Harvest selectively afterwards to allow a few spears to develop into ferns. A. Allow the remaining spears to develop into ferns. Occasional fertilizing and adequate moisture help the plants develop sufficient top growth for good spear production the next year. Each year my asparagus produces quite well, but many of the spears are bent and crooked. A. Asparagus spears grow fast and are highly sensitive to mechanical injury from cultivation, insect feeding or wind-blown soil particles.
Injured spears grow slowly.
The noninjured side of the spears grows rapidly causing them to curve and bend toward the injured side. Yes, in limited amounts. Asparagus is more salt tolerant than most vegetable plants. Use salt to control weeds. Asparagus plants and later spear production will be reduced by excessive amounts of salt usage in any one season or salt accumulation over the years.