Asparagus – Moving The Bed

Q: I have a question about moving an asparagus bed. I have moved and I want to dig my asparagus bed and move it to my new home. Can I move it now?

A: Now is a terrific time to move the asparagus. Even if the ferns haven’t yet turned yellow, cut them at the base and remove. Soak the bed area once a day for two days until the soil is soggy. This will make it easier to explore the root system with a spading fork and bring up as much of the crowns and roots as possible. I assume you’ve amended the new “home” with organic matter to make the soil soft and productive. Plant the asparagus there, spreading the roots in all directions. There’s no need to fertilize now but you can start feeding the plants next spring and summer to insure good crops in the future.