intercropping with fruit trees – Xtremehorticulture

Cutting the Roots of Asparagus for Planting Among Fruit Trees

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Q. I see online some people cut the roots of asparagus before planting. I did this last year. Is it a good idea? I was thinking of planting asparagus at the base of fruit trees. It makes them easier to plant, but are there consequences? Asparagus can get 5 feet tall or taller after harvest. A. Your question is about cutting the roots of asparagus and what consequences might occur. I must guess since I don’t have much experience with that. They are both deep-rooted, so I don’t think there is a problem with irrigation and spear production provided the roots are covered with clean (no rocks) soil when replanted. It’s best to use clean soil directly above the roots. Rocky soil covering the roots may lead to the growth of “crooked spears”. The crown of asparagus will have to grow some new roots for storage. There is one major problem. It has to do with interference between the fruit tree and the asparagus. After the asparagus has been harvested, the shoots are allowed to “fern” up so they can gather energy for next year’s production and the roots can grow. These ferns can be 5 to 6 feet tall when they finish growing. I could see how these might grow up into the branches of the fruit trees. Ferns can be cut without any problems. Cutting the ferns will interfere slightly with the number spears you collect in the spring, but not much. Shade can be a problem when fruit trees are grown close together. This happens after about 4 to 6 years and it may be too dark for some plants. A minor problem (maybe??) is the amount of light available. As the fruit trees get larger, they will create more shade. The ferns will not collect as much sunlight in this location. Regarding the asparagus crowns competing with the fruit tree for “root space”, it’s true but not a huge problem if you don’t put too many crowns at the base of the tree and plant them where they will get light in the future. I think you are fine with 3 to 4 crowns planted there about 18 inches or so apart.

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Intercrop Plants With Roots That Grow to a Similar Depth

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Q. I planted asparagus at the base of my fruit trees. I can send you pictures if you want. Asparagus is short when harvested. But allowed to grow tall in recovery. Some asparagus will grow 5 to 6 feet tall. A. Asparagus is a good thing to interplant with fruit trees, but it should be planted between the fruit trees, not at their base. They have similar watering needs, and their frequency of watering is very similar. That’s important. There are three things to concern yourself when planting at the base of fruit trees; increasing the amount of water needed, height interference with lower fruit tree branches, and a decrease in light for the asparagus growing under the tree’s canopy. That decrease in light directly affects asparagus production. Intercropping between fruit trees requires light, water, and space. Here sesame is intercropped with fruit trees. Now onto where it should be planted. Plant intercrops between fruit trees rather than around their base. If you do, they will get an increase in the amount of light they receive, and they can grow as tall as they like without interference from lower tree branches. Intercropping like this works well with melons, squash, perennial herbs, perennial fruit, and artichokes. Plants intercropped with fruit trees should have a deeper root system, require light and water. Unless you are using drip tubing you will have to add emitters if grown between trees. Drip tubing (built-in drip emitters) allows the roots of trees to “follow” the water and provides a wet soil for interplanting until the trees start to shade the area. When grown between trees asparagus height won’t be a problem later in the season. Asparagus is allowed to get taller after the spring spear removal for fresh vegetables.

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What Is the Best Groundcover for Fruit Trees?

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Q. What’s the best groundcover under fruit trees? A. It kind of depends on how much water costs. If water is expensive, a living groundcover might not be the best idea. Farmer intercropping with sesame between fruit trees in Tajikistan Also, living groundcovers like alfalfa or clovers don’t return as much nitrogen to the plant as people think. In fact, they usually compete with the plant for water and nutrients and don’t return the benefits that people think they should. In our arid and desert West, surface mulches are usually the best option. I like to see woodchips from local arborists or tree trimmers used around the base of the trees to a depth of 4 inches or more. I have seen some inter-cropping when fruit trees are young with things like melons planted beneath them. This way at least you can get double duty in food production from the water that’s being applied. Remember that intercropping increases the amount of care required because you are growing crops you have to tend. Fruit trees that may not require visits more than once every two or three weeks now have melons planted beneath them that require visits of 2 to 3 times per week. So if it were me, I would use a nonliving groundcover such as woodchips from local tree trimmers.

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