Is my Asparagus too keen ??

[geepee]

My Asparagus has started to shoot.....is it too early ..??

[Nicos]

Yikes!
Can you keep it frost free?

[geepee]

Hi Nicos
Yes its in the back garden , so can put fleece over or bubble wrap if frost forecast.
Alternatively , could add a bit more mulch etc, but dont want to bury it if its going to damage it , ?!

[Nicos]

You could do both
Suggest a lightweight/ freedraining mulch if you have any. You don't want the frost to turn them to mush.
Out of interest, How deep are the crowns under the surface?

[geepee]

The crowns are in two halves of a timber bed/box, its 65 cm deep and they were planted at approx 150/200 mm above the bottom . Half were 1 year crowns and the other half 2 years at planting.
Both lots have been topped off with a minimum of 50/60 mm mulch, (50% compost and FYM mix) with a handful of BFB and growmore .So now the crowns are about 30/40 cm below surface level allowing for settlement. Both lots have grown exceptional fern and been cut down when they started to die back naturally, ie just prior to Christmas. NO WEEDS have been allowed to grow from the onset...!!

[Nicos]

So for the tips to have reached the surface, they must alreàdy be fairly long?
In which case , with the 2yr crowns, you could carefully cut down into the soil and take the first ones in a day or two!

[geepee]

In principle, yes , but i think is weather dependent as to if they grow sufficiently in the next few days to reach cutting stage ?? and how many more tips are how far behind them ?? Therefore ??do I stop them all or just take the chance , remember the age was at planting, so in effect they are all now in their 2nd and 3rd year from birth ?

[Nicos]

Remember you cut below soil level being careful not to cut into the crown.
(I'd leave the 1yr old ones alone this year.)
Putting on more mulch will encourage longer spears to cut later on, but personally I'd have a little furtle and see how long they are under the soil. 15 cm or more and they are deffo ready for cutting!

[geepee]

Ok thanks for the advice .
Gp

[Small pumpkin]

My asparagus is early as well. Started coming up in December! I've got 6 or 7 spears now longest being about 6" - 8" tall (above ground). They live in a big tub in the tunnel. I only planted them last year, so can't pick any till next year.

I'm also going to take Nicos advice and mulch them. Thanks Nicos

[Muddy_Boots]

Its way too early for Asparagus to appear, mine yesterday were nowhere in sight and I top dressed the 2 rows of mine in the week after weeding the small weeds that had appeared with the last warm spell.

[Snadger]

My three Conover's Colossal are in a packet ready to plant out! I presume the spears are not frost hardy then?:

: Are the plants frost hardy then, never having grown them before.

[It never rains..it pours]

Noticed the odd spear at the surface on mine when weeding top dressing at weekend. Not impressed, may get some more sand to put on top

[geepee]

My three Conover's Colossal are in a packet ready to plant out! I presume the spears are not frost hardy then?:

: Are the plants frost hardy then, never having grown them before.

I'm not sure Snadger...hence the reason I ask the question.

I have Put spears in the freezer a few years back without blanching, and theyve been ok when they came out
Gp

[Nicos]

Baby spears are not frost hardy !
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