On 5/12/13 3:01 PM, DirtBag wrote:
Planted several Asparagus plants last season. They came back this season
but were really thin. How many years should I wait to harvest - and when
will they get thicker than a pencil? :-)


It takes 2-3 years. Then, you have to stop harvesting when new shoots
are again very thin.

Feed and water as you would other plants in your garden. Leave the
billowy "ferns" in place until they turn yellow in the fall.

When you cut the yellowed plants, leave a 3-inch stub as a marker so you
can see where to expect new edible shoots the following spring. If you
get snow in the winter, Sunset recommends leaving the dead growth to
hold snow in place, which will protect the roots from even colder
temperatures. (Fortunately, that is not a problem in my climate.)

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary