Kitchen Garden Forum

Last week there was a single little pale thing that may or may not have been an asparagus - this week have lots! OK now is officially spring down here in Dorset. Too small to pick obviously but THEY ARE UP!!

Salivating at the thought of the first crop!

Westi

Lucky you, Westi
Our asparagus is still not showing, and I got a bit impatient, so I had a bit of a dig about. About 6 inches down I found one tiny tiny shoot, so I apologised to it (obviously) and covered it back up. Things are not looking good, they were well established plants.
Anyone else having asparagus issues?

Had to harvest - OK 7 stems between us wasn't exactly a feast but whatever! My fat spears are the ones that are coming up but looks like I may have lost a couple of plants - unless like everyone else's they are being shy!

Westi

I sadly don't have room for an asparagus bed but just as a matter of interest how many spears.can you expect to crop from an established crown? I wonder if it 's worth just putting in one or two crowns on a tiny patch of well manured ground?

I have variations from my crowns that are about 11 yrs old. They were all put in together. Got one with about 20 spears already - they are thin ones (which I personally like) but it's neighbour has about 4 fat spears which are a bit distorted - found a stone on it's way up no doubt! With the price of asparagus, even if you only have room for a couple you are quids in - remember a well tended bed will last 20 yrs or so.

We always say our asparagus pays for the lottie!

Westi

PS (Have a self seeded one, I have one female bush, & it pushed up my membrane on the path to reveal 3 lovely spears - extra bonus!) xx DO IT!!

I would agree with Westi, Primrose, it's worth a try. We have 8 crowns which feeds both of us well in a good year. If you don't have much space, you will savour them even more