Asparagus fern turning yellow and dying back a month earlier

[It never rains..it pours]

Asparagus fern turning yellow/dying back here, seems about a month ahead of last year. Just wondering if others are seeing the same ?

[bario1]

Mine are still green.

[bikermike]

most the surviving ones of mine went over a while back. It is their first year though, so I'm hoping...

[4Shoes]

Mine are still in the polytunnel. Grown from seed this year so still looking well.

Question is what to do next. Pot up into bigger pots or make the bed over the winter and plant out in the spring?

[It never rains..it pours]

Bario1, thank you for saying. Made me look hard and think mine may have purple spot on some thats causing earlier die back. From reading seems removing all fern and other asparagus debris significantly reduces it next year, this year I left 2" to 3" fern stumps so knew where ones alive where, this year will cut to ground and use marker sticks if need be

Bikermike, my replacement crowns that the supplier sent, only 33% survived and have had very poor fern gowth vs what last years crowns that survived were like last year. No idea why

4Shoes, exactly the debate im having on mine grown from seed too this year. Think will keep mine inside so can grow as much fern/root as possible, as planted 2 outside a month ago and they dont have very good looking fern compared to those inside

[4Shoes]

Great idea. will give then a wee look over this weekend.

[bario1]

Had another look today and some are starting to turn now.

[Small pumpkin]

Mine are starting to turn yellow.

[penny]

Hi my asparagus has been shorter than usual this year and is dying back now which is early, I just thought it maybe time to replace it. The bed has been there about fifteen years and produced well even in our heavy clay soil.

[It never rains..it pours]

Thank you for all the replies on the state of play, advice its differcult to get anywhere else.
As seems mine didnt turn much earlier than others, wonder if the higher solar radiation this summer means the crowns feel less inclined to drag out fern life. Trees around here are definatly dropping leaves earlier this year.
Penny, seems its more common this year for ferns to be yellowing/ dying earlier. As they seem hard work to get started (at least for me) I would wait till got a poor spring crop before debating ripping out a bed

[bravo2zero]

Mine has just started again earlier than usual. Its probably due to the stress of the hot summer and pefectly natural. What i did do a few years ago was to crop only half the bed and rotate every year by leaving the other half to go fallow so to speak. I reckon mine too is around 15 yrs old and now planning another bed next year due to the crowns showing signs of age. I dont clear the bed until new year when the crowns are in proper dormancy.

[It never rains..it pours]

Another year and asparagus again turning in September :-( but seems to be the gijnlim that have turned first, others still holding on

[Holly Daze]

My asparagus ferns are still green. This is our first year. Ariane Mondeo and Pacific Purple have done particularly well. Ariane is still producing spears. Autumn is late here in Northampton. Leaves yet to start falling.

[greenishfing]

No idea what my variety is. I grew them from seed 5 years ago and this year is the first year I really had a proper pick. It was a real treat.
It is now starting to turn yellow.

[Small pumpkin]

Mine turned yellow and started shedding bits weeks ago. Now cut down and shredded.
As soon as it stops raining for more than 5 minutes, I’ll be covering the asparagus with manure and letting it do it’s thing.