Asparagus at Wilko

[mcdood]

Hi , I appreciate Asparagus is a long term investment so probably best not to scrimp but I've had decent plant stock and seeds from Wilko before and at £1 per crown may be worth trying a few if I knew the variety, anyone any ideas what it is, or had experience with Wilko Asparagus?

[Doncasterpaul]

Yep I tried it with very poor results. However I was a novice at the time so the poor results could be down to my lack of preparation and experience etc. Having said that the flower/ferns or whatever you call it where very impressive

[Nicos]

Nope, but if the roots look fleshy rather than wrinkled then I'd certainly give them a bash.

[Small pumpkin]

I brought the wilko asparagus last year. It doesn't actually have a variety name, which is disappointing.
But it's done brilliantly. Looking forward to seeing what it does in it's second year. Especially as it's putting up spears already.

[mcdood]

Thanks for the replies. I've done some Asparagus browsing since and I can get a multipack of 15 (3 different named varieties) early, mid and late for £20.50 incl P&P at Crocus which appeals more. This is an offer so worried if I wait they go back to full price but it seems early to be buying them. Will they store Ok before planting beginning of April?

[Small pumpkin]

I planted mine last Feb when they arrived. But mine are in a very large tub in the polytunnel. As asparagus isn't known for enjoying the climate in the Scottish highlands.

They should store ok somewhere cool and dark. I'd really wait for someone else's opinion on that because I'm no expert. More of a make it up as you go !

[Nicos]

Personally I would pop them into some moist, sandy soil so the roots don't dry out.
And keep them frost free but cool so as not to encourage top growth.
The dark might encourage them to sprout (like chitting spuds) which isn't such a good idea so early in the season.

[SarrissUK]

For a pound a pop, I'm pretty sure I will give them a go

[Nicos]

I will too if they are still around in a fortnight when I'm in the uk.
I imagine though any left by then will have dried out.

[Mark_Riga]

Thanks for the replies. I've done some Asparagus browsing since and I can get a multipack of 15 (3 different named varieties) early, mid and late for £20.50 incl P&P at Crocus which appeals more. This is an offer so worried if I wait they go back to full price but it seems early to be buying them. Will they store Ok before planting beginning of April?

You could do a test. Buy the Crocus ones and 5 from wilkos and look forward to weighing them, cooking them and then giving them marks out of 10.

[mcdood]

Sounds like an idea Mark but now I've ordered the Crocus ones I don't have any more room in that bed.
3 different varieties though so I could compare them... in 2 years time.

[mcdood]

Asparagus arrived, larger root system than I expected and looks to be in good condition. Advice that came with them was to leave them as close to freezing as possible so I moved them from plastic bags to paper bags and have them stored in the garage, waiting for early March to plant out. Advice supplied is also that if they do sprout while stored don't panic but wait until last frost before planting out rather than early March.

[bario1]

Might they dry out too much stored in paper bags? When mine arrived I was advised to keep them in damp compost until ready to plant out....

[mcdood]

Thats a fair point and one I don't know the answer to. I also don't know whether they should be in light or dark. Any advice gratefully received. At the moment my thought was to treat them like lifted Dahlia tubers. I've even thought of getting them in the ground with a good mulch on top while it's reasonably mild

[bario1]

I would say store in the dark, they are roots after all. I packed mine in those polystyrene fish boxes with a couple of inches of damp compost over the top.