yr 3 of asparagus

[janeyo]

I have a crown in the flower bed, in its third year of planting that I have just found after weeding. It has one large spear and lots of diddy ones coming. How many can I cut off it this year?

Thanks

[bobleponge]

Has it given spears every year since it went into the ground?
If yes, and you havent taken any, or very few last year, then *I think* you can take the majority of them.

I'm hoping someone knowledgable replies, but thats what I have done with mine, and all seems fine.

Disregard all of the above. Mine was the 4th year that I finally took full spears.
I think the third year I took about a third of them.
Sorry Janeyo, and if you've just cut them all off, see if a bit of superglue will put them back on.

[Capsid]

This is the third year for my crowns and I plan to take about half of the spears. I haven't picked any before then.

[paula.berriman]

Hi - I think that you can crop for 4 - 6 continuous weeks which means you need to cut all spears that appear over this timescale regardless of how thick or thin they are. Cutting takes place when the asparagus is around 6 - 8 inches tall and the cut is made just below the soil surface. After the cropping period is up you then just leave any emerging spears to grow on a flower to restore the energy back into the crown.

Hope that helps (this is what intend to do next year......my crowns are 2 years old this year).

[Paulottie]

That's spot on Paula....full marks , top of the class, take your books with you.

[janeyo]

LOL @ bob, priceless!

I haven't cut them yet, having a wobble now as to whether they are 2 yr or 3 yr. Pretty certain they are 3 yr. If they are and I leave them til next year cos my my wobble does that matter?
I haven't cut any yet at all ever
(Confused of cambs)

[wellie]

Okay, I'd just like to add a bit of BOB FLOWERDEW......?

But I'm not quoting him.....If a 'Sparagus plant is 3 years plus, you should cut EVERY spear that each plant productively produces, prior to the end of the cutting season, because if you don't, it will stop the plant producing further edible spears within that short period.

It is only when that cutting period (of the MATURE plant) is over, that you should then leave it to bulk up its reserves for the following year..

Personally, i've always rated Bob's advice very highly?

[Jeanied]

Great advice, Wellie - and I shall follow Bob Flowerdew to the letter. I have one specific plant that is definitely going to get the chop this weekend!!

[Rhona]

Nothing to add, but excited for you! Our first proper asparagus bed had to be moved in it's first year and never recovered. I've got new crowns this year to plant at home, so a while to wait yet, but hey...it'll be worth it...

[janeyo]

I am sure it's year 3. No really I am SURE it's yr 3........ probably

lol