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Small or Weak Asparagus Spears

Spears are thin and weak, or spears do not come up at all.

Solutions

Plants can be weakened by several factors including poor cultural practices, weed competition, pests, frost, drought, dry wind, or harvesting too heavily. Control damage by pests and weeds. Mulch soil to protect plants from freezing. Follow good irrigation and fertilization practices. Do not harvest plants with weak spears; allow for recovery.

View of weed infested Asparagus officinalis (Liliaceae) row likely to yield weak thin spears due to competition and poor cultural practices. UC Davis student farm. by JKC Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Weedy areas can lead to weak or thin spears. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
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