When to Stop Cutting Asparagus

Q. When should you stop cutting asparagus? We've had a good crop in the past but seem to have quit harvesting too soon in prior years so want to go as long as possible. We enjoy eating it!

Asparagus spear called 'Purple Passion' harvested

A. The textbook answer is 6 to 8 weeks of cutting and then you should let it go and rebuild its crowns beneath the soil for next year’s harvest. That information was given back when asparagus spears were thought to be marketable only if they were the diameter of your thumb. That’s changed and now we see asparagus sold much smaller in diameter than that and marketed as such.

Asparagus spears will produce spears large in diameter at first but after the crowns get exhausted from production the spears will get smaller and smaller in diameter. It is up to you when to stop harvesting them. But in the older days, asparagus spears were harvested until the spears got smaller in diameter and smaller.

The other answer is to continue to harvest until you see a noticeable decrease in the diameter size of the spears. When they start to get too small for harvesting (don’t just look at one spear but take an average), stop and let the roots and crowns of asparagus rebuild themselves.

            Asparagus will rebuild itself better if you can provide some nutrients as the crowns are putting away storage for next year. After harvesting, apply at least an inch of rich compost or you can also use manure.

In late December or early January the asparagus bed is fertilized with either manure or a rich compost. Sometimes a fertilizer is required if no manure or rich compost is available.

            The crowns should be 6 to 10 inches deep depending on the soil so laying manure on top of these areas should cause no problems. (Some manure is high in salts.) Planting the crowns deep makes sure the spears don’t come up too early. Make sure you water it after planting. After planting don’t water too often because the crowns are deep. Apply water on a similar irrigation cycle as fruit trees. The roots and crowns should have water available at the same depth.

Asparagus crowns are planted 8 to 10 inches deep. In retrospect, I would have used more compost when planting and made the planting area darker...more organics in the soil.

Best Time and How to Prune Ornamental Shrubs

Q. I have some shrubs in my yard that are getting rather scraggly looking.  I was wondering when and how far back I can prune it back in to shape.

Shrubs improperly pruned with a hedge shears. Unfortunately, most people do not recognize bad pruning when they see it and now unfortunately are asking for this kind of pruning.

A. First decide if now is the best time for pruning them or not. You can prune anytime during the winter months. Some plants look better through the winter if they are pruned now. Other plants look fine now but might not look as good if you were to prune them.

As shrubs are pruned more and more into a gumball, in a few years they developed exposed strong stabs at the base.

            Remember, if you prune now you will have to look at them the rest of the winter. If these are flowering shrubs, prune them soon after they finished flowering. If the shrubs do not have ornamental flowers, prune them anytime during the winter.
            The best pruning methods remove the oldest growth from the bottom of the shrub with a lopper or hand shears. Hedge shears for pruning shrubs are, as the name implies, for hedges, not for shrubs.

Properly pruned shrubs require to – 4 cuts at the very bottom to keep it looking good and juvenile.

Joshua Pups Can Be Transplanted

Q. I have a Joshua tree that is sending out what I've been told are "pups".  In other words, more trees are coming up around the main tree.  Can I transplant the pups to a new area and how do I do that.  Thanks for your help.

Apply Rose Fertilizers Now

Q. In previous years I started fertilizing our roses in March. They performed poorly last year so I want to feed them earlier. Is it ok to start now, and if so is there any special formula or nutrients required for the first feeding?