Asparagus

cuemaster · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject: Asparagus

My asparagus looks like it's rotted, is it just the top of the crown, when will new growth start to show

Prendo · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject:

You shouldn't be able to see the top of the crown cuemaster, perhaps it's the dead stalks from last year? if so, that's fine I think. I'm not an expert but I would have thought that the crowns themselves should be quite deep down. Mine aren't showing new growth yet either but I think it's still a bit early.

gusto66 · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject:

Hi Cuemaster
Might be a good idea to cover the crowns now with some nutrient enriched sandy topsoil (comes in bags), so that they're covered by at least 6 inches. All being well, you'll see growth next month.

ian · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject:

five little spears peeping through already, all purple too must be an early var.

simonj · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject:

Just put in my first crowns of asparagus, hope it takes.
Hell of a lot of prep went into this one, stone base to trench, 2 barrows of seaweed - loads of well rotted manure, soil sieved in and parsley as a companion plant.

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject:

I love to hear of people planting asparagus as it is a very interesting crop to grow and a bit of a challenge. Everybody seems to have got it right anyway as regards depth of planting. Too many shoots coming up will give very thin stems, so reduce the numbers now to get bigger size. frost very seldom damages asparagus if they were planted deep enough in the initial stage.In the Spring and before growth starts the soil should be removed to within half an inch of the crown and replaced with compost or the same soil but loosened up and clods broken up.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

simonj · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:24 pm Post subject:

When I say piled in seaweed and manure, I ain't joking.
Nearly killed myself hauling two heaped barrows uphill half a mile from the pier at the bottom of my boreen.

That and a barrow of well rotted farmyard manure, about half from Delaney and the other half from neighbours

Next year I am definately getting panniers for Delaney, lad's got to learn to work for a living - it's not all sex and carrots you know

brogan · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:37 am Post subject:

I bought and planted about 10 plants mid march but only 3 have sprouted spears. Should I be worried that I'll killed the others or just be patient??

If I killed them I'd like to get some more bought and planted before the end of April.[/quote]

simonj · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:12 am Post subject:

Hi Brogan, from what I understand, it takes at least one year, i.e. next season, for the asparagus to give a decent crop - just leave them grow this year.

brogan · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:15 am Post subject:

I guess the reason I'm worried is that my plants last year all sprouted their first spears sorta around the same time. Whereas this year only 3 of the 10 new plants sprouted spears so far.

michael brenock · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject:

be patient with Asparagus. from planting time until first harvest allow two years, then depending on how the foliage was the previous year you will get spears. if foliage was weak then the spears will be weak. by all means feed them but do not overdo with seaweed or anything else. Loosen the soil but only in dormant season. Cover in the Winter to prevent frost damage. Asparagus growing is associated with sex, female plants are smaller and weaker than male plants. There is no need to plant both sexes to get a crop. The old Connovers varieties were not the best croppers, modern English and German varieties(Pasque I think)are much better. beware of buying Asparagus without variety being identified
Asparagus can be grown from seed and now is a good time to start.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

cuemaster · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies
Most of the crowns have sprouted now and some are very long and thick.
Now when do I harvest ?

molly-bronski · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject:

I was wondering that myself. My crowns are now three years old. Got 6 originally, lost 2 to the frost. I went away for a week and now have an enormous one that has developed an impressive foliage. Other spears are about 10 inches high. Is it OK to cut the very large one or should I just let that carry on for another year?