Asparagus is an excellent option if you’re looking for a delicious and easy-to-grow vegetable to add to your garden this year.
Not only is Asparagus a perennial crop (meaning you can enjoy it for years to come), but it’s also relatively low-maintenance.
This blog post will show you how to grow Asparagus from cuttings in just six quick and easy steps.
Cutting is the most suitable method of propagating Asparagus. It’s also an easy method that gives numerous new Asparagus plants for free!
You can create a whole veggie field by cutting a few short stems.
Whether you’re a gardening novice or an expert, you’ll be able to grow Asparagus successfully in no time with this guide.
So, let’s see how to grow Asparagus from cuttings.
Why Propagating Through Cuttings?
Asparagus is a fast-growing perennial vegetable that you can start from seeds or transplant from crowns.
It’s best to grow Asparagus from cuttings to get a head start on the season and avoid diseases that can sometimes plague Asparagus plants.
Propagating Asparagus through cuttings cuts down its growth time as well.
Growing Asparagus from seeds is not easy; it takes years to prepare your vegetable. Hence, propagation from cuttings is preferable. This method will help you have this delicious vegetable for free that may be out of your price range in the supermarket.
How to Grow Asparagus from Cuttings?
Here’s a quick guide on how to grow Asparagus from cuttings.
Step 1: Locate a Healthy Stem
The first step in propagating Asparagus through cutting is locating a healthy plant.
- Carefully inspect the plant, ensuring it doesn’t show any sign of pest or disease infestation. If you’re not sure about the health of the plant, ask your local nursery or garden center for advice.
- Ideally, choose a stem that contains various leaves and nodes.
- Locate a section with aerial roots to make your propagation process more effective.
The best time to take cuttings is early spring when the plant is warm. Your chances of success increase when you take your cuttings from a fresh and healthy plant part.
Step 2: Get Your Cuttings
We recommend wearing gardening gloves before taking cuttings from the plant to keep your hands safe from an injury.
- Take sharp shears to cut. (You must sterilize all your tools to keep away any chance of bacterial infection.)
- Take 4–6 inches of Asparagus cutting from a one- to two-year-old plant.
- Cut just below a node (the swollen area where leaves attach to the stem). These nodes are where the roots will form when you plant the cutting.
- Each cutting should have 2–3 nodes.
- Remove all but the top two leaves from each cutting.
After you have the cuttings, you can move to the next step.
Step 3: Apply Rooting Hormone
You can find rooting hormones at your local garden center or online.
- To encourage root growth, apply a rooting hormone to the Asparagus cutting before planting.
- The function of the rooting hormone is to speed up root growth on the new cuttings. It’s in the form of rooting gel that you can apply with the help of a brush at the cutting base.
- Or you can dip the cutting ends in the rooting hormone.
Once you have applied the rooting hormone, it’s time to plant the Asparagus cutting.
Step 4: Select Propagation Medium
You can either place them in water or soil.
Both methods have excellent results; select either that suits you best.
Place Asparagus Cuttings in Water
Here are the steps:
- Take a container with fresh temperate water that is neither too cool to shock your cuttings nor too hot to burn them.
- Carefully place the cuttings in water without any delay ensuring the nodes are dipped in water (no need to apply rooting hormone when growing in water).
- Once the cuttings are partially submerged, bring the water container in bright indirect sunlight.
- If you are not growing outdoors, use LED lights to encourage growth.
- Changing this water every 2 to 3 days is best to avoid any bacterial buildup.
Now, let’s look at the steps for propagating Asparagus in soil.
Plant Asparagus Cuttings in the Soil
Here are the steps:
- Plant the Asparagus cuttings in moist, well-draining soil in an area that gets full sun.
- Asparagus cuttings successfully grow at 20°C in their growing medium.
- Fill a 4-inch-deep pot with moistened, well-draining potting mix.
- Poke holes in the potting mix with a pencil or fingers and insert your Asparagus cuttings.
- If you are planting on a large scale, dig furrows in your garden bed.
- Aerate the soil and plant your cuttings in rows.
- Bury the cuttings with their two or three nodes underground.
- Space the plants about 6 inches apart for air circulation.
- Gently press the potting mix around the base of each cutting.
And you’re done.
Step 5: Take Care of the Cuttings
After you’ve planted the cuttings, taking care of them is vital.
- Water the cuttings and keep the soil moist (but not soggy).
- It would take 2–3 months for new roots to grow.
- If you see the leaves drooping, don’t panic; it results from transplant shock, which will go on within a few days.
- It is best to give indirect sunlight to these plants and keep them safe from the scorching heat.
You’ll see a separate section on taking care of your planted cuttings further in the article.
Step 6: Cover the Roots
Once the Asparagus cuttings are planted in the soil, it’s time to cover them with a plastic bag.
- It helps to create a greenhouse effect to help the cuttings stay moist.
- Make sure that whatever cover you use is free of chemicals and other contaminants.
- A layer of mulch will help keep the roots moist and protect them from concerns.
- If you live in an area with harsh winters, you may consider covering the Asparagus bed with a tarp or burlap to protect the roots further.
- Once the roots are covered, they should be left alone until spring.
Finally…
Be Patient!
You must be anxious to get your favorite delicious vegetable as soon as possible, but you’ll have to wait.
This perennial herb can live for up to 30 years in your garden bed, so it’s worth the wait.
Growing from seeds may take 3–4 years, but propagation through cuttings will get your Asparagus ready within a few months.
With that said, now you know how to grow Asparagus from cuttings.
Now, it’s time to briefly examine the essential aftercare tips for Asparagus cuttings to ensure their healthy growth.
How to Take Care of Asparagus Cuttings?
Congratulations, you have taken the plunge and propagated your favorite plant.
This heading will explore different aftercare techniques for your newly propagated Asparagus cuttings to ensure they have the best chance at survival.
Under proper conditions, the result is a healthy rooted cutting at the end of the growing season.
1. Proper Watering
Watering is critical to the success of propagated cuttings.
Too much water will cause the cutting to rot, while too little water will cause the cutting to dry out and die.
- The key is to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Use a spray bottle or watering can with a fine nozzle to water your propagated cuttings. Gently mist the soil surface until it is evenly moistened.
- Be careful not to soak the soil or get water on the leaves, which can lead to fungal diseases like root rot.
- As mentioned above, your potting mixture must have good drainage.
- Also, ensure the pot has drainage holes to allow proper drainage.
- Water your propagated cuttings in the morning so they have all day to dry out before nightfall.
- Watering in the evening can lead to fungal diseases developing overnight.
- If you use a humidity dome, vent it daily to allow air circulation. Otherwise, your cuttings may develop powdery mildew or other fungal diseases.
Another factor is weeding.
2. Weeding
Weeding is an essential part of plant care, especially for propagated plants.
- Removing competing weeds gives your propagated plant a better chance to thrive.
- Additionally, weeding helps improve air circulation and soil drainage, which are essential for healthy plant growth.
- You don’t want to damage the roots of your propagated plant while weed-killing. The best way to avoid this is to use a hoe or other tool to loosen the soil.
With a bit of time and attention, weeding can make a big difference in the health of your propagated plants.
So don’t neglect this important task.
3. Mulching
It will help if you feed your Asparagus cuttings with organic mulch and compost. It has various benefits, including protection from cold, providing a humid environment to plants, and protecting new growth from cold conditions.
4. Use Fertilizers
Most gardeners are familiar with the use of fertilizer to encourage plant growth, but fertilizer can do more harm than good when it comes to propagated cuttings.
It is because fertilizers contain high nitrogen levels, which can cause the cutting to produce too much foliage at the expense of its roots.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid using fertilizer on propagated cuttings unless necessary.
However, Asparagus needs a lot more nutrients than other plants do. So, if you want to fertilize, apply a diluted or liquid fertilizer sparingly. You can fertilize Asparagus about once every two weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer diluted half its strength for outdoor plants.
5. Use Pesticides and Fungicides
Pesticides and fungicides are essential for the aftercare of propagated cuttings.
- Pests and diseases can quickly kill cuttings, so it is essential to use these products to protect your plants.
- Be sure to read the labels carefully and choose a safe product for the type of plant you are propagating. (There are many different types of pesticides and fungicides available.)
- Pesticides and fungicides can be applied as a preventative measure or after an infestation has begun.
- If you see pests or diseases on your cuttings, treat them immediately.
Regular applications of these products will help to keep your plants healthy and free from pests and disease.
6. Proper Sunlight
Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis to prepare their food.
- If you expect them to grow, give them plenty of sunlight.
- The Asparagus cuttings need bright, indirect light and warm temperatures.
- The cuttings may root at a cool temperature, but it will take longer.
- Place the cuttings in a shady location to help them receive indirect sunlight.
- The cuttings should start growing within a month when you can gently tug them to determine whether they have set root.
- Transplanting them to their permanent locations is possible after significant rooting.
It will help if you ensure that there is enough sunlight for the plant to grow well.
Harvesting Asparagus!
After your Asparagus cuttings have grown for their first year, you can start harvesting.
- Each Asparagus plant will produce about one pound of spears during its second year of growth. To harvest, use a sharp knife to cut the spears about 2 inches below the soil surface.
- Be sure to leave at least 3 or 4 spears on each plant so it can continue to grow and produce next year.
- Now that you’ve harvested your Asparagus, it’s time to prepare the bed for next year’s crop.
- Start by digging a furrow (a shallow trench) around the bed’s perimeter.
- The furrow should be about 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep.
- Next, remove any weeds or other debris from the bed.
- Finally, add a layer of compost or well-rotted manure to the furrow. It will help improve drainage and add nutrients to the soil.
Once your Asparagus plants are big and strong, you can start harvesting spears in the spring.
Now, it’s time to move toward the conclusion.
Conclusion!
Asparagus is one of the most delicious perennial vegetables.
They are effortless to maintain and propagate.
As you can see, growing Asparagus from cuttings is a quick and easy process that anyone can do. You have your Asparagus plants to enjoy for years in just six simple steps.
So why not give it a try?
Let us know if this guide on how to grow Asparagus from cuttings has helped you.
Happy gardening!