A large part of gardening is patience. And deciding to grow asparagus, a perennial synonymous with springtime, takes a bunch!
If you want to grow your own, plan the placement of it well, because it will last for 20 or 30 years! Your asparagus crop needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Make sure to purchase the "all male" variety. A good one to try is called the Jersey Series of asparagus, and it comes in two varieties that are suited for your soil. If you've got clay, go for "Jersey Night." If your garden plot has sandy soil, try "Jersey Supreme."
You won't start from seed, but instead head to your favorite garden center and look for asparagus crowns. Then once you've decided on the best location to plant, dig a trench 8-10 inches deep, make a mound of soil in the trench, put the crown into a hole in the top of the mound, then cover with soil and compost.
You then backfill the trench with soil and keep it well-watered and weeded. This is where patience comes in, because you'll need to continue to water and weed and wait.
You won't harvest until the third year, when you'll take the thickest spears to enjoy for four to six weeks as they continue to grow! After that, expect your asparagus crop to sprout and grow for many, many years to come.
You can create also white or blanched asparagus. Cover part of the bed now with black plastic to block the sun, and this will create a more tender, sweeter crop that doesn't have as strong a flavor.
Q: If the almond tree blooms too early in spring, will its fruit be killed by frost? — Brian, via email
Vermont is in Zone 4 and Zone 5, and almond trees are in Zone 6, so they tend not to overwinter here in these climes. However, if you have a self-polinated almond plant that is growing in a protected area or in the Champlain Valley, you might just get fruit from it!
Q: I wanted to ask specifically about Rugosa Roses. I bought my property a few years ago and a large area is overrun with them. I put out the word that they were free for the taking and I received pushback that they were invasive and that it was unlawful and unethical to spread them around. — Manny, in Rochester
Rugosa roses are not considered an invasive plant, though they do spread around easily. Cut them back every year and dig out the suckers as they sprout, but don't worry about them taking over the neighborhood!
All Things Gardening is powered by you, the listener! Send your gardening questions and conundrums and Charlie may answer them in upcoming episodes. You can also leave a voicemail with your gardening question by calling VPR at (802) 655-9451.
Hear All Things Gardening during Weekend Edition Sunday with VPR host Mary Engisch, Sunday mornings at 9:35.
