Vegetable Issues

Residence backyard asparagus will be broken by the asparagus beetle in some areas. If you happen to observe bugs feeding on asparagus, contact your native county Extension agent for identification and management suggestions.

Illnesses

Asparagus is troubled by some illnesses. If crops have rust-colored spots on the stems or branches, ask your county Extension agent what to make use of.

Harvesting

Harvest vegetable asparagus spears from established beds for about 8 weeks. Don’t harvest too quickly from new planting. Harvest spears when they’re 4 to 10 inches lengthy. To forestall spears from turning into fibrous, harvest at the very least each different day. The fibrous situation is attributable to overmaturity or insufficient fertility. Spears with loosely fashioned heads are overmature. Lower asparagus spears 1 to 2 inches beneath the soil stage. At the very least one-half of the size of the spear must be above the bottom. By no means reduce the spear inside 2 inches of the crown to keep away from injury to the developed buds. By no means reduce asparagus spears above the bottom and permit stubs to stay. Discontinue harvest when spear diameter turns into lower than 3/8 of an inch. Some gardeners favor white or blanched asparagus. That is grown by shading the spears with mounds of soil or mulch to exclude mild.

USDA Nutrient
— steering for extra data

Canning

Pack complete spears, ideas up, tightly into clear, scorching jars. Pack reduce items as tightly as potential with out crushing them. Depart 1/2 inch headroom. Add salt. Cowl with boiling water, leaving 1/2 headroom. Course of in a stress canner at 10 kilos stress (240 F)
Pints -25 minutes
Quarts – half-hour.

Freezing

Blanch for 2-4 minutes relying on the thickness of the stalks. Cool instantly in chilly water. Drain …pack into containers, leaving no headroom.

Storage

Asparagus can’t be saved, however it is a wonderful canning crop.

Particular Due to Jerry Parsons and Sam Cotner, Extension Horticulturists Texas Agricultural Extension ServiceAcademic packages carried out by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve individuals of all ages, no matter socioeconomic stage, race, coloration, intercourse, faith, handicap or nationwide origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Residence Economics, Acts of Congress of Might 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the US Division of Agriculture. Zerle L. Carpenter, Director, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, The Texas A&M College System.Hypertext markup and graphics colorization by Tammy Kohlleppel and Dan Lineberger. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/easygardening/asparagus/garden-themes/vegetable-garden/the-vegetable-guide-asparagus/