Asparagus Bed

[AndyDW]

Hi all.

Just made a raised bed for an intended Asparagus crop, size: 5ft x 6ft

From your experiences how many plants do you think I can fit in ?

..........
Andy

[ameno]

Mine is something like 7ft x 4ft, and I have two rows of seven plants each.
They do say they should be 18 inches apart in all directions, though (my rows are further, more like 2 feet, but my plants are only 1 foot apart).
I think you could probably fit 15 plants well enough in 5x6, though (three rows of five plants). You also need to remember that you can't really buy individual plants. They come in set quantities, and it's usually something like 10, 12 or 15, and you obviously want to use all of the plants you get.

Also, I'd recommend not buying them from the usual online seed catalogue places. Their quality is poor. Buy them from a specialist asparagus supplier. I bought mine from Grade A Asparagus - they're pretty cheap, and the plants were all good quality and fairly large. They do only offer two varieties, but the one I got from them (Gynlim) is a Which Best Buy.

[peanut]

Out of interest how many spears would you expect from a single crown?

[AndyDW]

Mine is something like 7ft x 4ft, and I have two rows of seven plants each.
They do say they should be 18 inches apart in all directions, though (my rows are further, more like 2 feet, but my plants are only 1 foot apart).
I think you could probably fit 15 plants well enough in 5x6, though (three rows of five plants). You also need to remember that you can't really buy individual plants. They come in set quantities, and it's usually something like 10, 12 or 15, and you obviously want to use all of the plants you get.

Also, I'd recommend not buying them from the usual online seed catalogue places. Their quality is poor. Buy them from a specialist asparagus supplier. I bought mine from Grade A Asparagus - they're pretty cheap, and the plants were all good quality and fairly large. They do only offer two varieties, but the one I got from them (Gynlim) is a Which Best Buy.

Thanks for comprehensive reply and advice, this will be an absolute first time with Asparagus for me.

I note what you say about specialist suppliers, and will hold that in mind, I'll have a look at the people you suggest, so it looks like being 15 plants .

.............
Andy

[It never rains..it pours]

Will second getting quality crowns, or grow from seed, but need to plant them indoors now
Male only varieties higher yielding

[It never rains..it pours]

Out of interest how many spears would you expect from a single crown?

Depends on the age, density, feeding, soil, site, etc. As a guide 1kg/m2 is a good yield if all goes well after a few years

[It never rains..it pours]

Noticed the gardeners world magazine this month quoted 225g per plant after a few years. Not sure thats a great help unless know density which they didnt quote. As I understand it a higher density produces more output per M2 in the early years but the advantage tails off in later years when crowns get bigger