Asparagus - Question 417

[Rhona]

Just back from two week hols to find - joy - that ALL my precious asparagus crowns are alive and have sent up one or more spindly shoots. Some have already gone ferny.

My neighbours battled to keep everything watered in really hot weather whilst we were away, but didn't manage to earth up the emerging shoots. What's the likely detriment to my first year crowns? Does it set them back a year d'you think? Anything I should do now to make it up to them?

Some crowns have only thrown up one shoot - other five or six. Can't tell you how happy I was to see them!

[rustylady]

Why earth them up? If they were planted at the correct depth they shouldn't need it.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Rhona, the crowns will be using the energy gathered by the shoots to bulk up for next year. So, leave the shoots on, and let them go ferny, then cut them down to about 3-4" above soil level in the Autumn once they've turned brown.

There is no need to earth up unless some soil has been washed away by watering, revealing the thick fleshy roots. In which case, just cover them over again.

[Complete Novice]

As my name suggests I'm not very knowledgeable.

Lidl (Ireland) have just got asparagus in this week, so, typically I bought first, researched later. It seems the preferred thing to do is to prepare the bed at this time of year and then plant them in the spring. So not sure why they're for sale at this time of year.

What should I do with the plants (crowns?) that I've bought until next spring? At the moment they're in a sealed, coloured plastic bag. Can they stay in that bag until then?

Hope someone can advise...

[Paulottie]

Hi there, worry not....all is not lost, ...how many did you buy?

Asparagus can be planted now (although there is a slightly increased risk you could loose them to rot overwinter.)

Really it depends if you have a site anywhere near ready?....I mean lavished with muck and completely perennial weed free. (I have given planting instructions on here many times if you use the search function from the menu at the top.) in short "work in now...rewards for 20years+"

If not I would remove them from the plastic bags and keep them somewhere cool (got a shed/greenhouse?) in just slightly damp (not wet) multi purpose compost....wooden boxes are good or you could pot them up....then in March they can be set out....good luck.

.

[Complete Novice]

Thanks Paulottie. I only bought one packet for €2 so not a major problem if things don't work out. I don't have the bed prepared yet so I'll go with your idea of keeping them in a wooden box with moist compost in the greenhouse.

Do I need to keep a lid on this box to keep the crowns in darkness? Otherwise whats to stop them taking root in the box?

[Paulottie]

No lid, but they should be covered with compost. The temperature is the thing that starts them into growth. Also, keeping the compost on the dry side (not so dry that they dessicate) will help to keep them dormant.

If they do throw a few roots (first you'll see white hair like roots coming from min spider structure.) it shouldn't matter in loose compost. even if you see some little spears starting this is not too disastrous... just gently pack the MP round them at planting

[Scottishnewbie]

this is helpful for me too - my bed is ready. i live in fife and it's been cold this week up here. should i just go ahead and plant do you think?

[Paulottie]

I'm no expert on the climate in Fife, but by the sound of the BBC forecast, it is pretty wet and cold.

So, if you are growing them on ridges, are they going to be frozen solid/soaking wet all winter?

Perhaps if you were to plant then cover with some plastic sheeting for the worst of the winter there would be less chance of them rotting. It will be a nervous wait for them to appear or not in Spring

Against this... do you have the space to pack them away till spring?

They are pretty tough plants once established but are easy enough to kill when young....£10 fine or take a Chance

[Scottishnewbie]

just watched the weather forecast and think i am going to take the chance and plant out tomorrow - if they dont show in spring, i can always get more???