Asparagus from seed

[Bex]

Has anyone grown asparagus from seed? I've some Mary Washington in my seed box that I bought a couple of months ago. I've ordered 12 crowns but just wondered if I should give it a go next spring or is it too much faff?


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[solway cropper]

It grows easily from seed but just takes that bit longer to come into production. I did an experiment growing from seed and transplanting into large containers. The idea was to have plants of different ages and stages of production. Being in containers they would soon get exhausted so I would sow a new batch every year. Fine in theory but in practice after four years I'd only had two meals with asparagus. The large containers used could have given me countless meals if I'd had the sense to grow something useful like potatoes, carrots or french beans. I like asparagus but I think it's one of those things that's sometimes more trouble than it's worth. We have samphire growing on the salt marshes here so I can pick that and pretend it's asparagus!!

[meteor]

I grew asparagus Martha Washington from seed many years ago when I was about 14. As I remember they germinated quite easily, the quality of final plants was mixed and took three years before I had enough for a meal but after that I had a good crop for a few years untill I left home. I Intend to sow some next spring and looking at the seed catalogues now there seems to be a larger selection now, back then "Marhta Washington" was the only seed available. I planted some dutch variety crowns this spring and hopefully might have something to harvest next season

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Bex!

I did a few years back set some asparagus from seed, they did really well! But then had the better thought of I'm only gunna delay the already long process of harvesting by an extra year! So in the end plumped for one year old crowns!

I've read on another thread somewhere, you have bought crowns too!

The right decision in my eyes!

All the best to you with it!

[Bex]

I have ordered a dozen crowns as I'm impatient but asparagus is my absolute favourite veg so I'm going to try seed too.


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[marcofez]

I have grown asparagus from seed also. This year(3rd year), was the first time I harvested any. Must of cropped 6-7 times. Hopefully next year will be even better. I'd say go for it as it was very easy to sow ,germinate and grow on.

[sequoia]

Well I found that growing from seed was not too much faff.having put crowns in and some rotting in the ground,decided to grow the infill`s from seed,sowing "Precoce D Argentuil"early spring,after soaking seed over night,and then in a propagator at around 75deg,then pot on until around 150mm and warm enough to put in final position. Argentuil will cop second year.in a dedicated bed.

[noviceveggrower]

Hi just picked up on Bex's thread. I was thinking of doing asparagus but starting it off by seed. I was wondering if I started it off in seeds how many times would I be able to repot it on. Was think wondering as I would need to get the asparagus bed se up. Thanks

[Alison]

Hi just picked up on Bex's thread. I was thinking of doing asparagus but starting it off by seed. I was wondering if I started it off in seeds how many times would I be able to repot it on. Was think wondering as I would need to get the asparagus bed se up. Thanks

The instructions on my seed said to sow in the spring, pot on a couple of times and the plant out the following year. My bed still wasn't ready so it stayed in pots for a further year before being planted out. Left it a couple of years before harvesting and it's now great, looks like a total thicket at the moment so have great hopes for a good crop next year

[Bex]

My crowns will be delivered March so have time to sort a permanent bed. Planning to put where my cabbage are now, I'll mulch heavy with rotted leaves so soil should be good come spring. Crowns will fill half leaving half for seed the following spring. Sorted.


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[noviceveggrower]

My crowns will be delivered March so have time to sort a permanent bed. Planning to put where my cabbage are now, I'll mulch heavy with rotted leaves so soil should be good come spring. Crowns will fill half leaving half for seed the following spring. Sorted.

Well planed out Bex. Need to get my act together and get my areas sorted out.

[Kristen]

I grew mine from seed - a couple of packets bought in the Autumn 50p-a-packet seed sale (which is now on at Garden Centre Group [formerly Wyevales].

Personally I wouldn't grow Mary Washington as, unless I am mistaken, they are mixed Male/Female rather than F1 All Male. The female plants will fruit and self seed, which will make a right mess of the bed. The females also tend to have skinny spears. No way to know which is female until they fruit, which is not until year 2 or so, so long after you will have planted them out.

My bed wasn't ready in "Current Year" so I sowed seed, readied the bed for following spring, so took no longer than if I have bought crowns that Spring. I've got about 40 plants ... for a quid's worth of seed ... which is somewhat better value than buying crowns!

If you buy crowns they are (depending on variety and qty) 50p-£1 each and equivalent variety from seed is 8p-20p each - unless you buy the seed in the sale e.g. :

Moles Seeds - Conventional vegetables: Asparagus

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Vegetable Patch | K's Garden | Page 3