How hardy is aspagarus?

[BarleySugar]

I bought some asparagus seedlings in the spring, potted them on etc, and they were doing well. The only problem is, with my broken wrist I've not really even thought about the garden and what has got caught out. I'd intended to move the plants into the greenhouse and cover with fleece, but I didn't. They have been out, and the pots frozen solid. Anyone got any experience of this? Are they likely to survive? I'm hoping the allotment will finally become a reality by spring, and these were destined from there.

[Dottie]

They are certainly hardy once in the ground and established, but anything in pots will be frozen a lot more than if they were in the ground. All you can do is carry on getting your plot ready, once your able, and just plant them up and see what happens.

BTW, if you cut the bottom off your pot and just slot into the prepared hole, sliding the pot up and off, then you won't disturb the roots. I did this with a huge pot I was given and didn't know how old/young the asparagus was, and I'm happy to say it worked a treat. I was fortunate at the time to find a strong practical man to action my idea, as I'm not strong enough to have lifted or cut around the huge pot.

I'm looking forward to a good crop in spring, as I managed to keep the asparagus beetle at bay this year.

[Alison]

They're pretty hardy in pots too - had some in 5" plastic pots outside last winter and they were fine so would like to think you'd be OK too.

[Dottie]

They're pretty hardy in pots too - had some in 5" plastic pots outside last winter and they were fine so would like to think you'd be OK too.

Yep if a 5" pot can cope with a freeze and still grow, then it sounds like your onto a winner and it confirms how hardy asparagus is.

[BarleySugar]

I'll let you know how they go, thanks for the replies.

[Jono]

Not sure about young plants, but can certainly reiterate how hardy it is once it is established. I've had mine in for about four years, and apart from the odd weed and some mulch towards the end of winter I've not given the asparagus any TLC.

[BUFFS]

strong plants

last year we had -6 and below for weeks on end and then had a great crop,but they were in the ground ,i have 6 young plants in pots (3in) in g/house,min temp this year -14,so keepng fingers crossed..

[alexkid909]

Fingers crossed here also. I've got a few grown from seed earlier this year in one of my raised beds, covered with a mini tunnel which was totally snowed over on two occasions. The Broad beans seem to have survived-ish (a few black leaves to be seen.

[BarleySugar]

Now things have thawed out properly I tipped a couple out of the pots this morning. The roots are nice and white, and there are plump buds at soil level, so I think they will be fine.