Hydroponic Asparagus: Best System for Growth

Interested in hydroponic asparagus? If yes, we will enlighten you about it in this article. The tasty asparagus vegetables can be grown hydroponically with the right knowledge and you will enjoy amazing benefits from it.

Asparagus is a temperate zone plant, and thus requires warmth for optimal development. You can grow asparagus successfully with hydroponics if you supply them with their required growing needs. We will enlighten you on all the requirements and more so, read on to discover how to go about it.

A Little About Asparagus

Known to be warmth-loving plants. In fact, during the cold period, it goes into dormancy to stay alive. This shows it will be great for warm indoor hydroponic farming where you can comfortably adjust the environment to suit its growing needs.

You can even grow them all year round in your indoor hydroponics without worrying about them going into dormancy. All you need do is to supply it with good warmth in your indoor hydroponics garden to serve you all year round.

Guidelines on Growing Asparagus Hydroponically

To get started with asparagus hydroponically, you will need to propagate asparagus plants.

Propagating asparagus

Asparagus plants can be propagated in two ways, either from seed germination or from crowns.

1. Propagation by crowns

Asparagus propagation by the crown will give you a quick result compared to seed germination. The crowns of asparagus are simply one-year-old roots of asparagus which has been grown from seeds. Therefore, they are simply roots ready to be planted. You can purchase asparagus crowns from a garden center or nursery store near you.

Usually, they should be sold to you as planting stock that comprises a root system and central fleshy crown. However, you should be aware that these plant stocks (crown and root system) are grown in the soil or field. Thus, they will most likely convey soil-borne diseases into your hydroponic farm.

This is why you need to be very careful when it comes to growing the asparagus crowns gotten from the field into your hydroponics system. Ensure you also make a sterile environment for the transition into hydroponics and take other precautions.

Purple Pacific 10 Live Asparagus Bare Root Plants -2yr-Crowns from and-Pickedd Nursery

2. Propagation from seeds

Asparagus propagation from seeds is also possible. However, it is time-consuming and requires lots of patience as it can take up to a year of growth until harvest time. The good news is that once it gets to the crown stage, asparagus can be grown continually for more than a decade. Properly take care of them and you continually enjoy spears of asparagus for a long time!

Germination of asparagus seeds can take up to 10 to 15 days. Simply maintain a temperature of around 71 degrees to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid lower temperatures as this can make their growth process slow.

Once you start to notice germination of about 3 to 5 inches and they have some root growth: you can transplant them into your hydroponics system.

As they continue to develop in the hydroponic system, you can supply them with warm temperatures of around 75 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. This will enhance the developmental rate of the young growing crown and foliage. You can as well introduce light with gradual intensity as the plant matures.

Hydroponic system to use

There are various hydroponic systems to make use of. However, we recommend a Dutch bucket system, deep water culture, or Kratky system to raise your asparagus plants.

The ideal nutrient solution for growing asparagus hydroponically

A well-balanced nutrient solution suited for the vegetative stage is ideal for it. Use this for the entire active growing stage of hydroponic asparagus.

Harvesting

Now to the harvesting period which is our most anticipated period: you can begin harvesting the first year after planting. Just make sure you harvest a few spears from each plant. Don’t do this all in one go, do it for about 2 weeks and stop till the next harvest.

This way, you can give them a chance for the fronds to unfold and continue to develop a strong root system. It will also encourage them to conserve the energy required to generate plentiful spears the next season. In the next harvesting period, you can increase the harvesting time to 3 weeks and stop till the next season.

Harvest spears when they are 5 to 7 inches long. Harvest spears by using sharp tools to cut or simply snap them off.

How to Grow Asparagus From Cuttings

Growing asparagus from cuttings couldn’t be easier. You can do it either one of two ways: using the soil method or the water method. Let’s take a closer look at both options.

Soil method

If you’re a beginner, this is probably the best method to use, as it is the easiest. All you need to do is:

• Prepare your cuttings. Cut from a fresh plant, and do not use old asparagus cuttings, for best results.
• Clean your cuttings. Run under cool water and remove any dirt or insects that may be on your cuttings.
• Cut. Remove any roots on your cuttings. However, you need to leave at least 6 inches, for best results.
• Prepare your soil. Prepare the soil by making it moist with water.
• Plant. Place your cuttings into your soil; around 2-3 inches below surface level.
• Mist. Mist your cuttings now, rather than pouring water o them, for best results.
• Check regularly. After a week or two, you should see your asparagus beginning to grow.

Water method

This method is a little tricky, but better if you want to watch your asparagus as they grow.

• Prepare your cuttings. Much like above, cut from a fresh plant and wash them under cool water to ensure they’re clean.
• Place in water. Fill a clear container with water.
• Add cuttings. Place around 75% of the cutting into water, so the top is sticking out. Over time, you’ll notice your water may change color or become slimy. If this happens, be sure to change the water.
• Check regularly. After a week or two, you should see your asparagus beginning to grow. Hand-Picked Nursery Asparagus Planting Instructions

The asparagus from Hand Picked Nursery is infamous in the gardening world and you may be wondering how to plant them. Let’s take a closer look.

Buy your asparagus and then remove it from the bag once ready to plant. You may want to rinse them before use and then leave them to air dry. For the soil, you’ll need well-draining. You should ensure there’s ample space and depth for your asparagus. For example, each row should be at least a few feet apart.

pH For Asparagus – What Should it Be?

As mentioned above, asparagus must be grown in well a drained soil. As for the type of soil, sandy or medium is best. The pH should be anywhere between 6.5-7, which is only just slightly acidic. Any more acidic and your asparagus will not thrive. You can test your soil if you’d prefer,r and add fertilizer according. However, be sure not to use a herbicide fertilizer, as this can cause more harm than good.

Asparagus Water Needs: How Much Do They Need?

You may be wondering how often you need to water your asparagus. Typically, they are around an inch or two per week, up until they’re around two years old. At this point, they have reached full maturity and will only need around an inch of water per week. These are the best rules to follow when deciding how often to water your asparagus.

Conclusion on Hydroponic Asparagus 

Now, we have seen that hydroponic asparagus is possible with the right comprehension. Make sure to follow our guidelines and we wish you successful asparagus growing. Do you have any tips when it comes to hydroponic asparagus? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring! 

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