The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1918-01-18
ASPARAGUS THRlVES
IN ALMOST ANY SOIL
Planting Can Be Done Any Time
in Fall, Winter or Spring
PloW Land Thoroughly.
(By w. w. THOMAS.)

(By w. W. THOMAS)
Asparagus will grow and thrive in
almost any kind of soil so long as it
Is well drained. 1t can be, and is,
successfully grown in the North and
South, East and West. Planting can
be Gone any time in the fall, winter
or spring, when the ground can be put
in proper condition with q good har-
row.
The land should be plowed thor
oughly and deep, and put in proper
condition.
Rows should be marked off with
two-hOrse pillow feet apart, going
twice in the same furrOw, making 1t
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 or 6 inches be-
low the level of the ground.
The plants should be set from II to
10 inches apart in the row.
They should be covered with about
/ 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 I'M
til the ground is level.
If planted in the late fall or winter
1t should be covered with two burrows
with q one horse pillow.
The ridge thus formed should be
worked down very early in the spring
with disc or cutaway harrow, going 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 dis
couraged, as it has been thoroughly
demonstrated that the one-year old
roots are superior to others in start
ing an asparagus bed.
1t should do equally as well planted
in the fall as the spring.
From experience I find late fall
planting very successful. would,
however, advise the planting at what
ever 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 80 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
keep the ground in good, loose condi-
ton, aud keep all the weeds out Of
the rows with a hoe.
The cutting season will last about
two months, during which time the
field should be cultivated often.
Asparagus should be well fed with
manure 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 pillow, thus leaving ridge until
spring, or is applied in furrow close
to the row, either in the spring, sum-
mer or fall.
This gets the manure close to the
roots, and is considered the best way
to use either manure or commercial
fertilizer.
Stock peas can also be used to help
in fertilization and to keep the soil
loose. They can be sowed broadcast
, when the cutting season is over.
Salt is q good fertilizer for aspara'
gus, 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 may be obtained for this purpose
In the fall all the asparagus tops
should be moved and removed from
the field. Then take the pillow anc
throw two burrows on the row aftel
; applying the manure.
, Cutting for market commences ont
r year after planting, and as soon al
the stalks are few inches high.
The cutting should be very light thu
first year, and the season should no
be long.