Tree Planter Modified To Plant Asparagus

2017 - Volume #41, Issue #1, Page #07

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Stewart Holliday has planted thousands of asparagus crowns with his modified tree planter. The 2-seat rig prepares the trench and makes it easy to drop the crowns in. It also buries permanent drip tube irrigation beneath the crowns.
    “I planted 6,000 crowns in fifteen 500-ft. rows 3 years ago, 13,000 crowns 2 years ago and 16,000 crowns last summer,” says Holliday.
    Holliday lives most of the year in Arizona, but also owns a small farm near La Crosse, Wis. He got the idea for growing asparagus when he saw guys jumping the fence to pick asparagus from an old patch.
    “Instead of calling the cops on them, I decided I could make some money,” recalls Holliday. “With irrigation, the ones I planted could last 25 years or more.”
    In order to plant asparagus in large numbers, Holliday looked at planter options and settled on a 1-row tree planter. It had boxes for the crowns and 2 seats for people setting crowns in the trench.
    He credits the drip tube and modifications made to the planter for his success. The reel of tubing rides above the planter and feeds down a pvc pipe between the 2 seats. With enough horsepower pulling it, the planter can dig a trench 12 in. deep. Holliday goes deep enough to lay the tube under a couple of inches of dirt and still set the crown 8 in. deep.
    “I cut 2 in. away from the bottom of the plow, which allows a few inches of dirt to fall on the tubing,” says Holliday. “Then the crowns are laid on top of it about 16 in. apart.”
    The tubing has drip holes about 8 in. apart. He ties the tubing to a post at the end of a row and starts planting. He cuts it at the other end and repeats.
    “Last spring I put liquid fish fertilizer through the drip line at the beginning of he season. It is pricey, but it really gives the plants a shot. They came up healthy and green.”
    Holliday also feeds his plants with organic chicken manure. He treats the soil with barn lime to keep it at the preferred 7 to 7.2 pH range. The program is working well.
    “We have better than a 95 percent survival from 3 years ago and about 99 percent overall,” says Holliday.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stewart Holliday, 6104 W. Gambit Trail, Phoenix, Arizona 85083 (ph 623 780-4686 or 602 908-4868).

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Tree Planter Modified To Plant Asparagus CROPS Miscellaneous Stewart Holliday has planted thousands of asparagus crowns with his modified tree planter The 2-seat rig prepares the trench and makes it easy to drop the crowns in It also buries permanent drip tube irrigation beneath the crowns “I planted 6 000 crowns in fifteen 500-ft rows 3 years ago 13 000 crowns 2 years ago and 16 000 crowns last summer ” says Holliday Holliday lives most of the year in Arizona but also owns a small farm near La Crosse Wis He got the idea for growing asparagus when he saw guys jumping the fence to pick asparagus from an old patch “Instead of calling the cops on them I decided I could make some money ” recalls Holliday “With irrigation the ones I planted could last 25 years or more ” In order to plant asparagus in large numbers Holliday looked at planter options and settled on a 1-row tree planter It had boxes for the crowns and 2 seats for people setting crowns in the trench He credits the drip tube and modifications made to the planter for his success The reel of tubing rides above the planter and feeds down a pvc pipe between the 2 seats With enough horsepower pulling it the planter can dig a trench 12 in deep Holliday goes deep enough to lay the tube under a couple of inches of dirt and still set the crown 8 in deep “I cut 2 in away from the bottom of the plow which allows a few inches of dirt to fall on the tubing ” says Holliday “Then the crowns are laid on top of it about 16 in apart ” The tubing has drip holes about 8 in apart He ties the tubing to a post at the end of a row and starts planting He cuts it at the other end and repeats “Last spring I put liquid fish fertilizer through the drip line at the beginning of he season It is pricey but it really gives the plants a shot They came up healthy and green ” Holliday also feeds his plants with organic chicken manure He treats the soil with barn lime to keep it at the preferred 7 to 7 2 pH range The program is working well “We have better than a 95 percent survival from 3 years ago and about 99 percent overall ” says Holliday Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Stewart Holliday 6104 W Gambit Trail Phoenix Arizona 85083 ph 623 780-4686 or 602 908-4868

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