HO- 96
yard and garden
ASPARAGUS
John A. Wott
cooperative extension service horticulture department purdue university lafayette, indiana 47907
Asparagus is the earliest vegetable that can be grown and harvested from your garden. It can be grown anywhere the winters are cold enough to freeze the soil a few inches, which makes it very adaptable to Indiana. Also, since it comes up year after year, it requires little care. An area 20 feet square or a row 50-75 feet long will supply fresh asparagus for a family of 5 or 6.

Varieties
Mary Washington, Martha Washington, and Waltham Washington are recommended varieties. Possible sources are W. Atlee Burpee Company, Box 6929, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132; Gurney Seed and Nursery Company, Yankton, South Dakota 57078; Joseph Harris Company, Moreton Farm, Rochester, New York 14624; Robson Quality Seeds, Inc., Hall, New York 14463; Stokes Seeds, Inc., Box 15, Ellicott Street Station, Buffalo, New York 14205; Burgess Seed and Plant Company, Galesburg, Michigan 49053; Henry Field Seed and Nursery Company, Shenandoah, Iowa 51601. Also check your local seed and plant dealers.

Soil
Choose a site where asparagus has not previously been grown. Site preparation should be started a year or more in advance
of planting crowns, by adding large quantities of organic matter such as manure, leaf mold, rotted leaves or peat.
The asparagus plant has an extensive root system (often more than 10 feet length per plant) and needs an open well-drained soil for maximum development. Deep, loose soils such as mucks and light sandy loams are ideal. Early spring growth depends upon the reserve foods stored in the fleshy roots, so full development of the roots is vital.
Asparagus will tolerate a slightly alkaline soil, but not extremely acid. Thus lime should be added to known acidic soils.

Plants or Seed
Asparagus can be started from seed. However, if only a few plants are needed for the home garden, it is usually best and much more convenient to purchase crowns from a reputable seedsman. These are usually one-year-old crowns and have been expertly selected for vigor and disease resistance.

Planting
Transplant the one-year-old crowns from April 15 to May 15. Do not allow the crowns to dry out in the transplanting
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U. S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H. G. Diesslin, Director, Lafayette, Ind. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.