the sun and well ventilated.

Seedling raising time and method: Usually small arch sheds are used for seedling raising in mid-March. First, plow the land about 25 centimeters deep, apply 3,300 to 5,000 kilograms of decomposed organic fertilizer and 50 kilograms of triple compound fertilizer per 667 square meters, mix them evenly and make them into ridges that are 10 to 15 meters long, 1.2 to 1.5 meters wide and 20 centimeters high. Make sure the ridge surface is flat, the soil is fine, and reserve drainage ditches. You can also use nutrient pots to grow seedlings. Use 6 parts of clean garden soil that has never been used to grow asparagus, 4 parts of fully decomposed organic fertilizer, and 0.2% superphosphate to prepare the nutrient soil. Before sowing, fill the nutrient soil into a pot with a diameter of 7 to 10 cm and a height of 12 cm.

Seed treatment: Before sowing, wash the seeds with water to remove the wax on the surface, then soak them in 250 to 300 times diluted 50% carbendazim for 24 hours, then soak them in warm water at 25 to 30℃ for 2 to 3 days, and replace the water 2 to 3 times a day. After soaking, wrap the seeds with wet gauze and place them in an environment of 25 to 30℃ to keep them moist and germinate. Wash the seeds with clean water twice a day. When about one-tenth of the seeds germinate, they can be sown.

Sowing: Before sowing, water the bed surface thoroughly. After the water penetrates, make straight lines with a plant spacing of 10 cm and sow the germinated seeds in the center of the bed.

Insulation measures: Cover with plastic film immediately after sowing to keep the ground temperature below 5 cm at 25 to 30℃ during the day and 15 to 18℃ at night. After all the seedlings have emerged, if the temperature in the bed exceeds 32℃, the film should be removed and the seedlings should be hardened in time.

2. Soil selection and planting

Soil and Land Preparation: Asparagus grows best in soft, fertile, well-drained sandy loam, which is conducive to root development and high yield of tender stems. Since asparagus is a perennial crop, it is difficult to fully plow the land after planting. Therefore, the land should be deep plowed before planting, with a plowing depth of 30 to 40 centimeters, and 2,500 to 3,500 kilograms of decomposed soil and manure and 50 kilograms of compound fertilizer should be applied per 667 square meters. After land preparation, harrow the land and improve field irrigation and drainage facilities. The planting belt should be north-south, with a row spacing of 1.2 to 1.5 meters, a ditch width of 40 to 50 centimeters, and a depth of 30 to 40 centimeters. Before transplanting, apply 50 kg of compound fertilizer, 42.5 kg of cake fertilizer, and 23 cubic meters of organic fertilizer per 667 square meters and mix them evenly with the backfill soil. When transplanting, the planting ditch should be 10 cm from the ground, one plant should be planted every 25 to 30 cm, and 1,500 to 2,000 holes should be planted every 667 square meters. When transplanting, arrange one end of the underground stem regenerated bulbs in the same direction along the ditch to facilitate soil cultivation and bamboo shoot harvesting. After survival, gradually fill in the planting ditch.

3. Field Management

Check and replant seedlings: Check and replant seedlings within one month after transplanting. When replanting, water the seedlings sufficiently to ensure their survival.

Watering: Water the seedlings promptly after planting, and water them in time according to the weather and soil moisture after covering the soil. In summer and autumn, water in the evening to keep the soil moist; water for the winter before it freezes.

Top dressing: One month after planting, the seedlings enter normal growth. Apply 10 to 15 kg of urea per 667 square meters to promote balanced growth. In August, the autumn growth season begins, and autumn fertilizer should be applied heavily. Apply 2 to 3 cubic meters of organic fertilizer, 25 kilograms of compound fertilizer, and 10 kilograms of urea per 667 square meters, and apply in furrows 40 centimeters away from the plants. Pay attention to the prevention and control of diseases and pests.

Thinning and topping: In the early stage, the stems are dense and thin, so they need to be thinned out once every half a month and weak branches should be cut off. After October, top the plant when it reaches 15 cm in height.

Pest and disease control: The main diseases include stem blight, anthracnose, and wilt; the main pests include underground pests , thrips, etc. Agricultural control includes drainage, balanced fertilization, and field cleaning. When using pesticides for control, use sprays such as thiophanate-methyl and thiophanate-methyl, or use chlorpyrifos granules to control underground pests.

4. Harvest

The bamboo shoot harvesting period begins in the second year after planting. Bamboo shoots should be picked before sunrise to avoid sunlight. When harvesting, dig up the topsoil, gently pinch and cut off the bamboo shoots 3 cm below the tip, and harvest tender stems 18 to 20 cm high each time. After picking the bamboo shoots, add soil in time and cut off the exposed tender stems. After the bamboo shoot picking season, dig up the soil ridges to prevent incomplete soil removal from affecting product quality.

The above is an introduction to asparagus planting methods and techniques. In addition to choosing the right variety, the above-mentioned links are also very important for planting asparagus.