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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 10, 2015 12:34:30 GMT -5
Yum, indeed!! We used to have asparagus growing along the in-laws' outbuilding but they had it dug out when they redid their drive. (bah) Is asparagus pretty frost hardy? It was always a late sprouter here--so we wouldn't see any starting to come up until well into April...
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 10, 2015 13:24:39 GMT -5
A big dip wouldn't go over well but if it hovers around 30 they are fine. If we expect 20s for most of a night I'll put a blanket on them and make sure they are watered.
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Post by naturelover on Feb 11, 2015 10:41:08 GMT -5
I've never known anyone growing asparagus. I have no idea how to do it, or even if it would grow here in my shaded clay. I've heard it's different than growing most other crops. I'll have to do some research: we love to eat it. I try to get it on sale, which is $2.99/bunch here (enough for the 2 of us).
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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 11, 2015 13:42:47 GMT -5
It grows wild here in the ditches, and ditches are considered fair game for harvesting, but try to tell the farmers with fields abutting the wild asparagus! LOL Everyone loves asparagus! It's not that hard to grow, though. You can't harvest any for the first couple of years, and thereafter you have to make sure to leave a few late sprouters to go to seed and replant your line, but they really do need very little care.
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 11, 2015 21:59:53 GMT -5
Yep, ditch asparagus is nice - doesn't happen in the high desert. Marilyn, you buy crowns, they are usually a year old. You can harvest a little during year three and thereafter you can harvest for several weeks. When the stalks start getting thin the plant is letting you know it is time to quit. You let those last ones develop and that feeds the crown for next season. At least that's how it works here. The clay soil would probably need to be augmented with compost and/or manure - but I'm not sure. I've developed some good soil over time here. Crowns look like octopus. The tendrils are spread out around the center - if I remember correctly - or buried in a trench.
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Post by naturelover on Feb 13, 2015 9:46:34 GMT -5
Three years to first harvest? No wonder I've never planted any; I rarely stay planted that long myself!!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 13, 2015 10:46:50 GMT -5
LOL!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 13, 2015 15:23:23 GMT -5
LOL Yes, that would be a problem! We were lucky--the asparagus was already planted when we moved in!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 17, 2015 21:52:35 GMT -5
We have had more rain. The YTD total is 3.61". I looked back and it took until June 23, 2014 to reach (exactly) 3.61"!! Typically it takes to mid-May to reach over 3 inches. This is our dry time of year.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 18, 2015 17:52:28 GMT -5
Oh, wow! You're way ahead of the game then! Now I'm getting really excited to see the flowers you get!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 18, 2015 17:57:23 GMT -5
I understand the TX Bluebonnets are about ready to open. They are south of us in the Big Bend area. Maybe I can talk hubby into a drive...
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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 18, 2015 18:00:05 GMT -5
Already!! I'm used to frozen ground well into March at the earliest!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 18, 2015 18:04:21 GMT -5
It rarely freezes on the Rio Grande - just a mere 100 miles south and 4000 feet lower elevation. The mountains part of the park, 2-3000 feet higher thanus, is a different story - it snows there a few times a year.
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 18, 2015 18:14:06 GMT -5
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Feb 18, 2015 18:19:30 GMT -5
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