We have a three year old asparagus bed at home and I'm wondering if the crowns could be moved successfully to our allotment. Does anyone have any experience of doing this and is there a preferable time of year to do it?
Many thanks in advance.
Relocating asparagus
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
Hi June,
I'm afraid that Asparagus doesn't transplant very well and although they may be expensive, new plants would be the better bet.
You can certainly try transplanting but by the time you find out that they have not liked the move you are two years down the road and have two years more to go if you then have to buy new plants. Is it worth it?
I'm afraid that Asparagus doesn't transplant very well and although they may be expensive, new plants would be the better bet.
You can certainly try transplanting but by the time you find out that they have not liked the move you are two years down the road and have two years more to go if you then have to buy new plants. Is it worth it?
JB.
Why not leave your old bed intact and grow fresh plants from seeds. They are really easy to grow from seed.
I did my first lot in Feb in a propagator 10 seeds in 1 litre pot and pricked out into 2 litre pots when big enough and second lot in July one seed to a 2 litre pot (I got 100% germination both ways). Feed occassionally during the summer and plant out into your prepared beds during winter as you would with crowns.
You should be able to lightly pick a few sticks after 2/3 years.
T & M have Martha Washington seeds for £2.69 for 50 seeds. Jersey Knights are £4.99 for 10! However I would not grow in a seed bed as they recommend.
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/151/1
I did my first lot in Feb in a propagator 10 seeds in 1 litre pot and pricked out into 2 litre pots when big enough and second lot in July one seed to a 2 litre pot (I got 100% germination both ways). Feed occassionally during the summer and plant out into your prepared beds during winter as you would with crowns.
You should be able to lightly pick a few sticks after 2/3 years.
T & M have Martha Washington seeds for £2.69 for 50 seeds. Jersey Knights are £4.99 for 10! However I would not grow in a seed bed as they recommend.
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/151/1
I don't suffer from insanity .... I enjoy it!
Vivianne
Vivianne
Hi Vivianne,
You are so right that Asparagus is very easily grown from seed. In the recent past I have grown Martha Washington and Mary Washington (so named as the Wife and Daughter of George Washington) and the crop is excellent from both. I have always sown in modules and potted on into 9cm sq pots until I got a root show and then potted on to 2L pots and keep them in those pots until the following spring and then planted the entire contents of the pot without any root disturbance. This has worked out very well and am now at the stage where I get really good crops and far more than I can possibly eat. It makes a rather delicate soup and if slightly thickened with milk and Arrow Root using homemade Chicken Stock as the base it is super.
You are so right that Asparagus is very easily grown from seed. In the recent past I have grown Martha Washington and Mary Washington (so named as the Wife and Daughter of George Washington) and the crop is excellent from both. I have always sown in modules and potted on into 9cm sq pots until I got a root show and then potted on to 2L pots and keep them in those pots until the following spring and then planted the entire contents of the pot without any root disturbance. This has worked out very well and am now at the stage where I get really good crops and far more than I can possibly eat. It makes a rather delicate soup and if slightly thickened with milk and Arrow Root using homemade Chicken Stock as the base it is super.
JB.
Hi Johnboy,
I grew two F1 varieties from seed in 2005, so nothing cropping yet, also only 10 & 12 seeds per packet. So I might try the Martha Washington as the seed is so cheap and I have plenty of ground. It's always good to have a recommendation rather than relying on the catelogues, that obviously want to sell the most profitable seeds!
I grew two F1 varieties from seed in 2005, so nothing cropping yet, also only 10 & 12 seeds per packet. So I might try the Martha Washington as the seed is so cheap and I have plenty of ground. It's always good to have a recommendation rather than relying on the catelogues, that obviously want to sell the most profitable seeds!
I don't suffer from insanity .... I enjoy it!
Vivianne
Vivianne
-
Malk
- KG Regular
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:29 am
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
I was wondering this as well. I planted 10 seeds last year and 7 germinated and survived the first summer. Now only five have come back this spring. I'd like to buy 5 year old ones to fill in the empty spots.
Is now a good time or should I wait until next spring and buy two year old ones?
Is now a good time or should I wait until next spring and buy two year old ones?
Welcome to Finland!!
Hello everyone
Many thanks for the tips. I thought the asparagus may not transplant well so I'm pleased to have that confirmed. I had not thought about growing from seed at all and am fascinated. I thought it would take many more years by seed to produce a crop as opposed to crowns.
Do you have to prepare the final bed in much the same way as you would for crowns when transplanting the seedlings?
In my experience it has been a really easy crop to maintain but the hard work aspect was preparing the ground before planting.
Thanks again, June.
Many thanks for the tips. I thought the asparagus may not transplant well so I'm pleased to have that confirmed. I had not thought about growing from seed at all and am fascinated. I thought it would take many more years by seed to produce a crop as opposed to crowns.
Do you have to prepare the final bed in much the same way as you would for crowns when transplanting the seedlings?
In my experience it has been a really easy crop to maintain but the hard work aspect was preparing the ground before planting.
Thanks again, June.
Hi June,
The growing from seed is very easy and the planting out is done at the end of the first year and whereas you have maybe seen the quite elaborate planting procedure with two year old bare roots there is none of that with 1 year old in their pots. You simply transplant without disturbing the roots.
The enrichment part of the bed must be done and that is really all the preparation needed making sure that all the perennial weeds are cleared.
My personal thoughts are that one year old potted plants fair better than the two year old bare roots.
The growing from seed is very easy and the planting out is done at the end of the first year and whereas you have maybe seen the quite elaborate planting procedure with two year old bare roots there is none of that with 1 year old in their pots. You simply transplant without disturbing the roots.
The enrichment part of the bed must be done and that is really all the preparation needed making sure that all the perennial weeds are cleared.
My personal thoughts are that one year old potted plants fair better than the two year old bare roots.
JB.
Thanks everyone.
I am going to try growing from seed next year. The older non F1 varieties sound a lot cheaper but I'm wondering if the general yield, vigour etc., of the F1's make them worth the extra?
Thanks again, June.
I am going to try growing from seed next year. The older non F1 varieties sound a lot cheaper but I'm wondering if the general yield, vigour etc., of the F1's make them worth the extra?
Thanks again, June.