Allotments 4 All
News:
Picture posting is enabled for all :)
Home
Forum
Help
Search
Calendar
Gallery
Chat
Login
Register
Allotments 4 All
»
Allotment Stuff
»
The Basics
(Moderator:
Admin aka Dan
) »
Topic:
established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Author
Topic: established asparagus bed - can I add salt? (Read 5346 times)
anthea
Not So New ...
Posts: 42
established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
on:
December 13, 2012, 17:13:44 »
I created my asparagus bed about 5 years ago and it's done reasonably well. This year I got lazy and let it get overgrown with weeds. Today I started weeding it and - hurray - the weeds come out far more easily than I expected. But some of them are huge clumps of grass, so the soil level [it's a raised bed] is pretty low now. Usually this time of year I add a bit of compost. I'm wondering what to top up the bed with to replace lost soil. I'm guessing it would be wrong to fill it all with compost as it'll make the asparagus too leafy? So should I get some bags of top soil? Or any other ideas welcome. When I started the bed I added salt, because that was what the books said. Am I right in thinking that the reason for the salt was to keep weeds at bay? And if so, can I add some again now, or won't the plants like it? Any thoughts will be very welcome indeed.
thanks
Anthea
Logged
artichoke
Hectare
Posts: 2,276
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #1 on:
December 14, 2012, 18:16:25 »
I have made asparagus beds in different gardens over about 40 years and have never added salt..... I do rake up the soil to cover the crowns, and I do add compost because they love deep soft soil. When I had pigs, their rotted manure was heaped up over the crowns and they became more and more productive. A neighbour went into professional production (replacing his hop gardens) and also used our pig manure.
I know that some authorities say that asparagus grows best in sandy soils with no enrichment (and added salt) but all I can say is that they are wrong.
Logged
cornykev
Hectare
Posts: 9,893
Sunny Cheshunt just outside North London
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #2 on:
December 14, 2012, 18:46:07 »
Never heard of salt being added to any soil, although I don't grow asparagus I'm certain I wouldn't add salt, even seaweed is washed before its mulched on a plot, I'm off to consult with my book.
I'm back,
Soil Facts.
Good drainage, sunny spot, sheltered from strong winds, dig in compost or rotted manure in the autumn, Liming will be necessary if the soil is very acid, keep the bed clean by hand weeding.
The Vegtable & Herb Expert Dr D G Hessayon.
«
Last Edit: December 14, 2012, 18:54:17 by cornykev
»
Logged
MAY THE CORN BE WITH YOU.
Digeroo
Hectare
Posts: 9,578
Cotswolds - Gravel - Alkaline
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #3 on:
December 14, 2012, 19:02:40 »
I had heard that you put salt on asparagus. I am not clear if it needs salt, likes salt or tolerates it. I put sea weed on mine but did wash it first.
Logged
Unwashed
Hectare
Posts: 2,735
Vexatious, moi?
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #4 on:
December 14, 2012, 20:26:42 »
I seem to remember that the salt thing is discouraged now, and probably never did any good. I'm sure that compost from the heap would be good to top up the bed with.
Logged
An Agreement of the People for a firm and present peace upon grounds of common right
BAK
Wiki Editor
Hectare
Posts: 529
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #5 on:
December 15, 2012, 07:34:50 »
My understanding is that there was a view that asparagus was more tolerant of salt than weeds and that was why some people used rock salt ... to get rid of the weeds!
Asparagus may be more tolerant but I do not think that it will benefit from it at all.
Keep it weeded and mulch annually with compost or well-rotted manure.
Logged
http://www.bkthisandthat.org.uk
small
Hectare
Posts: 1,273
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #6 on:
December 15, 2012, 15:32:42 »
I top up my bed with home-made compost every year, I used to add wood ash because it made it easier to weed from,but I don't bother with that any more. I'm going to be watching like a hawk for asparagus beetle in case any of the little b's overwinter.
Logged
anthea
Not So New ...
Posts: 42
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #7 on:
January 13, 2013, 23:16:58 »
Thanks all for your comments and I'm really sorry to be so slow to get back to this. It's really helpful to hear what you say. Seems then that I was going on old outdated info so I'll forget all about the salt and just use compost. Very many thanks.
Logged
grawrc
Global Moderator
Hectare
Posts: 6,583
Edinburgh
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #8 on:
January 14, 2013, 07:05:08 »
Asparagus started out as a seaside plant so will grow in saline soil that would kill other plants. It doesn't need salt though and grows perfectly well without it. Mine gets a good layer of well-rotted manure or compost late autumn. Acts as a fertiliser and mulch and keeps the weeds down too.
There are very few plants that tolerate high levels of salt in the soil.
Logged
daitheplant
Acre
Posts: 419
Re: established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
«
Reply #9 on:
January 14, 2013, 19:06:27 »
If I may add an aside, being another coastal plant, the colour and flavour of Beetroot are enhanced by a sprinkling of salt in the drill before seed-sowing.
Logged
DaiT
Print
Pages: [
1
]
« previous
next »
Allotments 4 All
»
Allotment Stuff
»
The Basics
(Moderator:
Admin aka Dan
) »
Topic:
established asparagus bed - can I add salt?
anything
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal