First year of growing asparagus..I have the fern like stalks sticking up when do I cut them down to the ground

What do I need to do to the asparagus bed to prepare it for cold weather?

First year of growing asparagus..I have the fern like stalks sticking up when do I cut them down to the ground
You cut them down when they turn pale yellow colour, and then you should cover the bed in a thick layer of well rotted manure, to be raked off in the spring but most of it will have been taken down by worms.
Reply:I'm in the same boat; planted this Spring. Researching the internet, various state ag departments advise leaving the ferns alone until Spring. At that time, you can trim the ferns before the stalks come up. That's also when they advise to fertilize. They also advise when/how harvest...some light cuttings the 2nd year are felt to be helpful.

I planted tomatoes between my asparagus rows and the tomatoes had huge yields (stalks were like tree trunks)! No pest problems with either vegs.
Reply:I JUST MOW MINE DOWN AFTER I PICK WHAT IS GOOD,NO WINTER PREP EVER NEEDED,BEEN GROWING IN SAME PLACE FOR 30 + YEARS.