Asparagus from seed (slow start?)

[GardenHard]

Hi all,
So I am wondering has anybody tried growing asparagus from seed? I know crowns would have been much easier, but I fancied giving it a go back in the spring. So I did.

I planted 6, and by early may had 6 little seedlings (great!) I planted them out into a well prepared bed that receives uninterrupted sun all day, but by the autumn they're still pretty small. 2 of the six are maybe 10inches tall tops, the others more like 5 inches! They are all very thin and whispy too.

So what's going on? I know you can't expect to harvest for at least 3 years, but this growth seems VERY slow to me. Can anyone shed some light on this please?

Thanks 

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome to the vine

You’re about a year ahead of me already. I’ll be sowing seeds in late spring next year. So I can’t really give much advice.

Next year I’ll be doing my first harvest from my asparagus crowns that I planted 3 years ago .

[ESBkevin]

We have some self sets from our own and the neighbours Asparagus beds. From seed they look thin and whispy year one, not quite so thin and whispy year two plus about 18" tall. Year Three they will produce full size ferns, following that you can start harvesting. The long wait is why people tend to go for crowns, that way you know what you have and can start harvesting a year later.

No free lunch on this one I fear.

[greenishfing]

I grew mine from seeds 5 years ago now. The first year they were tiny and about needle thickness. They got bigger every year. This year I had amazing full sized asparagus and plenty of it. If you've got the time and patience stick with it.

[muck lover]

I’m going to try asparagus from crowns which I’ll plant in spring. I failed with asparagus in my polytunnel and wasted space which could have been better used for other things. I have a bed prepped and ready to plant. Meanwhile I’m dithering about which varieties to get. And imagining lovely asparagus dripping with butter and just a scrunch of salt. Mmmmm

[GardenHard]

Thanks for the replies

Sounds like I was worried about nothing. Now that I know im not wasting my time/space I'll let these little'uns grow on.

[It never rains..it pours]

Have tried crowns and from seed here. If have the time think planting seeds in late December then planting out in about May is best option. No disease risk ie fusharium, near 100% planting success so no gap filling (only 50% crown survival here) , can select the most vigerous seedlings to plant out and more satisfying growing from seed. Here seeds first year fern is about 18", second year 3ft , third year haved picked and fern 6ft. Seeds were gijnlim, crowns were gijnlim , mondeo, Arians, purple. I did fertilize them here from small seedlings onwards and think they need watering if dry till makes deep roots. Tie the fern up here with canes which seems to help height when young.

[Chestnut]

I also grew some from seed this year, and these also were quite wispy, and almost a foot tall.
So, sounds like that’s par for the course. I’m sure they’ll taste all the better for the wait :-)