Asparagus crowns - have they worked?

[linzmbrown]

I've planted asparagus crowns on my plot this year in early April. I've planted 24 in good well drained soil in which I had dug in lots of manure to prepare the soil. Over the last week I've noticed a few shoots poking through the soil. About 6 or so.

Should I notice more shoots than this in the first year? Is it still early for them to come up?

Also I've noticed the tops have gone off some of the taller ones. Could this be birds? I can't see any bugs on them. I have weeded by hand and watered well.

Any tips would be most welcome as I really want the, to succeed.

Thanks.

[Alison]

Do you mean 6 shoots in total between all the crowns you planted or for each one? If the former then that's not good as they should all be doing the same but the latter sounds very healthy for the first year.

[Sharpy]

I planted 11 crowns this March. All 2 year old crowns. Grown in a raised bed with a manure, mpc, topsoil and sand mix. All spouted with 1 having 4 sprouts, 1 having 2 and the rest having 1. Had to tie them on to canes today as they are all about 3.5 feet tall.

[linzmbrown]

About 8 spears in total over the whole 24 crowns I planted. But then I planted them mid April so maybe there is still more to come.

What should I do next?

Cut them down after the growing season and manure well in Autumn? Perhaps there will be more next year?

Do I need to protect from pests? Thanks.

[Sharpy]

Cut them down when they have turned yellow, late autumn.

Are you giving them a good soaking ? Also maybe add some FBB.

Also something i learn`t was about the male and female plants. Males produce flowers(Good), females produce berries(Not good). Not only do females produce up to 30% less spears they also fill your bed with lots of new asparagus, thus becoming weeds.

[Nicos]

Don't be too impatient.....they set absolutely enormous root systems...their energy at this stage if better going downwards and then they'll produce better spears in the future

[Nicos]

Forgot to say, in winter they benefit from a few handfuls of sandy rock salt....the sort you throw onto an icy path...( A tip I got from a commercial grower near Sandbatch

[Glutton4...]

Does anyone have advice as to which Asparagus plants to buy please?

Also, is there any reason why I shouldn't grow them in tree buckets?

Thank you in advance.

[BertieFox]

Must admit I am surprised more people don't simply grow from seed as this is so easy and the roots establish far more easily if you use a bit of care.

A packet of top quality hybrid seed is only a few pounds. And in my experience of growing two packets in the last few years, every single seed germinated. You usually get at least forty seed in a packet. I simply pot them on into a smallish deep pot during the first year and then plant the one year old plants out the following spring.

I have had a superb crop of the violet or purple asparagus this year, which is no more than four years from seed.

I know life is short and people want everything instantly, but I think seed is a much better method, especially when I see the state of many of the crowns on sale in shops and garden centres.

[Guest]

I am starting a new bed which isn't ready so have started with seed this year so I won't lose any growing time. I bought seeds from premier seeds - connovers collosal, mary washington, precoce d'argenteuil and UC-72 (the last are yet to do anything). the different varieties are to get slightly different cropping times. There is a debate about male hybrids over male and female open varieties like I am growing but I am yet to decide on that one. Kristen grew from seed and all the details are on his blog it is well worth a ganders

[BertieFox]

I have found the hybrid seed much more vigorous than the open pollinated kinds, though admittedly you always find a big variation in the plants anyway.

It's amazing how tough the seedlings are. I left a whole lot in some modules and they were out all winter. I assumed they must all have died through dehydration, the cold or both, but when I started watering them in the spring, they all came back to life. I have since popped them into the new bed and have watered them only once, but they are still growing fine.

I can't think of any other plants you could neglect like that which would still come back, other than horse tail!

[b0oDy]

I have found the hybrid seed much more vigorous than the open pollinated kinds, though admittedly you always find a big variation in the plants anyway.

It's amazing how tough the seedlings are. I left a whole lot in some modules and they were out all winter. I assumed they must all have died through dehydration, the cold or both, but when I started watering them in the spring, they all came back to life. I have since popped them into the new bed and have watered them only once, but they are still growing fine.

I can't think of any other plants you could neglect like that which would still come back, other than horse tail!

Very useful info thanks for sharing. By the time I finished building my two raised beds it was late May so I delayed Asparagus planting till autumn. I thought Asparagus only comes from crowns and thanks to you I'm willing to look into sowing them instead. My questions are:

1. In your experience, how long till you get your first normal crop? Using crown, it's said to take 3 years from planting with a few spears second year.
   
2. I have a place for a single trench for maximum 6 plants. I hope to get a continuous harvest during the season, any varieties you can recommend.
   
3. Starting it from seeds, does packets provide male only or male & female options or is that only for established plants? Also in your experience is there any benefit to stick to one option over the other.

[Alison]

In answer to your queries:

1 - That's correct for one year old crowns, if sowing from seeds it takes an extra year.

2 - The harvest period is very short, I'd not bother with different varieties if you're only having as few as 6 plants.

3 - Depends on which sort you buy, it will say on the packet but the price and number of seeds will give you a clue.

[b0oDy]

In answer to your queries:

1 - That's correct for one year old crowns, if sowing from seeds it takes an extra year.

2 - The harvest period is very short, I'd not bother with different varieties if you're only having as few as 6 plants.

3 - Depends on which sort you buy, it will say on the packet but the price and number of seeds will give you a clue.

Much appreciated Alison. My last one, any recommendations for the seeds provider? Currently the ones I buy from are Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

[Alison]

I think I got my seeds from Kings as I get an allotment discount from them