Quick Asparagus Question

[The Doctor]

I put three plants in a large pot earlier this year, (obtained cheap from Asda!) and since they looked like crowns only a year or two old I haven't cut any of the four spears (yep, a whole four!) that grew.

My question is, now what? Do I leave them to wither and die off, or cut them once they start dieing etc etc???

TIA

[shirlthegirl43]

Leave the ferny stuff to die back and turn yellow then cut it off. I think you can then mulch for winter. The most important thing I am seeing is to keep them weed-free and not let them get too dry.

Sounds like you have had more luck than me - I planted 6 crowns and got 4 ferns - two of which got broken by windfall apples, so I don't know if I will get any crop next year.

This learning new stuff is fun isn't it

[Paulottie]

Doc.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong but Asparagus is planted in the open ground. Although they are in fact quite drought tolerant (water logging is the enemy in heavy soils)- I would doubt that you will be able to sustain them long term in a pot and harvest satisfactory spears.

Ferns are cut back to about 2/3 inches in November-ish when they are yellow. I normally burn the ferns and clean up bed so that there is nowhere for beetles to sleep.

[rustylady]

Some garden centres do sell them in large pots, with quite decent sized spears showing. However asparagus is a long term crop (20 years productivity is often quoted) and for this they need to be planted in a permanent bed in open ground. Good luck. My plants from seed are going onto the lottie in the next couple of weeks I hope.

[stigoftheplot]

I've got some little tiny plants grown from seed. What is the best time to plant out. Some books say spring but then the books always assume you've bought 2 year old crowns. I'm wondering do I keep in their tub over winter or get them outside in their bed soon.

[Nicos]

Asparagus does need to be planted out in open ground- their roots will eventually go down 11 feet or so!
I'd let them died down naturally ,cut off the dead stuff to soil level, and keep the soil slightly damp over winter and plant out in the spring.
Not sure, but I'd be tempted to keep them frost free this winter as they won't have much soil in the pot to protect the roots.