Urgent Advice re Asparagus

[Bex]

Help!!

My asparagus crowns arrived today but I won't be able to get to the lottie until the weekend to plant them. What is the best way to store them until then? They are bare-rooted in a plastic bag at the moment. Should I stick them in a pot or should I just soak them for a few hours before planting or none of the above.

Thanks guys.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hessayon says 'never let the roots dry out', Bex - I'm interested to hear from clever grapes, tho', as partner-in-grime Jane bought four crowns last weekend but wasn't around this w/e to plant them at the Hill, so they are just sitting at hers in the plastic bag till next weekend.

If they've travelled as far as your house, I guess they'll keep for a few more days till the weekend in their plastic bags! I hope so, anyway!

[Bex]

Thanks Hazel, typical that they arrive on a monday. I've waited months for them to arrive don't want to lose them now.

[rustylady]

Unwrap and check them. They may be very dry - if so give them a good soak but don't leave them sitting in water till the weekend. Apparently most failures are due to letting them dry out.

[Bex]

Unwrap and check them. They may be very dry - if so give them a good soak but don't leave them sitting in water till the weekend. Apparently most failures are due to letting them dry out.

Thanks Rustylady, they did look a bit dry so I've put a whole in the bag and its now soaking in a bucket of water. There is a bit of soil in the bag so hopefully this will keep moist till the weekend. I'll just have to keep an eye on them.

[pigletwillie]

I totally agree with Rustylady, DO NOT leave them in the bag, in water or let them dry out. Soak them in a bucket for a few hours and then you can tip the water out and leave them in the bucket covered with damp compost but do plant them as soon as you can.

[Bex]

Thanks Piglet, I did as you suggested and by the weekend the asparagus was so happy in its bucket it has started to sprout. I did manage to plant it saturday in its own manured bed, with an extra covering of straw to hopefully protect it from the cold snap.

[rustylady]

Good luck Bex

[craigpugh]

well, i'll keep you all posted on mine, which i got as an xmas pressie! I reckoned it would be killed by the weather, so held onto it till 2 weeks ago. Then one lot was getting a bit dry, the other lots was wet in its mail order packagaing and was beginning to get a bit rotty, so i figured p[lant it or lose it.

So two weeks later and we asre plunged into deepest freezing bloomin winter again.

do folks reckon it will survive???

Craig