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asparagus growing

paanpaan Posts: 34
in Problem solving
Hello everyone , I have planted asparagus crowns and they have all came up , on my next visit the pigeons had eaten the spear tops of all but two (a pigeon was on the asparagus bed when I walked in so I am assuming they are the culprit )  any tips for asparagus growing?  I put a mesh tunnel over them after this, but didn't realise they grew so quickly and now they have bent over as they are taller than the tunnel - now removed , any advise welcome

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Pigeons are a real menace but we have never had them attack the asparagus. Mesh tunnels are ok while plants are small but as you say now too big. We use a variety of sticks and criss cross them along the rows of plants that the pigeons will attack. This stops the flight path of the pigeons. It does make it harder to harvest a crop but at least we have one.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    We have lots of pigeons at our Allotments but I have never known them attack Asparagus.  Yes the spears grow very fast at this time of year, you really need to harvest every couple of days, don't let them get that tall or you waste too much they go tough at the base very quickly. 
    If you can't get to them that often I guess you will have to make the nets higher. 
    AB Still learning

  • paanpaan Posts: 34
    Hi , I am just guessing it was pigeons as there was one on the asparagus bed ( newly planted crowns this years so will have to wait a while to harvest!) it may have been mice or something else but its been a freezing spring/early summer here , maybe they got desperate if there is little else to eat, still forewarned is forearmed for next year, the remaining ones have been left alone, thankfully. thanks for the replies
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It’s not the pigeons… it’s slugs and snails … they love the emerging tips of young asparagus . 🐌 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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