Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, explains what happens to trees at different times of the year.
Do you grow asparagus? If so, you are probably noticing that the fronds are dying back.
Asparagus are herbaceous perennials, meaning they die back in winter. In April, the berries ripen. By mid-May, the fronds are turning brown. By now, they’ll look pretty dead.
Once the fronds have completely browned, you can cut them off at ground level. I find that if you wait until June or July they come away from the crown cleanly and no secateurs are required.
Don’t be tempted to cut back fronds when they are green. The plant needs to mobilise the nutrients within the fronds and store them in the crown.
These stored nutrients are required for the new spears. Cutting back green fronds reduces the nutrients stored in the crown and results in fewer spears the following spring.
Happy gardening!
Duncan
🍎 For more gardening tips see my latest planting guide and garden update. I will also be running a fruit tree pruning workshop on June 22.