Asparagus – Softening Solid Ground

Q: We just bought a farm and found we have a nice asparagus patch under lots of weeds. How would you clean this up? The ground is like cement!

A: I’d soak the area with water two days in a row, wait a day for the soil to soften, then carefully dig up the spot with a spading fork. You should be able to separate the thick ropy asparagus roots away from the weed roots. Keep the roots moist and cool while you thoroughly till a new asparagus-growing spot then plant the crowns a couple of inches deep. I have more details on how to grow and harvest asparagus at http://www.walterreeves.com/food-gardening/asparagus/.