Crop Production Guide

Asparagus

Introduction
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable crop adapted to also be free of stone and gravel, as these can injure
temperate climates such as Newfoundland and Labrador. growing stems making them unmarketable. Asparagus
The plant requires a rest period, satisfied in Canada will develop a large, proficient root system that can
by winter dormancy, and is dioecious, meaning that it reach 1.5 metres deep at maturity. New plantings
produces male or female sexual parts within their flowers. should not be placed in fields that have been previously
In this way plants can be described as male or female. used for asparagus cultivation - two soil born Fusarium
diseases can cause serious production problems and as
Growth Requirements a perennial crop there is no opportunity for crop rotation
in an established asparagus stand.
Asparagus responds well to a deep, well-draining soil
with a light texture profile (sandy loam). Ideally, the soil
should contain at least three per cent organic matter and
Cultivars
have a pH between 6.0-6.8. Asparagus will not tolerate There are no cultivar recommendations for asparagus
standing water at the root system so soil needs to drain in Newfoundland and Labrador. The University of
properly and be free of hard-pans. The soil should Guelph cultivar “Millennium” and U.S. developed
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Crop Production Guide: Asparagus

“Jersey Giant” are the most widely grown cultivars by soaking seedlings in water at 32˚C for three to four
in Ontario and have given superior yields to other days prior to sowing. Soil should be at least 15˚C when
cultivars when tested in other parts of Canada. Both sowing asparagus seed.
cultivars are male-hybrid. Both “Millennium” and
“Jersey Giant” are male-hybrid genotypes, in most Due to Newfoundland and Labrador’s short growing
commercial settings all-male hybrid seed is preferred, season it may be advantageous to plant greenhouse
to mixed seed as male plants are known produce 20- grown seedlings or nursery grown asparagus crowns
25 per cent greater yields than females as opposed to direct seeding of asparagus. Asparagus
transplants can be started in a greenhouse in middle to
Nutritional Value late February and transplanted into the field after eight
to 12 weeks or when soil has reached an adequate
Asparagus stems are a good source of vitamins A and C,
temperature (15˚C). Asparagus crowns are started
and potassium. Asparagus is also low in calories with 90g
in nursery beds and left in the ground for one year;
of spear providing 18 kcals.
plants are dug up in the spring and then replanted
Crop Establishment as soon as possible. Selection of the best crowns is
essential. Damaged, diseased or under sized (less than
Seed Germination: 25g) crowns should be discarded. Selection of the best
Asparagus seed requires a minimum of 10˚C to asparagus crowns is essential, all damaged, diseased or
germinate, however germination success and seedling under sized (less than 25g) crowns should be discarded,
development are enhanced at temperatures between this may be up to 40 per cent of the crowns in the
15-30˚C. The optimum temperature for asparagus seed nursery beds. Crowns should be planted at a depth of
germination is 24˚C. Germination may also be enhanced 15-20 cm.

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Crop Production Guide: Asparagus

Seeding/Planting: responds well to manure application. Production of

Permanent field spacing for plants should be at a asparagus crowns require approximately one half the
distance of 1.25-1.75 metres between rows and a nitrogen needed for regular production.
spacing of 30-45 cm between plants within the row.
Asparagus seed should be planted at a depth of Phosphorus
between 2.5-4 cm. Crowns should be placed in a 15-
A mature asparagus stand is unlikely to respond to
20 cm deep furrow and covered with 5 cm of soil. Soil
increases in phosphorus when soil levels are 125 mg/L
should continue to be added through the season, usually
or greater. As phosphorus is difficult to incorporate into
during cultivation to control weeds.
established stands, the optimum time to apply nutrient is at
planting. Up to 135 kg/ha of phosphorus should be applied
Crop Management within the trench before planting crowns or transplants.
The first two to three years of establishment are
critical for the productivity and yield of the mature Potassium
asparagus stand. During these first couple years young
Although asparagus has a relatively high potassium
asparagus plantings can suffer from weed competition,
requirement, the plant is unlikely to respond to
inadequate soil moisture and/or soil fertility. It is also
applications of potassium when soil levels are 250 mg/L
highly detrimental to over harvest plants during the
or greater.
first years of establishment. After the last harvest of
the season the asparagus bed should be shallowly Micronutrients
cultivated to control weeds and incorporate nitrogen
fertilizer. Care must be taken to not damage the root Asparagus has a high boron requirement and the soils
system of the asparagus during these activities. The of Newfoundland and Labrador can naturally have
remaining stems will begin to unfurl their frond-like suboptimum levels. Asparagus is unlikely to respond to
leaves which will photosynthesize and capture energy Boron application when soil test levels of 1.5 mg/L or
to recover from the harvest period and store reserves above. Soil nutrient analysis should be consulted before
for winter dormancy and regrowth in the spring. While the application of micronutrients.
stems are still green they are still connected to the root
system of the plant and should not be removed. When Application
the stems turn yellow they can be removed, however For mature asparagus stands fertilizer applications are
the stems tend to catch snow which can help insulate usually broadcast and incorporated using a light disking.
the plant during winter. The stems can be cut and For new plantings, fertilizer, especially phosphorous,
incorporated in the spring before the plant breaks out should be banded within the row.
of dormancy. Incorporation of dead stem tissue can
add 10 tonnes of organic matter per hectare. Climatic Limitations
Nutrition Late spring frost can be damaging to asparagus plants.
Generally frost will damage the first flush of stems
All soil fertility recommendation begin with soil produced by the plant in the spring, this is unfortunate as
analysis. Test soil before any agricultural activities. this first flush of stems tend to be the largest in terms of
Recommendations given here refer to results from a soil both size of the stem and the number of stems. Losses
test using a Mehlich-3 extraction solution. during this early period can cause major reductions in
overall yield for the growing season. In addition stems
Nitrogen damaged by frost must be removed from the field.
Yearly nitrogen requirement for mature asparagus stand Asparagus beds can be protected from frost by covering
are approximately 110 kg/ha. Generally for mature the beds with black plastic; however the practicality of
stands half is applied prior to harvest and then the this activity will depend on how large the asparagus field
remainder is applied after last harvest. For new plantings is. Early fall frost can also cause damage, however this is
all nitrogen is applied before planting. Asparagus generally minor in comparison to spring frost issues.

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Crop Production Guide: Asparagus

Wind damage can cause a hooking of the stem, counter Control: Botrytis is a common invader of wounded or
intuitively, into the wind. This is caused by reduced weakened plant tissues and is also prevalent in storage.
growth of the wind exposed tissues. Hooking of the Reducing injuries to plants will reduce infection point.
stem does not change the flavor quality of asparagus Remove and destroy infected tissues to reduce further
and hooked stems can still be sold, although sometimes spread. Trifloxystrobin registered for asparagus rust
as a lower grade. control will provide some control of Botrytis.

Pest and Disease Insects: Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris

asparagi) and spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris
Disease: Asparagus rust (Puccinia asparagi)
duodecimpunctata)
Characteristics: Red/orange lesion develops on
Characteristics: The most significant damage caused
leaves and stems. This disease can cause premature
by these two beetles is feeding damage on stems and
defoliation of leaves which results in reduced yields in
leaves of asparagus. Defoliation of stems can occur in
subsequent years.
serious cases, which can cause impacts on the following
years yield. Larvae of the spotted asparagus beetle feed
Control: Monitor for the appearance of the disease so
within berries, which will decrease seed yield.
fungicides can be applied before significant buildup of
infection and spore production. All infected material
should be removed from the field or incorporated into
the soil. A trifloxystrobin based fungicide is registered for
rust control in asparagus production in Canada.

Disease: Fusarium crown and root rot (Fusarium

oxysporum f.sp. asparagi) and (Fusarium moniliforme)

Characteristics: Rotted and hollow root system (both

feeder and storage roots), can be accompanied by a red/
brown discoloration. Above ground parts can appear
stunted and/or wilted. F. oxysporum is wide spread in
Canada and can be found in most soils. F. moniliforme is
capable of infecting both asparagus and corn.

Control: It is imperative that new asparagus planting be

placed in fields that have not been used for asparagus or
corn production within the last five years. Avoid damage
to the asparagus roots during cultivation. Fungicides are
generally ineffective against this disease; however soil
fumigation prior to planting may reduce the population
of Fusarium in the soil.

Disease: Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea)

Characteristics: Causes tan lesions with brownish

borders, in more advanced cases fuzzy gray spores will
be visible. Disease can completely kill newly emerging
stems, and is most problematic when high moisture is
present either during wet weather or when air is unable
to move in the canopy.

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Crop Production Guide: Asparagus

Control: The beetles can be trapped by allowing a row During the first harvest year (year three) stems should
or small group of asparagus to produce leaves early in only be harvested for one to two weeks. During year
the spring which will attract the mobile adult beetles. four stems should only be harvested at three to four
When a significant population has infested these plants weeks. At year five and on through maturity of the
they can be sprayed. There are currently seven different asparagus stand stems can be harvested for up to seven
products registered to control beetles in asparagus weeks. Harvest should stop when size/diameter of the
production in Canada. stem starts to diminish, as this is a sign that the plant is
being over harvested and could have an adverse effect
Harvest and Handling: on the following year’s crop. As a rule of thumb harvest
should stop when ¾ of the stems have diameters smaller
Asparagus should not be harvested for the first two
than one cm.
years. This gives the plant an establishment period to
develop an adequate root system and enough storage
reserves to tolerate being harvested in the subsequent
Storage:
years. Stems of asparagus can be harvested from plants Asparagus stems should be moved to cold storage as
after two to three years of establishment, depending on soon as possible after the harvest because the quality
the planting material. No data is available on asparagus of the stems will decline rapidly. Store the stems at 2˚C
yields in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In and with 95 per cent relative humidity. Asparagus can be
Ontario, yield from three-year-old plants can reach held in storage for between two to four weeks; however
1000kg/ha; four-year-old plants can yield 2000kg/ quality can decline rapidly if temperature increase or
ha; yields as high as 3000kg/ha can be produced from humidity decreases.
mature plants in years five to 15.

For more info please contact:

Crop Development Officer – West
James Dawson Ph.D
709.637.2078
jamesdawson@gov.nl.ca

Crop Development Officer – East

Jane White B.Sc
709.729.6867
janewhite@gov.nl.ca

gov.nl.ca
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