Asparagus

Picked again yesterday 6-9-22. Only found 8-10 stalks on the back roads by my house. Will look again next week.

I have not cut until spring and have had good success, just a mess in the yard come fall when they all fall over. Had a good harvest from the garden this year and thinking of trying to make a batch of pickled asparagus. Ill try an online recipe, but they are all over the place. If I am going through the effort was wondering if anyone has a good one they would be willing to share.  Thanks

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-can-i-cut-back-my-asparagus-foliage

Leave them until spring if you want to keep them for the wildlife.  Otherwise cut them in the fall.  Also I've read that if you have the asparagus beetle (I do) cut the stalks in the fall and it will reduce the amount of beetles you'll have the next year.  I've done this the last two years and it seems to be helping.  I had a few beetles early this year but I smooshed every one of them I found.  Haven't seen anymore in a couple of weeks now.

i was told by a old asparagus grower to cut the stalks after they are dead in fall so winter winds dont whip the plants around and potentially harm the root system

been doing it that way for 6-7 years with no ill effects, but i aint no master gardener lol.

i'd google but i'm going fishing

You cut the stalks in fall?? I was always told to leave them over winter to insulate the roots to help prevent freezing out over winter.

never heard of pulling female plants, i just let em all go until cutting the stalks close to the ground in late fall.

this was the fourth year for a 6x6 ft patch i started from seeds and i picked a lot of good sized spears. let a bunch of pencil sized and smaller go to seed. the patch is filling in more each year

I'm going to let mine grow now.  I got about four pickings this year - overall a pretty good year.  Lots of new females popping up in my asparagus bed this year.  Should I try to pull those?

its been over for about a week here in WC IL, but it was a very good year for finding wild and picking from the garden. helped make up for the poor morel season

got 1 pound 6 ounces today probably the last picking I wasnt going to go because last week I got a lot and we blanched and froze it. I didnt have much to do today so I went to get some burdock and checked my spots

Picked today 6-4-22 walking around by my house. Only found enough for a small meal. Will look somemore next week.

Picked asparagus today 5-30-22 driving back roads on the way home from the store, Got about a dozen stalks. The other 2 times I picked I got about 20 each time. Will probably get out a couple more times before it's over.

Picked 5+ pounds this weekend in the Montello area.  Great time.  Gave us 6 bags in the freezer.  Just tastes a little different than the store bought.  Look forward to it each May!

I do experience the competition when looking for asparagus in the roadside ditch.  The more pressing issue though is the abundance of poison ivy.  If anyone wants asparagus they have to wade through the ivy first - I always wear knee boots and wash good when i get home