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Asparagus, Squash, and Strawberry Care: A Multi-Crop Guide

Managing a diverse garden means understanding each crop's unique needs. Here's a concise guide for your asparagus bed, vertical squash, and strawberry patch.

Asparagus Bed (5 Years Old)

Weed Management

Hand-weed carefully; asparagus roots are shallow.
Apply 2–3 inches of weed-free straw or compost after spring harvest.
Avoid deep cultivation. Leaf mulch in fall helps but won't eliminate established perennial weeds.

Adding New Plants

Planting seeds in an established bed is tricky—seedlings compete poorly with mature crowns. Better: start seeds in a nursery bed, transplant 1-year crowns to a new area. White asparagus is just green asparagus blanched by excluding light (mound soil or use opaque covers over spears). Same variety, different culture.

Vertical Squash: Acorn, Zucchini, Spaghetti

Trellising

Acorn/winter squash: Excellent climbers. Use sturdy 6-ft trellis, cattle panel, or A-frame. Support heavy fruits with slings (old t-shirts, mesh bags).
Zucchini/summer squash: Bush types don't climb. Choose vining varieties ('Tromboncino', 'Rampicante') for trellising.
Spaghetti squash: Vining, climbs well. Same support as acorn.

Tomato Cages?

Too flimsy for heavy squash. Use 6-ft T-posts with welded wire fencing, or a robust arbor.

Strawberries: June-Bearers vs. Everbearers

June-Bearers "Dead"

If planted recently, they may be dormant or stressed. June-bearers fruit once in early summer; after harvest, they renovate (see Article 36120). If truly dead, replant with certified stock.