Articles
FORCING SUMMER ASPARAGUS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Article number
415_25
Pages
175 – 182
Language
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of forcing summer asparagus (May to October) on yield, quality and recovery from harvest pressure.
Ten-week-old ‘UC 157 F1’ asparagus seedlings were field planted in September 1986 and forced to emerge from 1988 to 1992 by mowing spring fern in separate replicated plots in May, June, July, August, September or October.
Forcing treatments were not spring harvested.
Forced yields were compared to normal spring harvests (first emerging from January to March). Spring yields in 1988 were greatest of all, but declined yearly for five harvest years.
Summer forcing in either July or August maintained acceptable yields through 1992. Forcing in May and June were too stressful to plant recovery after the harvest season and increased plant death.
Cooler temperatures during the October forcing inhibited spear emergence.
Forcing in September yielded less than forcing in July and August, but September asparagus would command higher market prices.
Ten-week-old ‘UC 157 F1’ asparagus seedlings were field planted in September 1986 and forced to emerge from 1988 to 1992 by mowing spring fern in separate replicated plots in May, June, July, August, September or October.
Forcing treatments were not spring harvested.
Forced yields were compared to normal spring harvests (first emerging from January to March). Spring yields in 1988 were greatest of all, but declined yearly for five harvest years.
Summer forcing in either July or August maintained acceptable yields through 1992. Forcing in May and June were too stressful to plant recovery after the harvest season and increased plant death.
Cooler temperatures during the October forcing inhibited spear emergence.
Forcing in September yielded less than forcing in July and August, but September asparagus would command higher market prices.
Publication
Authors
Robert J. Dufault
Keywords
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