Asparagus..........

General tips / questions on seeding & planting

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Sussexfleur
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hi,
we've just taken on a jungle...they tell me it's an allotment!!! Maybe after a few weeks of ok weather and some hard work it will look something like...
what I'm wondering is: What asparagus would anyone recommend ,when's the best time to buy and plant? i have a few bits that i grew from seed last year but now that we have all this space I would like to get more and hopefully at a more mature stage
Thanks
Cathy
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sprout
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I've been very pleased with asparagus from Franchi Seeds of Italy s'fleur, I got three types when they were on special offer and they have come up nicely. You can plant in Autumn or Spring, when the soil is warmish - you might just get away with it now, if you cover the planting area with a nice thick layer of straw? Otherwise wait til Spring!
clatsopduck
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Location: Five minute walk from my allotment!

I just got a plant from our local garden centre (specialist sort, not B&Q, etc.) It said to plant spring or autumn, so it went in. Dunno how it will do now...nor how I will get my kids to help me eat it, but it's such a beautiful plant it would be a shame not to try.
Single, ex-pat American mother of four boys and a girl due end of November. Dreaming of a smallholding.
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Clatsoduck, i think if you have only got the one asparagus plant there won't be a lot of worry about trying to get the kids to help you eat it, as there won't be a lot to eat. :shock: :wink:
You could really do with about ten plants at least.
You really should not cut any of the spears until the plant is about three years old, so hopefully the plant you have bought is a two year old plant.
Sorry to be a profit of doom, but i just thought you ought to know. :(
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.
clatsopduck
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Location: Five minute walk from my allotment!

Oops. Packet says there were 4 plants. Better go and spread them out a bit... It had just started bucketing with rain and as I don't have a shed over there yet, I got them in and left...had kids with me too... (Sounds like the perfect candidate for one of my raised beds to go around...)

Can't tell from the packet how old the plants are... But with all these things, better start rather than wait for the ideal thing to come alone. (Didn't work in marriage, however! :lol: )
How can I tell how old the plants are?

Thanks.
Single, ex-pat American mother of four boys and a girl due end of November. Dreaming of a smallholding.
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Clatsopduck, if there was four in a packet i should think they are in there first year of growth, as older ones normally come in quite large pots.
Hope you are a patient sort of a person then, as you will have to wait a couple of years before harvesting. :wink:
It sounds like a lot of things in life, it comes to those who wait. :D :wink:
Glad your kids are getting stuck into the allotment with you, they can get so much enjoyment out of growing there own stuff. :D
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.
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