Asparagus - what to do with them over winter

[Inastate]

Ello everyone,

We planted 9 Asparagus seeds and now we have 9 healthy Asparagus plants which are in their second year. I've just left them all summer and they seem to be doing pretty well. We potted them in new soil and they were at one point growing about 3 inches+ per day!

Now I know that you're meant to leave them until at least the third year before harvesting, and I've done that. What's been happening is that shoots have been coming up with look like skinny asparagus, which then kind of branch out and turn into leaves. Some of these leaves have also turned to flowers.

I was just wondering, are these basically the crowns? And if they are the crowns, can I expect them to be thicker (roughly supermarket style) next year?

Also, what should I now do with these? Some of them must be about 4/5 foot tall, should I be allowing them to get so big? And should I be cutting them back for winter, or just leaving them? Thanks

-Michael

[rustylady]

Where are you growing them? Are they in pots or open ground? If pots, what size?

[VirginVegGrower]

Cut all foliage down to about an inch high and throw on compost mulch!

[Canny Grower]

Hello, Inastate. I'm glad to meet another asparagus lover.

Asparagus crowns are one-year-old plants. The plant sends up stalks (spears) which, if left alone will develop into ferns. The advice is to allow all stalks to develop into ferns for at least 2 years while the roots are becoming established. As VVG says, cut the foliage down once it starts turning yellow. Then cover the plants with a nice thick layer of compost for the winter.

If you're harvesting stalks next year be sure to stop cutting in mid-June and let the remaining stalks develop into ferns. If you over harvest you weaken the plants and they won't produce so well as they might in future.

[Pies]

dont cut the foliage down until its died back and all green has gone out of it