I would probably just let them fern this year, and would start treating them a little better -grin-

I started my bed last Spring, and had quiet a few usable shoots this year. Actually many more than I expected to have and the size was from ball point pen to large fat marker size. Any smaller than a pen, we left to fern.

I have only grown asparagus in one other location, but I have had good luck both places. I put this in last year in early Spring. Very late in the Fall, I cut all of the stalks. I just left mine and laid them across the bed but if you were afraid of seeds making more plants then you wouldn't want to do that. Then I covered the bed with several inches of leaves.

In Spring, before it was time for them to come up, I added about an inch and a half of compost to the top of the bed. That is all I have done to mine, except a little water during dry times.

Do you plants look healthy when they fern? Are they tall? Have you ever fed them?

What kind of soil are the asparagus plants growing in?

Your asparagus should be producing better by now. So like Dawn I would want to know what the soil is like. Asparagus likes neutral to slightly alkaline soil with lots of organic matter and no competition. So keeping them well-mulched is important. The roots can go five feet deep. Would that be possible where your plants are? Were they well watered during last summer's drought? If none of these are the problems I would suspect you have some genetic problems. Not all asparagus is created equal. Some crowns never put up large spears no matter how old they get. Other crowns only put up three or four very large spears each year once the crowns reach maturity.

But more than likely the problem is poor soil, competition, or not enough water during the summers.

One thing, you need to harvest the spears before they fern out, while the heads are tight. Once they fern, they are not edible.

I have a patch that has struggled for the past several years. I only have a few inches of top soil on top of some very heavy clay. Adding compost, fertilizer and mulch has helped a lot. Keeping the grass out of the bed has been a challenge, but several inches of mulch helps. I've had a pretty nice harvest this year (early!) and hope I've over the worst.

I am not an expert or experience on growing asparagus. But our asparagus planted last spring have produced more than I bargained for...I planted them very well amended raised beds and lot of mulches on top of it. They are still poking up new and think spears, but I have stopped harvesting since last week. Chandra

So sorry...I thought I'd get emailed when someone responded..guess I need to check my settings again. Well, of course, I was afraid you all would say it was the soil...that always seems to be the problem. It is in a bed completely weed/grass free, for the past 3 years I've put in a variety of things...manure, peat moss, cotton hulls, pine needles as a top mulch. I'm pretty sure it got enough water last summer..I think probably it's a bit too wet. The asparagus do fern out nicely, get probably about 4 ft tall (?). The only shoot that every comes up though is slightly thinner than a pencil. I"m sure I've sprayed Miracle Grow a few times, but nothing very strategic. Guess I should check the Ph...have never done that. Thanks for all you help. I"m experimenting but would like to be a successful gardener someday!

For anyone planting new asparagus plants, I recommend Simmons Plant Farm in Arkansas. My roots were fantastic and I was amazed at how much they produced the first year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Simmons

Kbeth, definitely do check the pH as all the mulch materials you mentioned are acidic. In Norman your soils are probably less acidic than here in eastern OK, but that could still be a factor. Our soils are acidic and we mulch our asparagus with oak leaves, sawdust or wood chips, all acidic. So to compensate we spread woodashes over the mulch, taking care not to get it too thick right over the crowns.

Thank you! I did this and the pH was in a good range, a relief. This bed only gets morning to noon sun. Im starting to think it"s just not enough. Can you move asparagus? I planted more just 2ish months ago.

You can move asparagus but I certainly wouldn't do it now. If you are going to move them wait until after a frost kills the tops in the fall. But I'm not sure that is the problem. In our climate morning to noon is 5-6 hours of direct sun. Maybe someone else will come along who grows asparagus with no more sun than that and let you know how it is doing for them. Mine does get more, from sunup til 5PM except right next to the new greenhouse which shades a couple rows in the afternoon.

I had a bare cement slab with nothing on it when I planted my asparagus. The patch is at least 10 years old and two years ago I had a building erected on it. It did ok last year in a bad year and is producing this year. So far I haven't been able to tell any difference in the performance. One other thing I'll mention is there is a difference in varieties. Over the years I have purchased roots from several different sources and at least 3 different varieties. There is a difference in when each variety breaks dormancy and how each performs. Some produce larger spears and others have always produced a small to medium spear. I had concerns about the shade myself as this plant is just 2-3 feet east of the east end of my metal building so morning sun is basically all it receives. I will know more in another season or two but at this time I haven't noticed any change in the plant or its production. It did break dormancy later than several of mine but another plant of the same variety on the south side in full sun only broke dormancy a few days earlier. We had snow piled on that side of the building for a long time and with the heavy mulch the soil may of warmed slower but then when the other plant wasn't but a few days earlier I decided it might not be the case. For me growing asparagus is the easier crop I grow. If I add enough mulch early enough many years I don't ever have to remove anything. This year I didn't remulch the crowns and have had to removed a little. Otherwise I just let mine grow. If they get too dry they basically shut down and then start up when moisture comes. They survived when my grass died out in the drought. I think I soaked them twice last summer. It and horseradish are for the lazy gardener. Jay

kbeth,

In the southern US asparagus generally produces just fine on a minimum of about 5 hours of sun. I am not sure if it would do well in, say, 4 hours of sun.

Before I decided the asparagus was getting too much shade, I'd spend a few bucks and get a professional soil test of the soil taken only from the asparagus patch. I've linked the OSU webpage below that tells you about the soil test. Normally with a soil test of garden soil, you'd take soil from several places and mix it together to get a good overall picture of your soil health. However, in this case since the issue is the growth of the asparagus, I'd send soil taken from a couple of places in the asparagus bed and find out from OSU exactly what is going on with that soil. That's the only way you'll know for sure if the soil is the issue.

You can get the basic test done for only $10, and that will address the most basic, minimal issues. If you want a little more in-depth analysis, you can pay another $10 for textural analysis or $6 for analysis of its organic matter content. There's also various other tests that are more for agricultural interests than for home gardeners.

With the soil test, if there is a problem with the soil you then will know exactly what it is and how to fix it. Then, if the asparagus still doesn't thrive after you know the soil is good, you can troubleshoot again and try to figure out what the problem might be.

Do you use city water or well water? That could be another issue.

If you have the really sandy soil that is more sand than anything else that is found in some parts of Norman, it may be that your soil continues to drain too well for the asparagus and you need to add more organic matter.

Don't get discouraged too easily. This issue can be figured out and fixed and then your asparagus will produce for years and years.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: OSU Soil, Water & Forage Analytical Lab

Dawn mentioned an issue that I've experienced. It is the water you use although I would guess you don't have to water yours much with the rainfall in your area. Here our water regardless of whether it is well water or town water is very alkaline. And can cause problems with some crops but I've never noticed any effect on my asparagus although like I said I don't water mine that often once it is established. I know many claim the chlorine in town water is a detriment to many crops. That is all I use to water my plants from the time I start them whether inside or out and my crops usually do well. During the drought I have seen some build up in the soil but with the heavy snow this winter and the little rain fall we have received I'm sure the soil has been flushed some. I've found there are certain varieties that do well here and others that don't. So the issue might be the variety you are trying to grow also. I can't think of the name of one variety suggested for my area. A local market grower/greenhouse owner grows and sells it. I know it starts with the letters UC and then some numbers. Many of the varieties sold at the box stores and farm supply stores aren't adapted to my climate and soil. I have a deep sandy loam soil and harsh climate conditions. What would do well for Dawn in her garden probably wouldn't do well here. My suggestion would be find someone in your area that grows asparagus and has similar soil and find out what varieties they grow. Jay

Jay, The source I listed sells Hybrid F2 of UC157. Is that the one you are thinking of?

I think I planted Jersey Giant and it seems to like my area just fine.

I planted seed of UC157 to establish my patch. Got some genetic variability with a few crowns never putting out large spears and a couple always putting out just a few VERY large spears. Also ended up with more female plants than I wanted so have to weed out seedlings or the patch would get too crowded.

The problem with my asparagus is also the thickness of the stalks. However... I have a bed that I planted over twenty years ago that is still producing very well. It even survived a tilling by an over-enthusiastic garden helper son-in-law. However, as the plants are very mature now, many of the spears are very thick... up to 3/4" in diameter... and my wife insists they are too tough to eat. Does anyone know how to get the plants to produce THINNER spears? Is it simply a matter of harvesting a bit more aggressively? Perhaps harvesting over a longer season to "weaken" the plants for next season? Any suggestions?