Success StoryUnderwood Farm Asparagus
Underwood Farm Asparagus
Author: Daniel Becker
Planning Unit: Horticulture
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Robin Underwood of McLean County first contacted the extension associate in 2017 asking for assistance with control of asparagus beetle in his 1-acre asparagus patch. Continued conversation revealed that the field consistently underperformed yield-wise and that spears exhibited distorted growth. A diagnostic sample collected in May tested positive for fusarium crown and root rot consistent with poor soil drainage and flooding annually experienced in the field each spring. The extension associate assisted in selecting a new field site at higher elevation on the property and made suggestions for pre-plant activities. Information on regional educational meetings was also relayed as requested. It was at one of these meetings that the grower learned of two new cultivars released by Rutgers NJAES that are high yielding and tolerant of various diseases. A nursery was sourced that could supply the desired cultivars along with a pre-plant fungicide dip. In April 2018 the new 1-acre field was planted with $1,500 worth of crowns. The planting made good growth and is anticipated to begin commercial harvest in 2020. Robin considers the efforts of the extension associate to have gone “above and beyond” to help with the new planting and to “greatly appreciate” the information sent to him.
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