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7:12 pm
Improver
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Sat 14-Aug-10
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Just a quick one... i so love asparagus... has anyone got experience with planting a bed?
7:19 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I think Danny and Fiona have just made a new bed of it, you might have to wait until Danny gets back on here I think.
I'll try that again!
9:06 pm
Senior Class
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Tue 20-Jul-10
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We planted a bed with 12 plants we got from Dobies this spring. They've survived their first summer, although they look very spindly. I think we should have weeded better. I hope we get our first crop next year . . . .
Dobies plants were big and seemed healthy. You dig a trench about a foot wide and 9" deep with a central raised ridge in it, spread the very thick roots around on each side of the ridge, then cover up with a good layer of decent compost. We planted the crowns about 18" apart. You need to water well in dry weather, and there should be plenty of compost in the bed. That's what Dobies told us to do, anyway! I'll let you know next year how good the advice was . . . . .
What's wrong with the politics of envy, anyway?
7:46 am
Improver
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Sat 14-Aug-10
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Thanks so much,
yes i remember several years ago when we lived in Hampshire one of my physio clients owned an organic farm on the edge of the South downs... they had asparagus beds... huge ones and they were heavily composted with spent mushroom compost from the local muchroom farm. This was delightful as there was a second crop of beautiful mushrooms to be had too. We spent the most beautiful day there on their smallholding. Watching partridge making their way accross the field as we drank his organic raspberry wine, ate lovely crusty bread and tucked into large bowls of asparagus soup...... ' heavy sigh here'
7:50 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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He managed to get organic mushroom compost? That was an achievement in itself.
I was wondering if asparagus would grow around here or if the minus ridiculous temperatures would kill it off. Guess there is only one way to find out.
10:06 am
2nd Grader
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Thu 18-Mar-10
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I got some really cheap plants from Wilkos 2 years ago, just chucked them in a hole with some well rotted muck. That first winter some guttering broke and flooded the hole area for a couple of months so I didn't expect much but very thin stalks came up in spring and have been growing well since. The only care I give them is a layer of manure in winter to protect them from frost. Am looking forward to tasting them next spring.
12:17 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I think Fiona and Danny grow asparagus so you might be able to get advice there, if you should need it of course! How lovely to have your own Sparrow Grass.
I'll try that again!
1:04 pm
Expert
New members
Sun 17-Jan-10
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Hi guys
I impulse bought 2 pot-grown crowns of asparagus at the weekend and I just realised I forgot to ask the garden centre how old they were. I was too busy asking him about growing them in pots! I know you're not supposed to harvest asparagus until the plant's in it's 3rd year, but I don't know how to tell the age of a plant.
These ones are in 8" pots and judging from the number of buds poking up through the soil they're unlikely to be in their first year.
9:44 am
Hi Shereen
We grow asparagus here in our kitchen garden. Generally asparagus crowns are one year old as two year old crowns are more brittle and likely to be damaged in transit. If there are lots of buds peeping through I reckon that must be at least two years old.
If the stalks are reasonably thick when they appear they could very well be three year old crowns. Ours put up a few slim stalks last year.
Incidentally some one left a comment on the blog recently that tests in America proved that waiting to cut until the third year did not improve asparagus production. I am going to wait and cut next spring, just to be sure.
5:32 pm
Expert
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Sun 17-Jan-10
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Thanks Fiona. I'll watch them and see what they do. I'll be as patient as possible, but can't promise I won't try one little spear.
7:32 pm
Senior Class
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Sat 5-Mar-11
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I have just planted some seeds in the greenhouse this year. I have several 'blades of grass'. I also planted asparagus pea which I have never eaten or even seen before. They have germinated and I'm looking forward to trying them in the summer.
Just look at his great ears flapping about.
8:36 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Andy, I grew asparagus peas a couple of years ago and was not at all impressed by them. I hope you have better luck and enjoy the taste more than I did. If I remember correctly ( which I may not have 
) I don't think Fiona was too impressed when she grew them.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
10:20 pm
Councillor
New members
Fri 10-Sep-10
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Don't go much on the peas either shan't grow them again !
Seed catalogues are responsible for more unfulfilled fantasies than the web and playboy combined . (after Michael Perry)
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