The importance of hilling and mulching for italian asparagus

Asparagus, one of the most appreciated early spring vegetables, is a crop that requires special attention to yield a high-quality product. 

It is a perennial crop that typically lasts about 10 years, although it often may be discontinued earlier due to excessive thinning. 

Production usually starts from the second year, with yields of 5-6 tons per hectare, and then gradually increases to a maximum of 10 tons per hectare or slightly more, before declining as the plantation ages. 

A crucial aspect for the success of this cultivation is the hilling of the soil, adding mulching with a cover if necessary. 

In this article, we delve into the importance of these two practices and how they impact the production of green and white asparagus. 

Keep reading!

What are hilling and mulching for asparagus? 

Hilling is an agronomic technique that involves forming mounds (or hills) of soil along the rows of plants. Among the main advantages of this practice, we certainly include improved soil drainage, which reduces the risk of waterlogging that can cause root rot and other fungal diseases. Indeed, well-drained soil is essential for the health of the asparagus roots, which require an aerated environment free from excessive moisture. 

Moreover, the mounds created by hilling provide natural protection against late spring frosts. The soil helps to insulate the roots and spears, protecting them from harsh temperatures that can damage the young plants and compromise the harvest. 

For white asparagus, hilling is crucial to ensure that the spears remain underground until harvest, thus preventing photosynthesis that would give them the characteristic green color. The overlying soil prevents the spears from being exposed to light, keeping them white and tender. The most effective system to have white asparagus even at the tip is to cover the asparagus bed with a black cover, namely using the mulching technique, which also helps to limit the growth of weeds. 

In addition, hilling makes it easier to harvest asparagus, especially the white variety. The mounds of soil allow for easy identification of the spears ready for harvest, minimizing damage to the plants and increasing work efficiency in the fields.

What equipment can you use for optimal hilling and mulching? 

Hilling can be done manually or with the help of specialized machinery. In Italy, the use of modern techniques and advanced machinery has made this practice more efficient and much less costly in terms of labor. 

Today, there are specific equipment on the market that can perform hilling on a large scale, increasing productivity and reducing working times. These machines create uniform furrows and mounds, ensuring homogeneous coverage of the spears. Moreover, there are mulching machines specifically designed to work with hilling.

A concluding thought on these practices 

Let’s conclude with a discussion on the cost-effectiveness of asparagus cultivation, which is closely related to productivity and product quality. 

Considering the high incidence of fixed costs (depreciation and cultivation), there is a minimum yield per hectare below which the cultivation is not economical. 

While in open field and for a product not particularly prized, this limit may correspond to 7 tons/ha (slightly above the national average), in protected cultivation, due to the higher fixed costs for the preparations, the minimum yield increases by 10%, despite considering a higher selling price for the product. 

It is logical that this limit cannot be achieved by extending the harvest period as it depletes the nutritional reserves in the roots, leading to a progressively lower productive capacity in subsequent years. 

Consequently, the strategies to follow are as follows: 

• choose the variety best adapted to the environment and the type of product you want to achieve; 
• optimize the entire cultural protocol capable of maintaining the maximum health of the summer vegetation; 
• balance the removal of reserves resulting from the harvest with the capacity to accumulate them during the vegetative phase. 

As you can see, hilling and mulching are crucial steps in the cultivation of asparagus, directly influencing the quality and yield of the crop. In this scenario, Forigo Roter Italia offers advanced technological solutions that meet the specific needs of farmers. 

With the use of specialized machinery, we guarantee optimal soil management, maximizing productivity and sustainability of crops. 

To learn more about our technologies, do not hesitate to contact us or consult our catalog.