Asparagus Lima

[Yasminh14]

I live in France and am finally after 3 years finally getting my long-term veg garden underway, I am ready to plant some asparagus crowns. Here in France they are not so much into green asparagus, about the only variety I've been able to find available is Lima. As this seems to be my only choice, I just wondered if anyone else has this variety and if so what they think of it?

I also would like a bit of advice on the number of crowns to buy - how many crowns would you advise planting to supply just 2 people? They come in packs of 10

Thanks in advance for your views!

[bario1]

I've been reading up on asparagus recently and some places recommend 10 crowns for a family of 4... but I love it, and living way further North than you, I am taking no chances and have ordered 24.

Not seen Lima available in UK so can't advise on that - is it a purple variety?

Pene posted this useful link the other day:

How to Plant Asparagus - Modern Farmer

[Guest]

Unfortunately I haven't grown Lima but blackmoors sell them so they can't be all bad Asparagus Lima Crowns | Buy Online The other variety I would have thought you could get is precoce d'argenteuil which is a purple one.

Is your concern about not being able to buy green asparagus or growit? The reason I ask is I was under the impression the French force their asparagus - so same plant just different result. Hopefully a more knowledgeable grape will be along soon.

[Yasminh14]

Thanks bario1, if 10 crowns should feed 4, then I guess 10 should do for 2 of us (we love it too!). I have a lot of space, but not unlimited and don't want to fill it all up with something that has to stay there permanently. Lima isn't a purple variety, it is definitely green - I have found one place selling a purple variety too called Jacques Ma Pourpre, which no-one else seems to have.

Thanks Norfolkgrey, Blackmoors seem to rate this variety, so guess I will try it. Yes, my concern was being able to buy green varieties. I've seen Argentueil here of course, but it's always shown as a white variety. I know that this is done by mounding earth over the spears, but to be honest, not being an expert, I wasn't sure if these varieties would taste the same as the regular green ones that we know and love! I'm not that keen on white asparagus. Also I think that this particular variety has thick stalks, and we tend to prefer the skinnier ones. There are other white varieties available too - I'll look into it more and see if they exist as green in the UK, hadn't really thought to check. Although I suspect that they too will be thicker-stalked if they are bred for using as white asparagus.

[arch01]

We have 16 crowns for two which seems to be about right for us. But we really like asparagus!

[Muddy_Boots]

I planted 30 crowns last year, 3 varieties x 10 of each, got another 5 free crowns to plant this year.

That lot is just for me, but I'm greedy.