Asparagus

 

          This asparagus is grown from seeds which were sent by my friend from Holland in 2011. Initially it was grown in a polystyrene box, but it only produce small shoot because it is a heavy feeder and requires a lot of water. But i rarely fertilize it. I have to fertilize it fortnightly if i want big shoots. So it was moves to the ground. I made a raised bed whereby the bottom is filled with coconut husk and sheep dropping to maintain the dampness and fertilize it.

Male or Female?

The best asparagus to grow is all male asparagus. Since it doesn't waste energy to flower and producing seeds, all energy is directed towards the growing spear. There will be bigger and more spear in each clump.
How can you tell whether it is male or female asparagus? When asparagus reach the flowering stage, a growing spear will get taller but its fine leave will be sparse, soon after that many flowers will appear. I kept pinching the flower bud hoping to encourage the growth of the spear.

sparse needle like leaves and many flowerbuds

lush looking male asparagus in front & female at the back

Asparagus flower

My asparagus is getting taller and bushier, the clump and the shoot are bigger too, and soon I can harvest it. Since it is doing very well, I’ll add about 30 more plants. However i noticed one clump is flowering.  Luckily it is only a clump, so i just pinch the flower. i'm still looking for all male asparagus seeds.

today 22/8/13

bigger shoot but not many

asparagus flower

It wont be long

Asparagus is very easy to grow; I fill the bottom of polystyrene box with dried grass and sheep excrement. The top layer is a mixture of compost and sand. I just have to water it once a day, The compost in the bottom will take care of the fertilizer part. In temperate region it took about 3 years before it can be harvested but in the tropics it only took 10 months. It is bushier with so many tiny shoot. Seven more months and i can have my home-grown organic asparagus. Long enough time for me to finish all vegetable that I’ve grown.

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      2 months old

more leaves

i

New shoot, too small to eat:-)

more shoot

 asparagus is bushier

                      3 months old, photo was taken yesterday