How to grow asparagus from seed? Mastering the correct sowing method is key

Asparagus is native to the eastern Mediterranean coast and Asia Minor. To this day, wild species still grow in the grasslands and river valleys of Europe, the Asian continent, and North Africa. It has a cultivation history of more than 2,000 years. It was introduced to the Americas in the 17th century, to Japan in the 18th century, and to China in the early 20th century. Caoxian County in Shandong Province, China, is known as the "Home of Chinese Asparagus." Now let us take a look at how to grow asparagus from seed!

Asparagus seedling raising time

For open-field asparagus seedling raising, sowing can be done from early April to early August, while seedling raising in low plastic tunnels can be started earlier in early March. The asparagus seedling bed should be sandy soil that is fertile, well aerated, and has good drainage and irrigation conditions. Plots with few weeds, especially few perennial weeds, should be selected.

Asparagus seed treatment

Asparagus seeds have a thick coat with a fairly thick waxy layer, so they do not absorb water easily. They must be soaked to promote germination and treated with chemicals before sowing. Before sowing, soak them in warm water at 25-30°C for 3-5 days, changing the water 1-2 times a day. Once the seeds have absorbed enough water, remove them, mix them with fine sand, place them in a container, cover with a wet towel, and keep them at 25-30°C to promote germination, stirring twice a day. After 5-8 days, once the seeds show white sprouts, they can be sown.

Sowing asparagus seeds

Raising asparagus seedlings and then transplanting them is the most commonly used method in production. It makes careful management during the seedling stage easier, gives a high emergence rate, uses less seed, can shorten the root and crown growing period in the field, and helps improve land use efficiency. Usually, sowing can be done when about 10% of the seeds have sprouted. Before sowing, apply sufficient base fertilizer to the nursery plot, make a flat bed 1.1 m wide, and sow by the single-seed method. The sowing depth depends on the temperature, and the sowing density is 10×10 cm.

Asparagus planting technique

Before planting asparagus, first deep-plow and level the land, then open north-south trenches at a row spacing of 1.5 m, with a trench width of 40 cm and a depth of 40 cm. Apply 5,000 kg of high-quality organic fertilizer and 50 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer per mu into the trenches, mix with soil, and water the planting trenches to settle them. The planting time is generally in early May. When asparagus seedlings reach 60-70 days of age, have 4-5 strong shoots, and are 15-20 cm tall, they can be transplanted and planted. At planting, the row spacing is 150-160 cm and the plant spacing is 35-40 cm.