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Should I cut down asparagus in the fall?
Ideally, asparagus should be cut back in the fall but it is important that you wait until all of the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. Once all of the foliage has died, cut the asparagus down to about 2 inches (5 cm.) above the ground.
How do you trim asparagus in the fall?
Pruning Tips Wait until all the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This normally happens after the first frost. Cut the plants back to the soil surface and apply mulch to help against deep freeze or changes in soil temperatures. (Mulching also helps with weed control.)
Do you have to winterize asparagus?
Does Asparagus Need Winter Protection? In mild climates, the root crowns of asparagus need no special winter care, but in cooler regions, winterizing the asparagus bed is a must.
What should I do with my asparagus plants for winter?
How to Winterize Asparagus Plants
- Cut back the stalks and foliage to ground level in fall, after the leaves begin to yellow and die back naturally.
- Stop watering the asparagus after you cut back the stems.
- Spread 2 inches of mulch over the bed after you cut back the old stalks.
What to do with asparagus plants in winter?
Asparagus crowns go dormant over winter and require no watering or fertilizing during this period. Spread 2 inches of mulch over the bed after you cut back the old stalks.
When to cut back asparagus plants in the fall?
Asparagus may not die back completely in mild climates. Cut back the spears in late fall as plant growth slows to force dormancy, even if the plant is still green. Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications.
When is the best time to harvest asparagus?
Third Growing Season Onward Once asparagus plants reach their third year, you can harvest them fully every year, usually over a period of at least two months. Mature plants will begin sending up shoots in early spring, and continue doing so well into summer, depending on your climate.
Is it normal for asparagus stalks to snap off?
Conventional wisdom holds that asparagus stalks will snap at the point where the tender part of the stem meets the tough part of the stem. But does too much stalk snap off? No, not typically. If you’re worried about it, rest assured that you’ll only be losing a few extra centimeters (better than accidentally eating a woody end).