Asparagus Variety Query

[Gillykat]

I've wanted to make an asparagus bed for a couple of years now (but only finally got my finger out!!! ) and was wondering what varieties you recommend?

My allotment faces south and is very sheltered, soil is great as the previous tenant really worked on it - very free draining etc.

I've been looking at some of the collections on the T&M, D.T Brown sites etc and they offer three/four different varieties as part of a collection.

How many spears are we talking about from, say, 30 crowns. Too much for two people? Would it be better for me to choose one or two varieties and buy them separately instead of as a collection? Though, looking at the websites, this way DOES seem a lot more expensive? I could always give a few away each season to some of the lovely customers we have coming into our shop....or freeze them within minutes of them being picked. They have to still be a lot tastier than the stuff in Sainsbury's from Peru!!!! I was shocked to see them charging £2.75 for 6 spears last week!

[bario1]

From 30 crowns I'd say in season you'd get 3 good pickings a week for two people once they're mature (the asparagus, not the people). I've got 24 crowns and ended up giving away a few pickings last year (first year of picking) as we were getting a bit over it.

I've got 12 Mondeo and 12 Guelph Millennium, one is much stronger than the other though I can't remember which is which - I think Mondeo is the strong one, the spears are thicker and less straight than the other, which look more like what you get in the supermarket, but there's less of them.

With collections that say they have an early, mid and late variety, I'd worry that you wouldn't get a good enough crop at any one time - there's not much you can do with 3 spears of asparagus, and if you leave them uncut, they'll get too big - it's amazing how fast they grow!

[It never rains..it pours]

In my experience firstly depends on soil ie if its clay has to be ones that tolerate clay like Gijnlim, if good soil then the worlds your oyster. However then have to decide is yield or choice important ie the purples yield no where near the greens. Then need to decide if will accept female plants that yield less and drop seeds, if not need all males like Mondeo and Gijnlim.

[Vince G]

Got mine from A-Grade Asparagus in Norwich, for the quantity you want you'll pay under £1 per crown. Been producing well for 3 years now. I have Backlim and Gijnlim, one is a bit later than the other, can't remember which way round though.

T&M are overrated and overpriced with everything.

[It never rains..it pours]

Having grown some from seed I can vouch that there is a difference in vigour between plants, about 10% of them were weaker fern growth and have stayed that way this year