Mulching asparagus

[Snoop Puss]

I've been meaning to mulch my asparagus beds for a while now, but I've been so busy that I haven't got round to it. I put the crowns in last year.

Anyway, I've got a few asparagus spears popped up in one of the beds, maybe a couple of cm tall.

Is it too late to mulch them? And if not, how much mulch would you pile on top? Bit worried they might rot...

Thanks for any advice.

[Nicos]

I used to put sand on top of mine .

[Snoop Puss]

I've got a mixture of muck, soil, sand and hay... How deep did you mulch each time?

[Muddy_Boots]

Is it too late to mulch them? And if not, how much mulch would you pile on top? Bit worried they might rot...

I would say its not too late to mulch asparagus, its never too late, the roots are thick and plentiful and are better if they have a good layer on top of them. Obviously don't cover them with a foot of the stuff but probably 3 inches would be the ideal thickness to cover them with as they prefer moist not dry conditions especially during the summer.

[Nicos]

I put about an inch of salty sand on top during winter. They love salt. Before it gets fully washed in , it acts as a weed deterrent.

[Snoop Puss]

Grand.

Thanks, Muddy Boots. I can manage three inches. Fantastic.

[ameno]

For the last two years I've been mulching mine with a mixture of composted woodchip and chicken manure (I mix fresh woodchip with fresh chicken manure in a dumpy bag the previous summer, then leave it until February the following year). It seems to work well enough, and certainly does no noticeable harm.