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Asparagus

pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
in Fruit & veg
So 3 years ago I planted 14 Asparagus crowns all in a line, I followed the advice of how to dig a trench then make a central mound, and sit the crowns on like they are riding a bike, then cover them and wait. The first year saw 7 or 8 come up as grass shoots around 12 inches tall, I read you just ignore them, the following year 3 came up, the tallest was about 26 inches tall and like a pampas grass, last year nothing, what did I do wrong ? I have just purchased 6 new ones.

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I don't know what the answer is @pclark42. I'm desperately hoping my now 3 yr old plants will give me spears this year. Have just taken up the cardboard I put on top of them for the winter as I read somewhere recently that the asparagus harvest is expected to be early this year because of the mild winter.  They do apparently prefer sandy soil and their roots can go pretty deep. I wouldn't give up on your existing plants just yet - who knows, we may both get lucky!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited March 2022
    I've never grown it on purpose as a vegetable, but when I moved here, I found a couple of plants in the overgrown south-facing front garden and moved the crowns to a recently renovated section.  I had to laugh when, a few weeks later, my ex had a few days leave and proudly showed me the two mats of weed roots she'd dug-up while I was at work! :D I re-planted them (again!) in an east-facing border in the rear garden, and they each produced a handful or two of spears each spring for over 30 years, until I finally removed them completely to make room for some epimediums.  Judging by the treatment they received, I think they might be a much tougher plant than we realize?  When I planted them, the roots were spread flat and covered by about 2" of soil.  I wonder if the mound technique is meant for growing them in waterlogged soil and might actually be detrimental in dry soil?  All I can do is speculate, really.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    They need well drained soil, but this does mean that you may need to water them more regularly in Summer, to stop the crowns drying out. Last Summer we watered ours several times a week, as they were only 2 year old crowns. It's also a good idea to give them a substantial mulch with well rotted manure, or good garden compost in Spring. This will feed them, but also help to retain moisture. As the top of the mounds gets quite dry, I suspect yours probably got too dry and died.

  • pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
    KeenOnGreen, Yes maybe they were too wet during the winter, I have turned the patch over where they were, and I found no trace of them, I have now cultivated a totally new square plot, adding well rotted anure mixed with good compost, all dug about 18 inches deep and all turned over, I left it to settle for 2 weeks, and now I have planted 9 new asparagus crowns, already one is sprouting ! but as you say I will mulch the surface as the weather gets warmer.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    It's best to create a long mound, and you plant the crowns at the top of the mound. That way it encourages good drainage, which they need. It does get drier at the top of the mound in Summer, so we've found that you need to water them a bit more regularly then.  If you use the mound technique, it should stop them from getting too wet in Winter.
  • pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
    I did last time and they all died, some people throw things in and up they come, I take care and they perish. I am friends with a local farmer and I looked closely at the crop he has coming through right now (not sure what it is) but the field is like the surface of the moon, big stones and a lot of clay, but the perfect rows are all emerging and looking good, I find it amazing how they achieve so much planted with a machine.
  • parrotfeather*parrotfeather* Posts: 188
    Asparagus is easy once established but it is one of those things that needs both good sustenance and good drainage. I suggest planting in soil enriched with compost or manure.  If your soil is heavy or the site wet build a raised bed for asparagus...it crops for many years so is worth the investment.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    When you see the plants growing in the Med they are on a very sandy type of soil.We have grown them for many years and had good and no returns even when we have made the compost very "sandy". We haven't given up yet but other veg are now taking over. Love asparagus fresh from the garden.
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