In professional cultivation, asparagus rhizomes are used to cultivate the vegetable. Few people grow small plants themselves from seeds because this extends the time until the first harvest. Cultivation is possible in your own garden.
What are asparagus roots and what function do they have?
Asparagus roots, also called rhizomes, are underground storage organs of the plant Asparagus officinalis. They form roots up to three meters long and are used professionally to cultivate asparagus. Green and white asparagus arise from the same rhizomes.
Growth
Asparagus officinalis develops an underground storage organ that forms roots up to three meters long. Fleshy shoots sprout from the rhizome and are covered in spiraling leaves. The shoots have a whitish to pale reddish color. Above the ground they branch out and form plant stems with leaf-like branches.
Development
During the summer months, the above-ground green parts of plants produce carbohydrates via photosynthesis. These substances are stored in the rhizome in autumn so that the asparagus can sprout next spring. The more energy is collected in the storage organs, the stronger the asparagus shoots grow. Shortly before winter, the plant dies and the above-ground parts of the plant die.
Harvest
The young asparagus spears are suitable for consumption. The harvest season extends from the end of March to the beginning of April. The asparagus can be harvested for the first time in the coming season, although you should let the asparagus plants grow undisturbed for another year to get a better yield. The harvest usually takes place from the third year onwards. Do not clear all plants at the same time. This gives the stock the opportunity to thrive more vigorously.
Green vs. white asparagus
White asparagus must be harvested relatively early, before the shoots push through the soil. When these come into contact with sunlight, they develop a green color. These above-ground asparagus spears are called green asparagus. Both belong to the species Asparagus officinalis.
Plant your own asparagus
Asparagus rhizomes can move into the garden bed between early April and mid-May while you plant out grown seedlings after the last frosts. A warm and not too wet soil ensures a good growth base. Cold and wet substrates restrict growth, which quickly leads to rot on the roots and rhizomes. Asparagus is usually planted in trenches.
How to plant rhizomes:
- Place green asparagus 15 centimeters deep
- White asparagus can grow up to 25 centimeters in the substrate
- Spread out root shoots in a fan shape in the planting hole
- Cover the roots with an eight to ten centimeter thick layer of soil
Tip
As soon as the asparagus grows and becomes visible on the surface, fill the trench with fresh soil.
Fertilization
The asparagus plants grow in the same location for up to ten years if you create optimal conditions. Supply the bed with compost before planting, or sow legumes for green manure in the fall. After the asparagus plants have died at the end of the season, carefully work a slow-release fertilizer into the soil. Liming can be carried out every three years so that the environment has a pH value between 5.8 and 6.5.
