The spears sustain coming up but eventually they get more fibrous. Most of them will get skinnier, too. Once they start getting tough I halt cutting them and let the plant grow undisturbed the rest of the summer. They will get tall and leafy (skinny leaves). I’ve never had anything bother them and I live in an area full of deer and other critters.
I carry out pour my winter wood ashes over them in the early spring. I’ve been told they like sweeter soil and mine runs acidic. We’ve had a very wet few years here and the place I planted them has been something of a bog. I’m told they like well draining soil but these have always done fine there.
Source: thesurvivalpodcast.com