Can I plant asparagus now?

[Kendodd]

I bought three asparagus plants that say plant in Autumn for crops in spring. Can I plant them now for crops next spring?

[Driftwood999]

Yes you can, but you should not pick any spears in the first year. I am assuming you have bought one year old crowns. So this year, let everything "go to fern" and then cut down in the Autumn when it's all gone yellow and brown. The plants will have stored food for the following year and will be better for it. We have just put in 2 year old crowns, and may pick just one spear from each this year. That will be 4 each for DH and myself! It's worth the wait imo as once established they can crop for 20 years. It's a pleasure postponed. Having said that, I looked at them yesterday (they have been in about a month) and there's nothing to see yet apart from a few woody sticks poking up. A couple of weeks ago I did earth one up a tiny bit, as I could just see some "bumps" appearing. You need to dig a trench and then make a ridge running down the middle. The plants then sit on top of the ridge with their roots hanging all round and you then add more earth to cover the roots, whist maintaining the ridge. Hope that makes sense? You earth up the plants as the spears grow. There are some good pictures if you Google. It's nice to share the experience though.

[Kendodd]

Thank you, I will let you know how they get on.