Can I move asparagus?

[BB48]

Hello All

In the spring OH made raised bed 4ft x 12ft approx for asparagus. I planted row to one side having ordered 2 types but not realising 1 was a autum planting kind. Then I was informed that they had run out of stock and I wouldnt get any autumn asparagus. Now i think the bed may be too small to add a second row as I have been told to leave 3ft between rows. As I planted to one side should I move the plants to the middle of the bed (or will it be too traumatic for them) or leave where they are but not plant autumn asparagus as i am worried about crowding them. Or have I room to add more? Also should I manure or compost the beds over winter? I really want to get this right as asparagus just about my favourite veg and i am a bit of a novice at this!

Hope you can make sense of this ramble!

BB

[sarraceniac]

Hi BB. I can't fully understand what you are asking but I always have a raport with a fellow asparagus lover. My favourite veg too. So I'll just pick out a few general points. Firstly you don't actually have to leave 3 feet between rows. That idea started many years ago to give ease of access by walking between them. In these days of raised beds we don't actually want to walk on them so about half that is fine (or else I eat chopped liver, not asparagus every May ).

Secondly asparagus just loves organic matter so throw all the manure and compost you can at it at the end of winter or early spring.

Don't worry too much about autumn and spring planting. The autumn planting is just to give them time to 'settle' IMHO. I've never had any problems.

Hope some of this helps but remember - I do very little by the book but I get away with it.

[BB48]

Thank you Sarraceniac. I will be off to find some autumn crowns tomorrow - living near Evesham i am hoping to get them straightfrom the asparagus growers. The more asparagus the better I say. Will take some sacks with me and get manure at the same time - what a nice Sunday!

BB

[rustylady]

Doesn't matter when you plant them, they all produce spears at the same time. Chuck all the organic matter you can on top of the bed overwinter.

[Brengirl]

I lurve asparagus and have for many years planted many only to lose them. The last lot were well positioned (I thought) till I decided to raise the bed and buried them. Last week I dug and tried to find them and revealed some soggen clumps with roots. Is it goodbye forever or will they sprout again next year if I leave them well alone.

[sarraceniac]

I'd leave them alone and see Brengirl. At this time of year, if the fronds have already died down (assuming there were some - you don't say when you transfered them to the raised bed) the crowns look like soggy clumps after rain. Keep them frost free and just hope.

[Brengirl]

I should have made it clearer . I raised the bed (but not them). In fact I buried them.

[sarraceniac]

If only a few inches then you are probably all right but if we are talking about an extra foot or more they may have difficulty fighting through and I would dig them up and re-plant during the dormant period.

[Brengirl]

If only a few inches then you are probably all right but if we are talking about an extra foot or more they may have difficulty fighting through and I would dig them up and re-plant during the dormant period.

Will do just that. Is it the time of year to buy new stock?

[sarraceniac]

As Rustylady says, it doesn't really matter when you plant them. I usually put new ones in around March cos they don't put out proper spears for the first few years anyway but if you can get the ones you want then now is fine, before the ground hardens. Remember to keep hard frosts off with a mulch. They are not really tender but aren't 100% hardy in a real freeze. I think it will be easier where you are than here though and I've been OK. Thank goodness for the sea's influence.

[Brengirl]

Always felt that the sea has influence. Glad you feel it too.

[Brengirl]

I lurve asparagus and have for many years planted many only to lose them. The last lot were well positioned (I thought) till I decided to raise the bed and buried them. Last week I dug and tried to find them and revealed some soggen clumps with roots. Is it goodbye forever or will they sprout again next year if I leave them well alone.

This was my post last October...

Well today I have just seen a single spear - unbelievably my asparagus has been struggling to see the light all this time. Should I leave it alone for a while and at the end of the year have a probe to find the root and lift it up a bit.

[Brengirl]

Bump, bump again cos I really want to know.

[sarraceniac]

If you are only seeing one or two spears then leave them. I've been growing asparagus for years. It is weird. So it is my thing. One thing I have learned is, don't rush asparagus. If you just get one or two spears, let them go to fern. Honest. Real honest. Rushing to harvest doesn't work. Honest.

[Brengirl]

If you are only seeing one or two spears then leave them. I've been growing asparagus for years. It is weird. So it is my thing. One thing I have learned is, don't rush asparagus. If you just get one or two spears, let them go to fern. Honest. Real honest. Rushing to harvest doesn't work. Honest.

Thanks Sarraceniac to be truthfull the little spear does not look at all inviting so, like you say, I shall reserve space for it to develope (with luck).