Anyone growing Asparagus?

[Bramble Lover]

I bought some one year old crowns and planted them in early April.

I must admit that it sounds very complicated and a bit of a faff when you dont really get to harvest any thing for a couple of years but I figured it would be worth it in the long term.

I wondered if I had done everything right...whether I had dug trench deep enough and kept it moist enough etc etc so imagine my delight now that about six or seven very very fine tips are coming through!!

Not quite sure what I do now though. Have read up lots of info but it just confuses me.

Im assuming I dont touch it at all this year and just keep it well weeded.

Do I have to do anything in the autumn?

Any info would be greatly appreciated

[veggielover]

I was till a cat decided the large pot i have them in made a good toilet!! 2 of them are fine but they were already above ground, the 2 that haven't grown this year ( that are under the area pussycat used ) probably won't now.

[Alison]

I sowed some seeds at the start of the year which are now in pots growing on for planting out next year. Think that somebody put some quite good instructions on the site a couple of months ago so it'd be worth your while doing a search.

[Bramble Lover]

Thanks Alison I will have a look. x

[Paulottie]

During summer seek and destroy all asparagus beetle, grubs and eggs. (Adult -red with black and white cross on back, maggots green with black head, eggs like hairs on stem). They can strip the ferns especially damaging o young plants.

Then as ferns yellow in September cut them down to 6". burn them, mulch bed and then in Feb pull off the remaining stalk where the little blighters will be sleeping and burn those too. Established beds can be salted at 1oz p sq yd at this time.

Next year you might be able to take a few spears for a couple of weeks, the year after perhaps till mid May then after that till midsummers day.

Ahhh...dinner time!...guess what I'm having?

[starloc]

How high should asparagus get? , i planted some in a flowerbucket, its growing outside for about a month or so, 2 stems, about 1/8 inch diamiter with a fern on the top, it needs a cane to hol it up ,its over a meter high each fern but very thin?

[NOG]

That sound right.

First year after plantng the spears will grow...between 1-3 per plant.
Leave them and they grow into firns...when they yellow at the end of the year cut them dowm.
Next year when the spears appear cut them.

ASparagus grows at somthing like 1inch a day.

[Paulottie]

My asparagus beds get to 7 ft.+

In summer they have wires that enclose and divide the beds to stop the whole lot flopping around or collapsing in a storm.

[Bramble Lover]

During summer seek and destroy all asparagus beetle, grubs and eggs. (Adult -red with black and white cross on back, maggots green with black head, eggs like hairs on stem). They can strip the ferns especially damaging o young plants.

Then as ferns yellow in September cut them down to 6". burn them, mulch bed and then in Feb pull off the remaining stalk where the little blighters will be sleeping and burn those too. Established beds can be salted at 1oz p sq yd at this time.

Next year you might be able to take a few spears for a couple of weeks, the year after perhaps till mid May then after that till midsummers day.

Ahhh...dinner time!...guess what I'm having?

Thanks for the info. Why only to 6 " ? I thought I would have to cut them right to ground level? But then....hey what do I know? lol

Also..do I need to support these huge ferns Im going to get?

[Welsh Wizard]

I am moving at the end of the year and wnat to have asparagus beds at the new house, so I am growing a load of asparagus from seed at present. I have the time and space, and its cheaper than crowns.

[Paulottie]

Thanks for the info. Why only to 6 " ? I thought I would have to cut them right to ground level? But then....hey what do I know? lol

Also..do I need to support these huge ferns Im going to get?

Its just a trick I use to reduce beetle populations, Most I cut to ground level but I just leave a few longer so i know where the hibernating beetles are likely to be.

Yes, it is a good idea to support them.