How to Care for Fiddlehead Ferns

Feed fiddlehead ferns each spring using organic compost. Spread a 2-inch thick layer of the compost around the base of each plant. Spray the compost with water to settle it around the plants.

Spread a 1-inch thick layer of acidic mulch over the organic compost to help regulate moisture loss and increase acidity in the soil. Use pine straw, finely shredded pine bark or oak leaves since they will temporarily raise acidity in the soil.

Water fiddlehead ferns once a week during the warm, dry summer. Run a garden hose at low volume for 10 to 15 minutes at the base of the ferns to saturate the soil to a depth of 4 inches. Cease all supplemental water during the rainy season.

Mist the fiddlehead fern foliage once or twice a week during the summer. Use a garden hose with a misting nozzle. Spray the mist into the air above the ferns so it rains down lightly rather than spraying the hose directly at the ferns, which might damage the fronds.

Replace the compost and mulch each spring after the fiddleheads have been harvested. Carefully remove the organic matter from beneath the plants by hand. Do not use a rake around fiddlehead fern species since it might harm the base of the plant, which is called the crown.

Treat slug infestations using non-toxic methods. Place saucers or shallow bowls filled with beer around the base of the plants to draw in the slugs. Empty the beer saucers as soon as they catch a slug or two.