Asparagus Queries

[vikkib]

I know I'm running a little late with getting my asparagus in but I'm determined to do it this year!

However, as I've never grown it before and it's quite a daunting prospect I have some queries.

I have a raised bed (approx. 3.6m x 1.6m) with scaffold boards for edges and I can access it from all sides.

Last year I dug it over and weeded it, spread some muck (not much sadly), laid down a layer of straw, then a layer of cardboard and covered with weed suppressant. I'm planning on digging in some BF&B and possibly some leaf mould this weekend.

Now the queries!

Does all the above sound sensible?
Is there anything else I can do to prep the bed?
Does the spacing below look ok?
Can I mulch the bed while I'm waiting for it to come up to minimise the need for weeding? Can I put down straw or something similar?

AND

Any recommendations on a variety?

[Pies]

Id add some lime if your soil is above ph7,add phosphates as new crowns need them
re spacings id remove one coloum so your down to three (soz).They are in there for ever and will need a bit of growing room

Dont know where you plan on getting your plants from.Personally i wouldnt get them from the garden centre as they could have sat instore drying out for months

Instead use a specialist grower I mail ordered mine from kent asparagus.They arrived yesterday they seem good crowns

[chris]

Have you got april's issue of the mag? There's a section in there about asparagus

[vikkib]

re spacings id remove one coloum so your down to three (soz).They are in there for ever and will need a bit of growing room

No need to apologise! I asked for advice! ; )

How about this instead? (the bright green dots this time!)

Dont know where you plan on getting your plants from.Personally i wouldnt get them from the garden centre as they could have sat instore drying out for months

Instead use a specialist grower I mail ordered mine from kent asparagus.They arrived yesterday they seem good crowns

I was thinking of getting them online - didn't like the look of the garden centre one's either. That website looks good so I'll have a browse : )

Have you got april's issue of the mag? There's a section in there about asparagus

Sadly not


My plot neighbour suggested putting salt in with the crowns - has anyone done this/heard of this?

[Pies]

id move the outer rows out a bit try to get them 60cm from the centre row and 1ft between plants

[vikkib]

Well! I'm very excited!

The crowns are due for delivery tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon, I can't get down to the plot until Friday (yay for Bank Holidays!) so I'll be popping them in seed trays and covering with compost until then (as recommended by the suppliers website).

I ended up going for this site:

Asparagus Crowns Mail Order, Growing asparagus UK, grow asparagus crowns UK

And so far they've been very helpful and reasonably priced so finger's crossed the crowns are nice when they arrive tomorrow!

PS - Pies - I think 30cm is a foot which is how much space I've allowed between plants! But then again my maths is awful and my new money to old money conversions are great!

[Alison]

Id add some lime if your soil is above ph7

Lime will increase the ph of the soil not decrease it as it is alkaline.

[vikkib]

Well! They’ve arrived and they all look great!

They look like the one’s in the picture below (mine aren’t in a bucket of water!) and don’t have any growth above the top of the crown.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...rgus_crown.jpg

Most of the instructions I’ve read specify planting them so that the tops of the crowns are 3” below the soil but the manufacturers label specifies planting so the bud tip is just visible through the soil.

Shall I just go ahead and plant them so the tops of the crowns are 3” deep? Perhaps the labels assume they will have some growth above the top of the crowns when they arrive.

[rustylady]

I would plant them so the crowns are 3" below soil level.