Asparagus

Lanelle L
by Lanelle L
Now that my asparagus is up and growing, do I need to pick the seeds off or let them fall? Think I read somewhere...can't find it again...they need to be picked to avoid them sprouting all over the bed.
  5 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Apr 06, 2012
    Is this an established bed, Lanelle? Are you harvesting spears from it now? There shouldn't be anything with seeds on it during the harvest period.
  • Lanelle L Lanelle L on Apr 06, 2012
    No this is the first year with supposedly 2 year old crowns and they all look like ferns with seeds on them which is why I asked. I know once they get established they should not look this way.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Apr 07, 2012
    In that case, I would remove the seeds. They are an indication you have female plants, which are less desirable in an asparagus bed since the seeds take energy from the plants and also produce new plants, which can lead to overcrowding. Since an asparagus bed will last for a long time, you might want to replace those plants with some of the new hybrids like Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, Jersey Prince, Syn 53, Syn 4-362, UC 157 or Viking KBC, which have larger yields.
  • Lanelle L Lanelle L on Apr 07, 2012
    My asparagus is the Jersey Giant which is why I was surprised to see seeds.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Apr 07, 2012
    Hmm, Lanelle. I wonder if you got the right plants.