The Asparagus in Winter

In winter, the feathery foliage and stalks of asparagus die and dry up.  In mid-winter, these should be cut off near the surface of the bed-- and because of the endemic diseases affecting asparagus in Arkansas, I do not compost the waste.  I wear goat-skin leather gloves for this job, because asparagus stems have little sharp thorns. 

Now the asparagus bed looks ready for spring.  However, with asparagus , there are little chores to be done in every season.   Pest plants crop up readily--notably wee oak trees planted by acorn-hoarding squirrels.  (When our neighbor's maple forms seeds in the spring, I'll pull up hundreds of little saplings.  Even though I try to pick up many of the seeds by hand, it's impossible to keep up. )   




Now it's time to salt the asparagus bed.

Yes, that's what I said.


I found an internet source about fighting some of the more troubling diseases of asparagus, and the recommendation was treating the bed with a light application of rock salt.  I sprinkle 1/2 pound on the surface--preferably right before some rain is expected.  Over the past few years, the health of the bed has improved, although some stalks are affected.  


If I can find bags of manure, I'll also fertilize the bed.  Gardening centers don't always carry things year-round.

Spring will be here before we know it.  Already there are harbingers!  I'm especially happy to see these emerging (about 1" high now) after the brutal heat and drought of last summer.  The other early risers are weeds.  I'll be fighting snakeberry runners (fake wild strawberries-- their flowers are yellow) as well as creeping Charlie before you know it!