asparagus

[CrealCritter]

Problem...

I have at least 288 Martha Washington Asparagus seedlings sprouted, some cells have multiple seedlings. I need a cost effective way to transplant them into something to set outdoors here pretty soon. While I prepare a permanent home for them late summer early fall.

Digging around I found this old kiddie pool that the grand kids used when they were small. it's a smaller pool that's 33 inches in diameter and 7 inches deep. I also grabbed a bag of peat moss late last year that they were practically giving away. It was the last bag or I would have grabbed more.

33 inch diameter x 7" deep is 4.4 cubit foot I would still need a bit more dirt / compost to top it off, but I have cows so there's plenty of manure to mix in with some barn lime that should be ok.

I plan on screwing the pool down to a pallet, popping some drainage holes in it. Loading it up with peat moss, manure and mix in some barn lime. Transplant the asparagus and their paper cells into the pool. Use the bobcat to move it around as needed.

Do you think this is a good plan or should I.be looking at something bigger for at least 288 asparagus seedlings? Over crowding seedlings?

Menards has a 59" diameter x 6" deep kiddie pool that's about 12 cubic foot. In any event I'll probably go and pick one of those up anyways for my youngest granddaughter when she comes to visit.

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/pools-accessories/summer-waves-reg-59-x-6-childrens-pool-assorted-colors/p60000780/p-1469416557083-c-10137.htm?tid=-4344932223899354317&ipos=23

Words of wisdom, Thoughts, comments?

Thanks

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

 

[CrealCritter]

I wouldn't get too big for the present time. You are going to be transplanting them to a permanent bed so that ought to do fine. You need a place for them to develop some and feeding them will take care of that. Crowns need a little more depth than they need width... I would use what you have and make sure they can grow down so the crowns develop a root system below them.

Thank You @farmerjan I decided the barn floor needs a cleaning so I'm just gonna use some "Barn Gold" duck poo, feathers, mud & saw dust for a big part of the kiddie pool and mix in a little peat moss and barn lime for good measure. Then hope and pray for the best.

If this works I'll use it again to sell 1 year crowns at our little community road side stand, I'm planning next year. I think it would be good to just dig around in the kiddie pool and pull out crows to sell. You know the would be good and fresh, ready to.plant 👍

Kiddie pools are cheap and screwed to a pallet it should be the bee's knees 🐝for bare root plants like asparagus.

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

 

[CrealCritter]

How fresh is the barn scrapings? Might be too strong for the new asparagus... might burn them.... I would have gone with your original plans to do half and half with the peat and all on top for them to be able to reach down into the barn scrapings after they had grown a bit AND the barn stuff had had a chance to compost some...

Well it was just scraped off the barn floor but, good call 👍

I'll sample a few asparagus seedlings in there first, see how they do in there. I have some to experiment around with so it ain't no big deal. I did find that asparagus ferns turn yellow, if I applied to much fertilizer. But they quickly recover and new green growth after a few waterings of just water with no fertilizer. At this stage they are pretty fussy little buggers.

Next time I'm in town I'll pick up another kiddie pool full it with barn scrapings and peatmoss and direct seed Martha Washington Asparagus in it. This kiddie pool will become the fish out asparagus crowns, next spring.

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

Looking good!

 

[farmerjan]

WOW they are doing good. Any pics of the ones you planted in their permanent bed?

 

[CrealCritter]

@CrealCritter That kiddie pool of asparagus looks so healthy and green.
Do you have the asparagus bed ready to transplant into?
When are you planning to transplant it?

Yep, it's all ready tilled deep. I may till in some turkey / duck litter and a healthy dose of barn lime. But I won't set the crowns until the ferns die back late fall / early winter. Then I'll roll out a bale of hay over the bed and pray they pop up early spring.

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

 

[Mini Horses]

Left overs at round bales....perfect addition.

 

[flowerbug]

Supposed to harvest April through May, it's March 17th, so about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Martha Washington has a sweet nutty taste and is way different than store-bought. My opinion... Martha Washington grown from seed is most definitely worth the effort, it's what I remember asparagus tasting like 👍
View attachment 25741

congrats on a nice crop and plants. i'm green/purple with envy...

 

[CrealCritter]

Where did you get your asparagus seed? I want to establish a bed here, and cannot find seed locally... and as you know crowns are expensive...

I looked and can't find Martha Washington asparagus seeds anymore but victory seeds has Mary Washington, first released in 1919. Mary Washington comes from the Washington line.

You can read about it here https://victoryseeds.com/products/mary-washington-asparagus

Jesus is Lord and Christ ✝️

 

[flowerbug]

eating it fresh is the best, i don't even like it cooked much at all, just heated through, no mush for me please. however, i'll also eat it if it is mushy if i have to...