confused

[nosferato]

hey all its been a while since i have posted anything on here i hope all's well with you .
i have 2 questions
1/ last year i bought 3, 3 year old asparagus crowns which sent up 1 spear each,which i let die back now this year they have done the same i thought i would of had more spears this year with it being year 4. i didnt expect to harvest this year, is this normal.
2/ pink fir apples potatoes, which seem to be doing fine ... when should i harvet them

[Cloud]

They should be ready to harvest when they flower.

[nosferato]

oops i have taken all the flowers off ... was told to do this as " you dont want them wasting time making flowers when they should be putting all there time into growing taties

[Cloud]

I could be wrong but by doing that they will put more energy into producing more flowers,which is why you dead head garden flowers.

[nosferato]

thnk you for the fast reply i was also told to harvest when they have died back ?

[Cloud]

You only harvest maincrop potatoes that way if you are going to store them over winter.
I asume you are going to use yours as salad potatoes?

[vegnut]

I always leave my first and second earlies for two to three weeks after flowering before pulling them up. You could always scrape a bit of the soil away from the top, and see whats going on below.

[nosferato]

any thoughts on the asparagus question

[gojiberry]

Asparagus usually increases in the number of shoots, and as the years go on the more you harvest the more you get next year. To late to do much this year as I would not cut them back now. Next year I would definitely cut he first spears to show and you should then get a couple growing to replace the cut one. Mine is in its third year in situ and each crown has produced about six spears of which I cut the first three to appear. Am expecting a better crop next year and will cut the first five or six to appear. Hope this helps. Unfortunatley you have to be patient with asparagus.

Ian