Asparagus sowing methods and post-sowing management key points
I. Sowing time: To make use of the longest growing season, sow as early as possible in spring. The sowing time should be after the frost period, when the soil temperature reaches 18-20°C. The higher the soil temperature, even up to 32°C, the faster the sprouting. Sowing too late in the growing season can result in smaller mother plants. Therefore, if sowing is done too late in the growing season, then as much as...
I. Sowing time: To make use of the longest growing season, sow as early as possible in spring. The sowing time should be after the frost period, when the soil temperature reaches 18-20°C. The higher the soil temperature, even up to 32°C, the faster the sprouting. Sowing too late in the growing season can result in smaller mother plants. Therefore, if sowing is done too late in the growing season, then use every possible method to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth of the plants.
II. Seedling spacing and seedbed structure: A plant spacing of 5-7 cm produces the best asparagus mother plants; too small a spacing reduces mother plant yield, while too large a spacing wastes land. Seeds are sown in soil holes about 2 cm deep. Land that has perennial weeds or a high weed density every year cannot be used. The finer the soil texture, the more favorable it is for cultivating asparagus mother plants, because it makes cultivation and transplanting of the mother plants easier.
The seedbed structure mostly depends on the individual grower and the equipment used. A commonly used seedbed has a center-to-center spacing of 75 cm, with one row sown per seedbed. This type of seedbed is suitable for close planting, thereby providing the maximum number of plants per mu. This kind of seedbed can be furrow-irrigated, and the mother plants are easy to dig up when mature or when they enter dormancy.
III. Fertilization and irrigation: The soil used for cultivating asparagus mother plants must be fertile and have good physical conditions. The fertilizers that need to be added include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and some nutrients that are deficient in the soil. Before sowing, each hectare of land needs 16, 20, 20 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer for the first month of seedling growth. After that, applying 40-50 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare per month can ensure the seedlings grow at the maximum rate.
Irrigation methods vary from person to person, and the amount of water used is determined by soil type and structure. Frequent and rapid irrigation can keep the soil moist, but during the entire growing season of the asparagus mother plants it must not be overly wet. It is generally required to irrigate after fertilizing to help the plants absorb and use nutrients. Mature asparagus is very salt-tolerant, while asparagus seedlings are somewhat less salt-tolerant, so salt accumulation should be reduced in the early stage of seedling growth.