buying asparagus crowns

[mandylew]

I wanted to buy asparagus crowns on small quantity, like 5 pacific purple and 5 pacific 2000 I heard these are the best in taste tests, does anyone know any suppliers apart from the big seed companies?

[pongeroon]

Hello Mandylew,

I bought mine a couple of years ago online. I can't remember the company, but they supplied beautiful crowns which have grown well (we are so looking forward to our first year of proper cutting).

I think I typed in 'asparagus crown suppliers' and the supplier was in Kent, which was a shame, as I live near the Vale of Evesham, and couldn't find any local suppliers. I'll have a look and see if I can find the name again.

[pongeroon]

The name is New Park Farm, and I just found them on
www.asparagus-in-kent.co.uk

[Mike Vogel]

Hi Mandylew,

I'm in the same position and I reckoned that the T&M offer looked quite attractive. You get 4 varieties, 5 crowns of each. I've ordered them for this year.

[mandylew]

yes i saw that one, not sure if i have room for 20 crowns though, how many would go in a 4 foot by 13 foot raised bed?

[PomonaFruits]

Hi Mandy

Our company (Pomona Fruits) sells Pacific 2000 and Stewarts Purple (which is almost identical to Pacific Purple). We normally sell in quantities of 12 per variety, but we have also put together a package which consists of 6 Pacific 2000, 6 Stewarts Purple and Backlim (which produces the thickest spears). They are grade 'A' crowns. If you would like to take a look - our website details are PomonaFruits.co.uk

The planting season is from late March.

Claire Higgins
Pomona Fruits Ltd

[mandylew]

Thanks for that Pomona Fruits thats a great offer with the p&p included i'll definately go for that then, how far apart should i plant them, and do they crop in any particular order, so I can plant them in the bed with the earliest at one end and the latest at the other (and hopefully the purple could go in the middle so it looks pretty!)

[PomonaFruits]

Hi Mandy

The planting distance is 15 inches between the plants and 3ft between rows. Pacific 2000 crops early-mid season and Backlim & Stewarts Purple crop mid to late season so this combination of varieties will give you a long season.

Remember you are planting the bed for up to 20 years so its worthwhile preparing the ground thoroughly before planting - get rid of any perennial weeds and incorporate plenty of well rotted manure. Asparagus likes a well drained soil and will do well in a raised bed or planted on ridges.

Hope this helps,

Claire Higgins
PomonaFruits.co.uk
Garden Fruit Specialists

[Mike Vogel]

It seems from the above that your raised bed is ideal for 20 plants, Mandylew. So's mine.

[mandylew]

Just a bit concerned i'm going to get Asparagus though pomona fruits following a closer read of your wesite!!!

Stewarts Purple (mid to late season) - NEW! This modern late summer fruiting strawberry is very popular with gardeners as it combines very good flavour with outstanding disease resistance, especially against powdery mildew. The plants also show some resistance to vine weevil. Produces heavy crops of large, dark red fruits with very good flavour.

[PomonaFruits]

Well spotted Mandy!

I think that was the description for Florence strawberry! Take another look, the description is correct now.

Claire Higgins
PomonaFruits.co.uk
Garden Fruit Specialists

[PomonaFruits]

There is an informative 2 page article on growing asparagus in this months (March) issue of the Kitchen Garden Magazine. Covers preparing the ground, planting, aftercare and harvesting. Also a Reader Offer for asparagus crowns on the same page.

Claire Higgins
PomonaFruits.co.uk
Garden Fruit Specialists

[Colin_M]

I was in B&Q the other day and in amongst the bedding plants and pre-packs of garlic and onion sets, I was surprised to see they had small bags with Asparagus plants in them.

There seemed to be 3 plants in each pack and they looked very weedy - more details here:
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=asparagus

I suspect they're very much aimed at the impulse buyer and I'm sure all the suppliers already mentioned are a more reliable bet.

[mandylew]

i ordered from pomona fruits, i'd be sceptical of B&Q and its not really so much cheaper £ a crown!

[Johnboy]

Hi Mandylew,
Glad that you have not fallen into the B & Q trap. Quite frankly I feel that if it were possible to ban that company from selling plants or anything to do with plant material I would pursue it to the bitter end.
Their staff are the absolute pits where anything growing is concerned.
Their non-peat compost is an outrage to gardeners.
It is far better to buy from nurseries like Pamona Fruits who are the producers of the plant. Should you want some good advice in the years to come I think that Pamona Fruits would only be too glad to help. On the other hand what assistance do you think you would get from B & Q!
Having run my own nursery for a number of years I know who would be the most help.
JB.