Q. I planted some asparagus roots this spring and see only a thin stand of sprouts coming up. I heard that I shouldn’t expect much of a harvest this year, but can I expect the asparagus to fill in in good shape? – M.D., Ellsworth

A. It’s fairly normal to witness first-year plants as slender and small. Resist the temptation to harvest any shoots from a newly planted bed.

Fertility, irrigation and weeding are critical in successfully establishing an asparagus bed. The gardener should be prepared to diligently water the planting weekly whenever rainfall is inadequate. This supplemental irrigation should take place during the first two years of establishment.

Fertilize your establishing asparagus plants with a generous amount of well composted manure.

Be sure to eliminate any encroaching weeds from the bed. This will reduce competition from unwanted plants, directing all of the nutrients and other environmental resources toward the tasty asparagus crop.

In autumn, cut down the asparagus fronds to about 1 inch above the soil line. Cart the stems away to the compost pile and mulch the bed with a layer of compost applied at a rate of 15 pounds per 100 square feet. Apply a layer of leaf litter mulch to the planting to provide protection over the winter months.

A dense asparagus planting may take years to develop; however, you should expect a decent harvest in the bed’s second year.

Q. Although I’ve had terrible luck in the past, I’m trying once again to raise some celery in my garden this summer. How does one achieve nice bunches of celery? Mine always end up hard and tough. – D.P., Troy

A. Blanching celery is the key to developing tender stalks. Blanching is a technique used to limit light penetration to the celery stems. As a result, they become whitish and supple.

Depending on the size of your celery planting, you may use several different methods to blanche. For one or two individual plants, mound soil, sawdust, mulch or any acceptable loose material around the entire collection of stems when they reach an adequate height. Alternatively, cut both ends off of a large metal can and slip it over the top of individual plants.

For a row of celery, an effective blanching method is to stake into place a tall board on either side of the row. The board should be placed snugly against the celery stems. Celery leaves should be free to stretch toward the light above.

Any of these methods will limit light, thereby limiting photosynthesis, and create pale, tender celery stems.

Q. I have a few fruit trees in my yard and always find rodent damage in spring. How do I protect their trunks from the mice? – D.W., Bangor

A. Mice tend to be led to the trunk of fruit trees while feasting on fruits that have fallen from the branches. If your trees are mulched with bark, in autumn rake the mulch back away from the tree trunk so that an 8- to 10-inch radius around each trunk is clear and free from debris.

As snow falls throughout winter, compact the area around the tree trunk by stamping down on the snow. This will go far in preventing mice from reaching the tender trunks of young trees and munching on that vital bark.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, 512 North Ridge Road, Montville 04941, or e-mail dianagc@midcoast.com. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.