What Kind of Fertilizer Do I Use on Asparagus Plants?

Asparagus is a hardy perennial vegetable that lasts up to two or three decades in a planned and well-maintained garden, according to University of Illinois Extension. Proper care for asparagus includes annual fertilization with the best type of fertilizer.

Planting

Phosphorous fertilizer, added to the soil before planting, encourages healthy root development of asparagus, according to the Arizona Cooperative Extension.

Annual Fertilization

A balanced fertilizer works best for asparagus in the early spring, before shoots emerge, according to the Iowa State University Extension. Nitrogen fertilizer works best when applied in June after harvesting ends. Just 0.10 pounds of pure nitrogen covers a 100-square-foot area.

Natural Fertilizer

Manure or other organic fertilizer choices such as blood or bone meal and wood ash also work well as asparagus fertilizer, according to the Purdue University Extension.

& How To Cut Down Asparagus Plants

Asparagus is usually planted in the form of bare-root crowns. These are 1-year-old clumps of roots with dormant buds that can be planted directly in the garden. 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. Continue to harvest asparagus until the new stalks become small and thin. Asparagus is ready to harvest when spears are 6 to 8 inches tall. Cut stalks off at ground level with a pair of clippers or gardening snips. It is also possible to snap stalks off with a gentle, twisting pull.