A favorite in cooler climes, asparagus is a well-liked perennial crop planted in many home gardens. Occasionally, home gardeners want to try their hand at transplanting asparagus plants. Even though planting asparagus isn’t too challenging, relocating asparagus can be challenging if you don’t know what you’re doing.
One strong reason not to transplant asparagus is that it requires a lot of work. The first spring after planting, complete productivity can only be obtained in this manner.
For instance, I began my first asparagus patch with two-year-old commercial plants. However, five years later, I moved some ten-year-old crowns from a neighbor’s garden, and when spring arrived, these transplants—despite just being moved—outperformed the younger (seven-year-old) established plants. Additionally, they could dig for free.
The only drawback is that your sole benefit will be stronger muscles from all the added gardening workouts if you don’t know how to handle the salvaged plants. The majority of specialists will only state that purchasing new plants is simpler.
Reasons for Asparagus Transplantation
The asparagus plant has a long lifespan and is robust. Over several weeks, up to eight weeks, a mature stand of asparagus plants produces spears. A healthy plant ought to produce 20 spears or so over this period. When asparagus plants are grown in a sunny location with good drainage, enough irrigation, and sufficient nutrients, the plants eventually multiply and overwhelm one another.
You could wish to transplant your asparagus plants to a garden at your new house if you move into a new house but don’t want to leave your established asparagus plants behind.
More importantly, when their plants mature and require more attention, some gardeners move asparagus to more good spots inside their gardens. Asparagus need loose soil, lots of sunlight, and a place free from any plant or gardening disturbances, so the first garden plot you select may not necessarily be the greatest one. Some other primary reasons include crowding and crop sharing.
Experts recommend not moving your asparagus unless you have to.
Best Time for Transplanting Asparagus
Transplanting asparagus at irregular periods throughout the year is not advised. In the spring, asparagus begins a phase of rapid growth. The plants may better rejuvenate themselves and repair any harm done while digging and transplanting during this time. Depending on your climate and weather, you should start the transplanting process in the early spring as soon as you can work the ground.
However, if you don’t mind acquiring a stronger root system, you can transplant it in the fall. While spring transplanting can delay the process, this usually results in your plants producing the most.
How to Transplant Asparagus
First, get the transplant site ready. Any plant finds transplanting difficult, so you want to keep the asparagus roots out of the ground as little as possible.
Selecting a Site
First, ensure a lot of sun; ideally, eight hours. Additionally, there needs to be enough space for the plants to expand; asparagus plants can continue to produce crops for up to fifty years, though normally only for about fifteen years. There should be five feet between each row when planting multiple rows. To prevent further root entanglement and competition, ensure your garden area has enough room to plant each one at least 18 to 30 inches apart.
It’s vital to keep in mind that asparagus has a 20-year shelf life. To retain your asparagus for that long without moving it, make sure your new place is ideal.
Getting the Soil Ready
Compost should be liberally incorporated into the new planting area. You need neutral soil for asparagus. pH levels should range from 6.5 to 7.5. Compost can aid with proper nutrition, which is something else you want, so add it to the soil. If additional fertilizer is required, do so, but make sure to stir it thoroughly into the soil to prevent burning the young plants.
Digging The Dirt
Create a trench that is ten inches wide and six to eight inches deep. Dig your trenches long enough to accommodate your plants‘ need for 18 inches of space. For the plants to thrive, you need sufficient drainage.
Getting the Plants Ready for the Move
The asparagus plants that require transplanting come next. You need to locate the plant’s crown. The plant’s base is where the stalks develop. Identifying the crown reduces damage to the root system. Thick roots are present. For a transplant to be successful, the root system must be carefully removed. Although it’s best to avoid doing so, some root cutting is unavoidable in particularly dense growth.
Extraction of the Roots
Dealing with the roots is the most challenging aspect of transplanting asparagus. When trying to dig up your asparagus plants for transplanting, their large, powerful root systems can entangle them and their soil. To avoid damaging the root system of your plants, you should be cautious when digging in the area around them.
Cut around and under the area, you wish to transplant using a sharp shovel or spade. Cut into the roots as necessary to raise manageable clumps to the soil’s top. You should locate the main crown and cut around it before taking up a manageable quantity, which should be between 10 and 24 inches broad, depending on the size of the plant. Damage to the root system is NOT desired.
To lift the roots, use a garden fork. Rinse the surplus dirt away. You will be able to perceive the root system for untangling more clearly. Shaking off the filth is more harmful than rinsing. Likewise, disentangle the roots first if you remove multiple plant root systems at once.
Cut the Plant Roots Apart
You’ll need to separate the asparagus plants before transplanting them because you’ll probably pull up multiple entangled plants. This will enable the newly split root systems of each plant to flourish.
Like untangling a string of holiday lights, untangle roots with more force if they have thicker root systems. While you should try to salvage as many plants as possible, some smaller ones won’t make it through the untangling process. In that situation, aim to preserve the root systems that are the healthiest and most established.
You should lightly spray the roots with a garden hose to remove any soil clumps so you can see the root systems more clearly.
Replanting
It’s time to replant your asparagus after you’ve dug out your plants and prepared the new spot.
The roots should be spaced 18 inches apart within the constructed trench. Keep the spears pointed upward and then spread the roots to allow for healthy growth. Add some compost and dirt on top. Two inches of the earth must be present at the top of the crown.
Add three inches of mulch on top to aid in moisture retention and weed control. Wait for the stalks to grow after thoroughly watering your plants, making sure the soil is still damp. (It’s preferable to cover the crop with leaves or other debris if you plant in the fall; you should remove it in the spring.
How to Take Care of Newly Transplanted Asparagus Plants?
As with a fresh planting, tend to your recently divided and transplanted asparagus. Beds for asparagus should be damp but not drenched. Apply an all-purpose balanced fertilizer to the plants once the soil has settled. Per 100 square feet, spread one pound of granular fertilizer. Maintain a weed-free asparagus bed by lightly tending the area surrounding the plants.
Only pick something from the new bed for the first growing season to give plants time to build up their energy for many more profitable years in your garden. Although it will appreciate water during dry spells and an occasional top-dressing of manure when the plants are dormant, asparagus generally takes care of itself.
Asparagus transplantation is a very practical task. Transplanting is an excellent strategy to increase crop output, whether the plant is a young seedling or an older, more established plant. Your transplant will be more successful if the time of year is carefully considered and the ground has been properly prepared.
It is advantageous to plant in a location where you can anticipate the asparagus will thrive for many years, preventing the need for immediate transplanting. While challenging, moving or transplanting asparagus is not impossible. This project should at least be successful with careful preparation and understanding of how and when to transplant asparagus.