Asparagus

[Argonaut]

Have an Asparagus bed .... I know you cut them below soil surface ... but do you cut all shoots from the plant or do you need to leave some to grow to full size and turn into 'ferns'
Assume yes - or how will it feed.

I may be wrong - any Asparagus experts out there ?

[SarrissUK]

Hi Argonaut, I'm not an expert at all... but my first question is how old your crowns are? If they're only young, less than two or three years old, I wouldn't take any spears at all. They need to grow the ferns to feed the crowns for at least a couple of years.

It sounds like they're older though, if they have many spears. I'd cut spears as they become ready until mid June, then let them grow ferns.

[It never rains..it pours]

Argonault, as Sarrissuk says if they are 3 years old you can cut till mid june as long as they are bigger than pencil size stalks, small stalks means the root has no energy left for spear cutting. You can cut 2 year crowns lightly if they are bigger than pencil size. In some commercial farms they allow one fern per plant to grow but continue cutting new spears after mid june thereby extending thier selling season

[bario1]

I cut mine a couple of inches above ground level, i don't see the point in cutting any lower, as the bottom bit is too tough to eat anyway, so why risk damaging the crown?

I've stopped cutting my 4 year old crowns now, we've had a good harvest already this year so I'm letting them recover.

[It never rains..it pours]

I cut above ground too for the reasons Bario mentions, seems waste to put ends on compost heap when crown can draw that energy back in

[Argonaut]

Argonault, as Sarrissuk says if they are 3 years old you can cut till mid june as long as they are bigger than pencil size stalks,

The stalks come out much thicket than pencil size .. then are about 3/4" diam when they break the surface (at least purple ones are)

[It never rains..it pours]

The stalks come out much thicket than pencil size .. then are about 3/4" diam when they break the surface (at least purple ones are)

You should be able to carry on cutting some then, here I now intend to let one per crown grow on to fern but harvest the rest for a bit longer, as long as thicker than a pencil (3 year old crowns). Have stopped the short harvest on 2 year crowns. So far purple have been poor for me, about 50% yield of the green and cant find any taste advantage but fortunatly are only 20% of crowns
Soon be time for trip to beach for the seaweed or other feeding method

[Small pumpkin]

I'm finding this thread very helpful. Thank you

I'll be taking my first harvest next year. It's very exciting.

[Snadger]

I'm finding this thread very helpful. Thank you

I'll be taking my first harvest next year. It's very exciting.

Another two years to wait for me! Mine look like elongated mares tail at the moment after just planting a month ago.
They are in a clump in the herbaceous border at home as I think the foliage is quite ornamental.