With its unique flavor, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the asparagus is a favorite veggie of lots of people. Unfortunately, they can be very expensive. A pound will set you back several bucks and you’ll still need to remove
With its unique flavor, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the asparagus is a favorite veggie of lots of people. Unfortunately, they can be very expensive. A pound will set you back several bucks and you’ll still need to remove the hard, inedible parts before you get to the good stuff. This is why some people prefer to just learn how to grow asparagus in a container instead.
As it comes with a stiff price tag, a lot of people just opt to miss out on the tasty goodness of the asparagus. However, with just a little effort, especially if you love gardening anyway, you can just grow your own supply in your home.
Doing so will guarantee you a significant amount of savings while getting to enjoy fresh and clean veggies whenever you feel like having them.
However, you can’t just plant asparagus seeds on a pot of soil and expect it to grow nicely. You’ll need the right techniques to cultivate a tasty yield. And for this, you need to know the right techniques on how to grow asparagus in containers.
To help you ensure that you’ll be able to grow an asparagus plant that can supply you with your favorite vegetable, we’ve created a quick guide that can teach you the basics of growing asparagus in containers. Check it out below.
Can You Grow Asparagus in a Pot?: A Few Things about Container Gardening
Traditionally, asparagus is planted on the ground, typically on a raised bed. Being a hardy perennial flowering plant, putting it on your garden makes sense since it can grow for up to 20 years. Doing so will allow it to really grow and take root without any limitations. This makes it worth the effort since you’ll have to wait two years before this plant becomes established and start growing edible shoots.
They can also grow so big after a while that some homeowners get to use them as seasonal privacy fences. They can reach about 4 to 6 feet, so they’re not recommended to be planted in areas where they can create blind spots.
However, it’s also entirely possible to grow asparagus in containers. A lot of folks have been doing this already with great results.
Some do it because they have limited yard space but still want their own yield of asparagus every year. It can also be a good solution if you don’t live in an asparagus growing zone. Growing asparagus in Florida and other warm climates can be very tricky because it prefers cold weather. Placing this plant in a container can help you easily control the conditions suited for it.
Others do it because they can’t commit a specific patch of land for such a long-lasting crop. There are also some who prefer to plant these plants in pots so they won’t invade other plant beds in the garden.
You can even grow asparagus indoors as long as you provide the proper conditions for their growth. Experts say that as long as it’s placed in a window that gets full sun, you’re good to go.
However, if you intend to grow asparagus in pots, there are a few points that you should know. These will help you think through whether you should really grow these plants in containers or allocate a garden plot for them:
The size of your pot can affect plant growth, so if you’re dreaming of having thick foliage from your asparagus, make sure to plant it on a large container. A 16-gallon pot is recommended by some experts so the plant will have ample room for growth. You can also go for pots that measure about 18 to 20-inch deep and 1’ wide.
Plastic containers are preferred by a lot of experienced gardeners for growing asparagus in a pot because they don’t absorb moisture like clay pots. They will help keep the plant’s roots dry which is what the plant prefers.
Container-grown asparagus doesn’t usually last longer than a couple of years. So if you plan on growing asparagus in pots, don’t expect it to last for decades.
Not all asparagus varieties will offer you a big harvest. This is why some experts recommend opting for the kind that provides the biggest yield like the Jersey Knight. Male varieties are also better options if you want a high yield.
Growing asparagus from seedlings or crowns is recommended for container gardeners because they offer a faster start. Growing from seeds might be trickier for this method but it’s also possible to do so.
Asparagus is fern-like in appearance, so they will look fuller as they grow. Make sure to look up images of asparagus plants so you know what to expect.
You should only harvest asparagus spears at least 3 years after planting the crown or well after the plant has established itself into maturity.
If the width of the spears becomes more narrow than a pencil, you should leave them be and wait for the next harvesting season.
Do not expect a large harvest from a single plant of asparagus. These plants don’t just produce shoots like other vegetable plants. They also only grow edible parts every spring, you can’t expect to feed a family of