Asparagus, a perennial vegetable valued for its tender spears, is a springtime delicacy for humans, but it also attracts a variety of animals. Both cultivated garden patches and wild asparagus stands can become targets for creatures seeking a meal. The plant’s appeal as a food source is especially evident during its vulnerable early growth stages. Understanding which animals are drawn to asparagus and how they interact with it provides insight into protecting this favored crop.
Common Asparagus Eaters
Asparagus plants face threats from various animals, from large mammals to tiny insects. Deer consume asparagus, especially tender young shoots in early spring when other food sources are limited. Though not their primary choice, deer are adaptable feeders and will frequently return to areas where they have discovered a palatable food source, causing significant crop loss. Rabbits also pose a threat, often feeding on new plant growth and emerging spears during harvest.
Among smaller mammals, voles damage asparagus by gnawing on roots and crowns, potentially weakening or killing plants. Groundhogs are generalist herbivores that readily consume garden vegetables, including asparagus, often eating entire plants. Birds, while not typically major pests, might occasionally peck at asparagus spears.
Insect pests represent a significant challenge for asparagus growers. Common and spotted asparagus beetles, both adults and larvae, feed on spears and ferns, causing browning, scarring, bending, and reduced yields. Cutworms hide in the soil by day, emerging at night to sever young asparagus stems. Slugs and snails rasp pits and holes into spears and foliage, leaving slime trails. Other pests include aphids, which suck sap and stunt growth, and asparagus miners, whose larvae tunnel within stems, potentially introducing disease.
Protecting Your Asparagus
Protecting asparagus from animal damage involves a combination of strategies. Physical barriers are highly effective against larger animals. For deer, an 8-foot tall fence can deter them, and for smaller gardens, a double 6-foot fence with a 2-foot gap can also be effective. To keep rabbits out, a fence made of chicken wire with a mesh of 1 inch or less should be at least 2 to 3 feet high, with the bottom 6 inches buried and bent outwards to prevent burrowing. Fine mesh netting or floating row covers can also protect young plants from both larger animals and flying insects.
Cultural practices also contribute to pest management. Regular harvesting of spears helps reduce asparagus beetle populations by removing eggs. Maintaining a clean garden by removing plant debris and weeds eliminates overwintering sites for many pests, including asparagus beetles and cutworms. Crop rotation can also disrupt the life cycles of some soil-borne pests if new asparagus beds are established in different locations.
Natural deterrents and companion planting offer additional protective layers. Commercial repellents use ingredients like putrescent egg solids to deter deer, and homemade solutions such as garlic or cayenne pepper sprays can also be used. Companion plants like tomatoes, basil, parsley, and dill can help by either deterring pests directly or by attracting beneficial insects that prey on asparagus pests. Marigolds and nasturtiums can serve as trap crops or repel pests with their strong scents. Encouraging natural predators, such as ladybugs for aphids and parasitic wasps for asparagus beetles, also helps maintain a balanced garden ecosystem.