Disappointing Asparagus

[Colin Miles]

In 2006 I planted 10 1 year Asparagus Crowns - KG offer. This year I was hoping for a few sample pickings but the most shoots that any plant has produced is 10, and none of the rest have produced more than 4. This is possibly less than last year! Any suggestions as to how I might encourage the crowns to build up for next year?

[Tigger]

Apart from giving them a good feed to get through the winter, once mine go to 'fern' I bend them over, creating a sort of network over the bed. That way any seed that falls goes straight back to the soil and a few new plants appear each year.

[Colin Miles]

Thanks Tigger. Mine are supposed to be a male variety - Gijnlim - so the berries wouldn't be any use would they? Anyway, I keep the plot weed free so if there were any new plants I have probably removed them. I see that Mars is good for growing Asparagus - bit far to travel!