Should my asparagus be doing something by now?

[Becca]

Hello,

I'm begining to get concerned about my asparagus plants.. I put them in at least a month, maybe 2 months ago following all the usual instructions and giving them plenty of manure etc and I haven't seen hide nor hair of them yet? I'm getting a bit concerned, last year I planted some, then promptly lost them to a hard frost so this year they were put in deeper and later but there's nothing to be seen, am I just being impatient? or have I somehow killed them off again?

Many thanks,

Becca

[Capsid]

I would have thought you should see something by now but it may take to the end of May , so be a little more patient. The first spears that show are very slender and delicate and can get easily snapped off, perhaps you can put mini cloches over the area where you planted the crowns?

[Nicos]

I would have thought you should see something by now but it may take to the end of May , so be a little more patient. The first spears that show are very slender and delicate and can get easily snapped off, perhaps you can put mini cloches over the area where you planted the crowns?

Good idea about the cloches!!!

...and I'd give it a few more weeks too!

[Becca]

Cool, thank you I was getting frustrated at another year of failing with asparagus.. will see if i can get hold of some cloches, or would fleece be adequate..?

[Capsid]

Cool, thank you I was getting frustrated at another year of failing with asparagus.. will see if i can get hold of some cloches, or would fleece be adequate..?

Fleece would be Ok as long as you keep it off the spears, which can snap with the wind I reckon.

[Edwardo82]

Yeah I used fleece earlier this year when I planted all my 3 year old crowns but I kept the fleece off the tops of the aspargus with sticks stuck in the ground obviously higher than the actual aspargus. They have all feathered very nicely and I have been told I will have to wait until 2010 before I can get a decent crop. So I am going to be patient and try to build them up over the next year or so and keep them well mulched and protected from frosts etc.

Good luck Becca, I hope they show themselves soon!

[DaveInBraknell]

Hi,

I planted mine in December/January, the majority are now up, I had the same concerns you did a while back.

A note though, my first ones started showing mid-end of march, my last ones are now just popping up, so give them plenty of time.

Just keep them watered well.

Dave

[Becca]

ok, thank you.. I have some curvy plastic hoops that I can use to keep the fleece off the spears, as and when then poke their heads through the soil, and hopefully keep the rabbits from having a nibble on them too

[rogesse]

Becca, I feel your anxiety!

I lost last years crowns for the same reason and am fretting over this years replacements. The green asparagus has appeared but is very wimpy (glad to be reassured this is normal) but the Pacific Purple is nowhere to be seen

[DaveInBraknell]

Hi

Wimpy aspargus, most of mine is the thickness of a pencil, some maybe a skewer, but they have grown anywhere from a foot to 18inches high..

Be careful in the current wind to stake them into the ground (also helps when you come to want to know where they will grow from) as when I went up to lottie sunday night they where all dancing in the wind.

Not good for matchstick asparagus..

Dave

[TonyF]

And remember folks, you don't harvest them in their first and usually in their second year, asparagus needs to 'take' and get established, cropping them hard in the first and second year cxan lead to them dying off.

Asparagus is a very long term investment and remember, Grasshopper, patience is essential with this vegetable.

[jnkimjones]

I have the same problem!

Done everything by the book and I have nothing. But I did notice that the cats like sleeping under my cloches!!! I have a huge dog who does nothing - he's rubbish at guarding my patch!

[bobleponge]

I would have thought you may have seen something by now, mine are just coming to the end of my season, and I'm not that much further south than you.
Dont want to spread alarm and despondancy, especially with your catastrophe last year, so hope all goes well.
Wise words from Tony, if they are only first or second year crowns then be miserly with what you take.