Asparagus - what to do?!?

[EmmaB]

Hi all

First season of "growing my own" and would love to grow asparagus. I understand that it takes a good 2/3 years until the first crop which is fine but obviously I would like to get started asap. I bought an asparagus fern a few months ago and am ashamed to say it's still in the pot as I'm not sure what to do with it.......could someone out there please help. I think I probably need a few more plants too, I'm not sure how many spears each plant would yield.

Also, should I buy mail order?

Thanks in advance.
Emma

[timmyalex]

One plant really isn't enough you need at least 10 imo. If you bought the fern as a plant it will need to grow on and be planted as a crown in the spring. This will give you time to prepare your bed in plenty of time. You could then get other 1 year old crowns and plant all at the sme time. After planting you should get approx 3-6 tips develop throughout the season but LEAVE THEM ALONE.!! The plant needs all its strength from the ferns over the summer to build up the crown. Cut back the ferns in autumn once the foliage has turned yellow and mulch over for the winter. Next year, same again LEAVE THEM ALONE. You should get more tips per plant this year (6-10). The following year is your first crop but only harvest for the first 4 weeks or so. Then after that it is 20-25 years of wonderful asparagus.

I am in my second year now (bed on the right) and cannot wait for next season.

[kerryp]

we tried asparagus this year & bought a good looking crown.. we ignored it & one "spear" came up through the soil & ended up being as high as my fence & flowered or looked like it did so we ended up digging it up as having one finger of asparagus tormenting everything in the garden looked very odd

[Nicos]

Yup- mail order 12 more.!
And yup- leave well alone for 3 years.....tis well worth the wait!

The plants will become dormant in the Autumn..wait until then before buying and planting out.

Just water the other baby - and tell it you're going to get it some friends real soon!!

[enrich100]

it's the leaving alone bit thats the hardest 2 years gone 1 year to wait, I have never tasted it so its gonna be a long time wasted if I don't like it but I enjoy the odd gamble

[Lemon]

We bought Asparagus crowns (3 ina pack and planted in a pot). This year is Year 2 and we've left them alone. Chickens I think sampled a couple!

Anyway, ferns have flowered and now we have very small green balls hanging off some of the ferns...What are these? Some have turned red and look like baubles!

Oh, and is it normal to have a spear shoot up now? Looks tasty enough to eat! Droooooool!!!!

[timmyalex]

Perfectly normal to have the shoots. These are what gives the crown the strength for next years crop, hence leaving well alone for 3 years. The red balls will be seeds from a female plant which will crop less heavily than a male plant. Growing 3 crowns in a pot ??? It must be a big pot.!!