Asparagus plant yellowing early

July 8, 2020 7:24 AM

I have a few asparagus plants outdoors (actual asparagus, not the fern) and since I didn't manage to harvest any of them this year, they're super tall and fluffy. The odd thing is that some of them are yellowing now, when normally it doesn't happen til fall. They also have a sticky white substance in clumps on the stems. I cut them back since it doesn't look great but should I treat them with anything? All my searching only yielded answers on treating houseplants.
posted by brilliantine to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

"Sticky white substance" sounds like aphids to me, which can in turn cause yellowing or wilting of leaves. I spray aphids with soapy water (just on the stems or leaves where I see aphids) or spray them off with water to combat them.
posted by XtineHutch at 7:57 AM on July 8, 2020

Another possibility might be mealybugs, which definitely have the effect of causing leaves to yellow and die.
posted by trig at 12:02 PM on July 8, 2020