Planting asparagus may be the most fun a human being can have. The plants arrive in the mail, in a cluster, six-inch-long roots attached to nubs on the top. They need to go in the ground right away, so it’s great when it can be a team effort.
Last week our team of four dug a thirteen-foot-long, one-foot-deep trench in soil that was still damp from the rains. We fashioned a long wire basket for protection from gophers and wiggled and wobbled it into the trench. Then inside the basket we formed cones of soil and draped the fragile roots carefully over them. Finally, on hands and knees we gently poured soil back over the plants. By the end, the plants were covered and we were all a muddy mess. It was wonderful!
We are looking to plant more perennials this year, plants that will grow for several years in a row. Most vegetables we’re familiar with are annuals, and often require more water than perennials, which, once established, can often do well despite drought. Asparagus is an awesome perennial, which can produce for up to twenty years. This is year one, and we eagerly await the magical day when the tiny spears begin to poke up.
Gassho,
Penny