How to manage asparagus in spring? A full breakdown of the latest key points
Asparagus is a common vegetable for us in spring, and generally it can only be eaten each year, and its nutrition is much higher than that of ordinary vegetables. It can also boost immunity and prevent high blood pressure and heart disease, making it extremely popular on the market. And as temperatures gradually rise, asparagus's dormancy begins to end, and it is also the best period for sowing asparagus, so how should asparagus be managed in spring? Let's take a look.
1. Thoroughly clean the field
After the spring thaw, asparagus begins to sprout, but the underground sources of pests and diseases also begin to awaken. Thoroughly cleaning the field in spring is a key measure for preventing asparagus stem blight and root rot. In any field where stem blight and root rot occurred last year, the diseased asparagus must be removed completely and either burned in a centralized manner or buried deep. It should not be crushed and returned to the field, so as to avoid the pathogens causing harm again. During harvest, pay attention to the depth of the asparagus to avoid damaging the asparagus root crown, which would be unfavorable to asparagus growth.
2. Watering and ridging
For most plots that have not been irrigated in winter and have poor soil moisture, watering must be done in time so as to ensure the quality of ridging, which benefits the later yield and quality. Timely ridging is also an important measure for ensuring asparagus quality. It is generally done half a month before harvest, when the soil temperature of the top about 10 cm of soil reaches above 10 degrees. If done too early, the soil temperature rises slowly, resulting in slower spear emergence. The best time for ridging is in mid-March, generally at a height of about 30 cm, which can be increased or decreased according to the actual situation.
3. Apply sprouting-promoting fertilizer
To ensure asparagus yield and quality, sprouting-promoting fertilizer must be applied in time. It should be applied before closing the ridges and close to the ridges. It must not be broadcast before closing the ridges, as this will not only waste fertilizer but also cause the root crown to rise faster. Fertilization is mainly nitrogen fertilizer. Generally, apply 8-10 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 4-5 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and 4-5 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu. A compound fertilizer containing 15% each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can also be used, applying 35 kg per mu, and then supplementing with 8-10 kg of urea.
4. Pest and disease control
The main diseases are stem blight and root rot. They are the two most common diseases throughout the entire growth period of asparagus. Field management should be strengthened, the permeability between plants should be increased, water should be drained promptly after rain, and diseased plants should be removed promptly when disease occurs. Insecticides should also be sprayed comprehensively to prevent the disease from spreading. The main pest is the carpenter moth, which generally begins to appear in March and has its outbreak period in May. Physical or chemical methods can be used to trap and kill adult moths, and diluted phoxim can be used as a soil drench, with good results.
The above is an introduction to the key points of spring asparagus management. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.