Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 259, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1917 — ASPARAGUS THRIVES IN ALMOST ANY SOIL [ARTICLE]

ASPARAGUS THRIVES IN ALMOST ANY SOIL

Planting Can Be Done Any Time in Fall, Winter or SpringPlow Land Thoroughly. (By W. W. THOMAS.) ~ Asparagus will grow and thrive in almost any kind of soil so long as it ißwelldrained. It can be; and is, successfully grown in the North and South, East and West. Planting can be done any time in the fall, winter or spring, whem the ground can be put m proper condition with a good harrow.- — ‘ The land should be plowed thoroughly and deep, and put in proper condition. Rows should be marked off with a two-horse plow 4 feet apart, going twice in the same furrow, making it as deep as possible. There will be several inches of loose ■soil in the bottom of the furrow on which to place the plants, the crowns of which should be 5 or 6 inches below the level of the ground. The plants should be set from 12 to 18 inches apart in the row. They should be covered with about 1 inch of soil when planted in the early fall or the spring, and as soon as they commence to grow the dirt can be worked to them with a cultivator until rhe ground is level. if planted in the late fall dr winter It should be covered with two furrows with a one horse plow. The ridge thus formed should be worked down very early in the, spring with disc or cutaway harrow, gbing as deep as possible but not deep enough to injure the plants.

One year old roots should be used. The practice of planting two, three and four year old roots should be discouraged, as it has been thoroughly demonstrated that the one-year old roots are superior to -others in starting an asparagus bed. It should do equally as well planted in the fall as-the spring. From experience I find late fall planting very successful. I would, however, advise the planting at whatever time best suits the planter. A field when once established will last for years. I know of many fields from which asparagus has been cut for 30 years, and they are still producing good crops. After the field has been thoroughly worked with the disc or harrow in the spring, as described above, use the cultivator as often as necessary to kft-p the ground in good, loose condition, and keep all the weeds out of the rows .with a hoe. . === The cutting season, will last about two mouths, during which field should be cultivated oftlen. Asparagus should be well fed with ensnare or commercial fertilizer which can be applied at almost any season of the year. Manure is either spread on top of the row late in the fall and covered with a plow, thus leaving a ridge until spring, or is applied in a furrow close tothe rowTeither to the spring, summer or fall. • >, This gets the manure closdto. the

roots, and is considered the best way to use either manure or commercial fertilizer. Stork poao can also he used to help Ifi~ fertilization and tq keep the soil loose; They canbe.Bowedl>roadcast when the cutting season is over. Salt is a good fertilizer for asparagus, and if applied early in the spring will not only assist in fertilizing, but will greatly retard the growth of other vegetation so that during the cutting season there will be but little growth of weeds or grass. A cheap grade of salt majTbe obtained for this purpose. ’ In the fall all the asparagus tojps should be mowed and removed from the field. Then take the plow and throw two furrows on the row after applying the manure. Cutting f*»r 'market commences one year after planting, and as soon as the stalks are a few Inches high. The cutting should be very light the first year, and the season should wot We long.