QA

Quick Answer: How To Keep Weeds Out Of Asparagus Beds

What can you spray asparagus with to control weeds?

Paraquat (Gramoxone Inteon) is a contact herbicide that is effective against both grasses and broadleaf weeds and must be applied before asparagus spears emerge. It is most effective when applied as a broadcast application to weeds that are in the two- to four-leaf stage.

How do you kill grass on asparagus?

Glyphosate is systemic and works best at controlling perennial weeds. It can be broadcast over the entire planting area in early spring before new asparagus grown emerges or after the last harvest. Snap all spears 1/2 inch below the soil line, so no spears are above ground, then overspray the planting area.

Can you use Roundup on asparagus beds?

Products containing the pre-emergent herbicide trifluralin can be applied in early spring before the asparagus spears begin to emerge. Do not allow Roundup to get on asparagus spears or ferns, as serious plant injury may occur.

What is the best mulch for asparagus?

Straw, pine needles, pine shavings or bark mulch work well as mulch choices. Avoid using dyed mulches (black or red). Avoid using synthetic mulches like black plastic or landscape fabric.

Can you put Epsom salt on asparagus?

Asparagus, Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, onions, radishes, Turnips and many flowering plants need a lot of sulfur to thrive. Epsom salts are highly water-soluble, when diluted with water, and applied as a foliar spray it can be absorbed rapidly by plants.

Can Preen be used in asparagus beds?

There is a product called Preen (trifluralin) that is registered for use around established asparagus plants. Preen is a pre-emergent herbicide, which means that it keeps weed seeds from germinating. You may find it helpful to mulch your asparagus bed with clean oat straw after applying the herbicide.

Can you spray asparagus with 2 4d?

Asparagus growers have several choices of herbicides for control of emerged weeds. The synthetic auxin herbicides 2,4-D (Formula 40, Embed Extra) and dicamba (Clarity) are effective against many broadleaf annuals and perennials. They also can injure asparagus plants if there is too much contact with spears or fern.

When should I burn my asparagus?

As soon as the field is passable in early spring, mow or chop the old asparagus ferns with a brush hog mower or flail chopper if not chopped in the previous fall. Alternatively, they can be burned down with a controlled burn. Burning helps eliminate asparagus beetles that have overwintered in the old ferns.

How do you rejuvenate an old asparagus bed?

Steps to revive a neglected asparagus bed Wait for a good rain to soften the soil, or water the bed well. Using a large sharp knife to cut out thick weed stems below the soil surface. Hand pull small weeds around the asparagus plants. Rake the soil surface smooth. Watch for the new weeds to appear.

Are coffee grounds good for asparagus?

Asparagus prefers a soil pH between 6.5 and 7, which is mildly acidic. Coffee grounds can run 5 or less on the pH scale by themselves. The grounds also add some nitrogen, which is a regular nutrition need of asparagus.

Can you put salt on asparagus plants?

Asparagus plants will thrive in soil with high salt content, unlike many garden vegetables. It does not need salt to grow, however. Putting salt on asparagus plants can damage the plants and reduce the yield.

Can you put rock salt on asparagus?

“For healthy asparagus, add sodium chloride rock salt (NaCl) to beds more than one year old. Apply 2.5 lb. per 100′ row either before spears appear or around July 4. Research shows this treatment helps asparagus resist crown and root rot diseases caused by Fusarium fungi and also improves overall growth.

What can I put on my asparagus bed?

Keep your asparagus patch performing well by top-dressing every spring with 2 to 3 inches of composted manure, followed by a 2-inch layer of loose organic mulch. Shredded arborist’s woodchips, straw and finished compost are all good choices.

Does picking asparagus encourage growth?

When asparagus spears start poking their heads out of the ground, it is an exciting time of the year. This could stimulate more bud production on the crown and provide greater yields in future years, as compared with waiting two years before harvesting.

What is the best fertilizer for asparagus?

The best fertilizer for asparagus will feature a balanced formula that contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, such as a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 blend. Beginning in the fourth year, apply fertilizer after the final harvest in late spring or early summer, instead of a spring application.

Is sawdust good for asparagus?

Good mulching materials include sawdust, wood chips, shavings and ground corncobs. These materials shut out weed growth, but still permit asparagus to come up. Caution: if applied too early, it may tend to keep the soil cool. This would delay your harvest of asparagus, but that doesn’t hurt it.

Is peat moss good for asparagus?

One-year-old crowns or plants are preferred to seeds for starting asparagus. Plant asparagus crowns in a trench 12 to 15 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep. Incorporate rotted manure, compost or peat moss, plus fertilizer, into the soil before setting the crowns, because little organic matter can be added later.

Why are my asparagus spears so thin?

Why Shoots on Asparagus are Thin Inappropriate Age – Very young and very old asparagus plants do not yield optimally, this is why it’s recommended to leave young plants unharvested for the first three years and to divide or replace any crowns over 10 years of age.