(Read Preface) ^^ 



REOUIREfffiMTS AIS METHODS OF GROTCNG ASPARAGUS 



Time to Maturity- 3 years 



Life - 10 years (range 8-20 years) 



Soil Requirements- Deep, v/arm, rich sandy alluvial or peat soil, v/here 



water table does not rise above 2' from surface. 



Climatic Requirements - Plenty of atmospheric moisture and warm climate. 



Water Requirements - Abundant moisture best supplied either naturally, although 



sometimes by irrigation. Excess should be avoided 

 as this tends to keep soils cold and sour. 



Calendar of Operations- 

 Preparing Bed 



Planting 



November - January, plowed 12" deep, replov;ed and 

 made into good seed bed by the use of the 

 cultivator, harrow and disk. 



Time : January - March 



Quantity : 3600 roots 



Method and Distance: Rows 8' to 9' apart, plants 

 1 l/2' in rows. Plant roots 8 - 12" deep' in 

 trenches, covering 4 to 6" deep, gradually 

 filling in by subsequent cultivation as 

 sprouts appear. Irrigate when needed on 

 uplands plantations. 



Care of Old Plantations 



Intercropping : 



Varieties- 



Palmetto 



Conover Colossal 

 Barr' s Ifejumoth 



February - Rows covered 1' deep and harrowed 



into fine shape . 

 February - May - Cultivated with special tools 



often enough to keep v/eeds dovm and to keep 



ridges up. 

 September - November - Tops cut and burned after 



heavy frost kills then. 



Beans or potatoes are often raised between the rov;s 

 of asparagus for the first two years. 



