Asparagus, one of the best and earliest of spring vegetables, would
be in universal use, but for the prevalent though erroneous idea that
it is difficult to grow. Being a gross feeder, the soil can scarcely
be too rich. Although the process of deep trenching is now being
discarded, yet, to attain the best result it is necessary that a large
quantity of rotted manure be worked into the bed, to a depth of at
least 18 inches. Instead of losing two years’ time by raising plants
from seed, send and get strong two-year old plants early in spring.
Set these in the prepared bed, 18 inches apart each way, and about six
inches deep. Give frequent and thorough cultivation, and as soon as the
tops are ripe in fall, cut off and burn them, to prevent the nuisance
of seedling asparagus about the garden. Next spring, and for at least
fifteen years after, the bed should give a full crop, and should have
a heavy dressing of manure put on each fall, which should be spaded in
before the shoots appear in spring, together with a sprinkling of three
pints of salt per square rod.
To facilitate gathering, make the bed of such a width as that the
centre can be reached from both sides. Cut all shoots as soon as they
appear, till the time for the final cutting, which will vary from the
middle of May to the middle of June, according to latitude and your
fondness for this most delicious plant.