Too late in the year to start an asparagus bed?

[Chrisuk]

I've recently taken on an allotment which needs a lot of work, I've been clearing it bit by bit and planting as I go. Yesterday I cleared a large overgrown section next to the shed. The area was paved, but contains a large cement and brick raised bed (approx. 6ft by 8ft and approx. half a foot high.) I had the idea that it would be ideal as an asparagus bed due to it being difficult for weeds to colonise it.

Is it too late in the year to plant a new bed if I buy crowns from somewhere like marshalls? I've done a bit of googling and all suggest to start such beds earlier in the year.

Edited to add that I've dug two feet down into the bed, so it connects to the main soil.

[RaptorUK]

I had the idea that it would be ideal as an asparagus bed due to it being difficult for weeds to colonise it.

Is it too late in the year to plant a new bed if I buy crowns from somewhere like marshalls?

I don't think it's too late, April - May is what I have seen as the period when you should plant crowns . . . my only concern would be the condition of the bed. It needs to be as weed free as possible, especially perennial weeds, before planting, Asparagus makes it difficult to do afterwards as it can be shallowly rooted.

[Chrisuk]

Hi Raptor, the bed used to be an old herb bed into which the previous owner had planted some form of privet.
Having dug it all out, the soil seems to be really good and the only weeds I found were two dandelions (whose roots I fully removed) and a tiny bit of couch, whose roots seemed restricted against a 2 foot span of stones along one edge. It seems the previous inhabitants of the bed had crowded out the weeds.

[Raybon]

Some Seed companies I have looked at offer to post crowns some time in May, so it should be fine!

[Chrisuk]

Thanks all. I'll order some in and see how it goes!

[Kristen]

I suggest you look at a specialist Asparagus Crown company - I worry that middle-men are storing-and-forwarding, which isn't quite the same thing as the grower shipping to you direct from their chill-store.

Of course the seed companies may be getting the grower to drop-ship to you, which would come to the same thing ... but my experiences buying Seed Potatoes or Garlic, for example, from seed companies have been that, contrary to what their website says, they have run out / substitute / disappoint or resort to a "fallback supplier" which is not as good quality, particularly when ordering "late-ish".

So I would cut out the middleman

I planted mine on a handful-mound of sand. Dunno if you will need that on your soil, but if you do you might want to get some bags of sand in too

[Chrisuk]

Hi Kristen,

have you any suggestions regarding specialist companies, or is google my best bet?

Is sand needed? The previous owner of my allotment left a lot of junk, amongst it was a couple of bags of sand. I was intending to get rid of them, but will save them for the bed if needed.

[Kristen]

have you any suggestions regarding specialist companies, or is google my best bet?

From memory the ones I have read of people recommending were in Kent, so possibly this outfit:

Asparagus Crowns UK | Asparagus In Kent

but no personal experience. I grew mine from seed and planted out the following Spring

Is sand needed? The previous owner of my allotment left a lot of junk, amongst it was a couple of bags of sand. I was intending to get rid of them, but will save them for the bed if needed.

Depends on your soil I think. Mine is heavy ... Asparagus needs well drained soil, it will get that in raised beds, but some sand (sharp/horticultural, rather than "builders") under them won't hurt

They need the roots spreading out star-shaped like a spider, on a bit of a ridge. Its not complicated / difficult, as such, but the crop will be in-situ for 20 years so well worth putting the effort in to get the best possible outcome. Plenty of organic matter, no weeds, ideal growing conditions ... well ... that's what I attempted to do at least

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow...to-Z/Asparagus