Aspragus question

[BB48]

Hello All

I bought a bargain pot of aspargus - only 99p! Now what do I do? I started an asparagus bed this year and was hoping for some autumn planting crowns but T&M were out of stock. Would it be best to repot the stems (about 10 in all) and wait for the autumn or bung em in now and cross my fingers? Also got 2 globe artichoke plants for 75p each - shall I wait or put them in now?

BB

[DaveInBraknell]

Hi,

When you say stems, I assume you mean they are growing, not dormant?

Seeing as though you have them now, plant them in the ground they have a good month or two to establish before real cold sets in would be my guess.

I also assume they are one yr old crowns?


Dave

[Paulottie]

Each stem is not a plant...unless they have just chucked some seed in a pot. You could just plant now. or grow on in pot till spring. I don't favour autumn planting myself, fresh crowns in spring every time.

[rustylady]

I would think your pot is just one plant. What size pot is it in? I grew asparagus from seed, and planted mine out last summer - going really well now

[BB48]

Its a 3in pot so i suppose it is one plant. So plant it all together not separate the stems then. There was i thinking i had ten plants - stupid me!! I planted crowns in the spring and was hoping to add autum plants. If I buy autum crowns this year will they all be ready at the same time in 2 years or will they always be behind?

[Paulottie]

With some strong growing plants you might be able to take a few spears in second or third season from planting. First decent harvest n year 4. Rush this and the plant will be compromised or dead...they must build up strength.

It will make no difference to this schedule if crowns are Autumn or Spring planted. The former just have more chance of rotting overwinter to my mind. (depends on your soil I guess). Ordering for Spring means the nursery take the risk of any losses overwinter and gives you time to really prepare the bed.

3" pot is a bit mean so pot on or plant out now. You are not being stupid at all it is very difficult to tell if there is more than one plant in the pot without emptying it out. It is not unknown for less scrupulous suppliers to sell un-thinned pots of several plants masquerading as one strong one.

[BB48]

Thank you - planted my little asapagus yesterday and will keep fingers crossed. I think I will try autumn plants as I would like them all to mature together rather than have a row that is ayear behind. Do you think I should shelter the autumn plants if we get too much rain this winter?

BB

[Storming Norman]

Hi BB48,

I put some asparagus in last month. Bought 10 plants from Victoriana Nursery who have plants for sale now. No-one else had them when I needed them. It's technically out of season but it worked.

I got them in May. Immediately re-potted into good soil & bigger pots whilst I prepared the bed. They grew on fast. Now they are in their bed and just romping away - I'm glad I did not wait another year and get a year behind.

However I did make sure they bed would be well drained as that will make a great deal of difference this winter.