Storing Asparagus crowns - advice needed

[Ryleh]

So, cutting a long story short, I ordered some Asparagus crowns some time ago which arrived yeterday. The problem is that I wasnt expecting them (going by the estimated delivery date when I ordered) for about 2 more weeks.

I'm off work all next week and was going to build the asparagus bed then in advance of their expected arrival.

So I'm now in the position of having the asparagus crowns but having not had chance to build their home and because of my planned shifts at work its highly unlikely I'll be able to get chance to get to the allotment with any daylight time before Monday.

So what can/should I do between now and Monday to ensure the crowns arent damaged and remain viable?

Presumably I need to do the obvious and make sure they dont dry out - any advice appreciated.

[bario1]

I can't help Ryleh, but I'll be following with interest - i have 24 crowns coming 'last two weeks of March' and my bed isn't ready yet either. Can I ask which company you ordered from?

[Ryleh]

I ordered mine from Marshalls

[Penellype]

I've not grown asparagus from scratch, but a quick google came up with this:

If you have to store the crowns for more than a day or two, place them in a bucket of moist sand in a basement or other cool environment until you are ready to plant.

For (a lot) more on planting asparagus see How to Plant Asparagus - Modern Farmer

[bario1]

I ordered mine from Pomonia, hopefully they're not already on their way!

I imagine you could keep the crowns in a box layered with soil/plastic/sand in a shady place for a few days or even weeks without doing them any harm?

[BUFFS]

some years ago I kept some in cool moist sand for 5/6 weeks while I was building the bed and working all hours, and they went in and grew away fine, just about a month or so behind at the end of the season, so no great problems there, I used a mix of sharp and building sand, but that was all I had at that time, and it worked fine. given a chance the plants will always survive if given suitable "holding" conditions..

[Ryleh]

I ordered mine from Pomonia, hopefully they're not already on their way!

I imagine you could keep the crowns in a box layered with soil/plastic/sand in a shady place for a few days or even weeks without doing them any harm?

Thats basically the way they arrived. They are currently in the box they arrived in and in bags containing 5 crowns per bag, each bag is pretty well packed with loose soil/compost.

So from what I'm reading I'm thinking that if I moisten the soil and keep them somewhere cool I should be fine.

[Muddy_Boots]

I planted two rows of Asparagus last year and like you all mine arrived at the wrong time.

Best thing to do is the obvious ..... don't let them dry out else they are done for. Keep the roots moist, just a sprinkle of water in the plastic bag just don't drown them and they should be ok.

It was a week and a half before I managed to get mine in and they were ok, there may appear thin white roots before you manage to plant them like I had. If so don't be too rough but also don't worry if a lot break off (by thin I mean thin as needles) as it won't affect the crowns.

You won't be harvesting any for the first year anyway and next year you can only take off one or two spears per crown. This year you will just let them grow into feathery foliage so they build up the crowns, once the foliage starts to die back in autumn you cut them down to soil height and throw away the foliage. Don't add it to your compost as a precaution just in case any Asparagus beetles have found it and laid eggs as you will just spread them on your plot and help them to multiply next year.

Hope that helps, any more questions just ask.