Asparagus

[Argonaut]

Have an Asparagus bed .. and not sure waht to cut & when.

Sometimes i get multiple shoots form one plants so I have bee cutting all bar one - read that you had to leave leaf growth to ensure plants the next year.

This year though several of the plants only producing a single shoot - which quickly grows into a tall fern .... do I still cut if only a single shoot, will that encourage more to grow or will that risk killing plant ?

Do I still need to allow some green full height growth per plant each year ?

[Jay-ell]

Don't have asparagus and I'm sure someone who does will be along in a minute but the way I read it is you harvest everything until a certain time when you leave all the spears to grow.

I think if you cut them all off it encourages now shoots but once you leave them to grow it focuses on those and stops sending up new onws

[Argonaut]

I guess that is what is key then -- when do I stop and allow to grow

[Jay-ell]

For that you'll need someone who knows what they're talking about but you can give some info ready for them.

How old are the plants?
What varieties are they?
How long have you been harvesting them?
How vigorous are they?
What size are the spears (diameter as well as length)?
How often are you harvesting them?

[Argonaut]

Age ... 4 years
4 different varieties ... no names remembered.

Spears on longest are about 10mm diam and 450 -500mm high.
Not harvested any this year - hence questions.

[Jay-ell]

Best start cutting then
I know that it's a window of opportunity of about a month or two but if they go too long and start to unfurl they go tough and inedible but this is the extent of my knowledge.

[Nicos]

In theory you cut for about 6 weeks....midsummer's day being the last cut.
That's what I was told by a professional asparagus grower in Cheshire.

I was under the impression you take the first spears?....no idea if it makes much difference to be honest.

Thing is...their growth rate differs depending where you are in the country!

[Nicos]

Just remembered....best cut in the morning (I never noticed any difference though!)
I think your tallest are too tall for taking.
Possibly about 15cm, and cut very carefully about 5 cm below the soil level.
Depends on the variety of course.
You'll soon know the best time for your variety by trial and error

Sorry...not sure about cutting off the single tall ones....I think I'd be tempted to....but don't blame me if the plant dies!