Asparagus Bed

Question

I started an asparagus bed, and I fear I’ve done it incorrectly. My western NC soil is very clay-ey. I removed the sod from an 8′ x 16′ area, dug two trenches about 1′ wide, 1′ deep. Planted about 20 one-year-old crowns atop mounds of compost/manure and they’ve rapidly sent up vigorous shoots, which I’m putting more compost/manure around. My problem: I didn’t dig up the rest of the bed; it’s still the original clay soil.

My thought is to carefully dig into these areas on both sides and between the trenches, take about half the soil out and mix back in compost/manure until it gets to ground level, then mulch. I think I need to do this soon, as it’s obvious the asparagus is growing nicely and I don’t want to damage new root growth coming off the crowns. Am I in the right direction to save some already hard work? Thanks!

Answer 1

If you’ve not already read it, this article should help you with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/asparagus/planting-asparagus-how-to-make-an-asparagus-bed.htm