Asparagus - Top Tips Please

[mrspercival]

I've made my plan for this year's veggies and I'm really keen to start growing asparagus. I know about the patience you need before the first decent crop and I'm ok with that and using one area for the forseeable...however I would like your advice on whether its ok for the wet west of Scotland? what species you recommend? there seems to be a huge variance in cost - do you know why that is? have you tried growing it? hows it gone? all and any advice greatly welcomed, thanks gardeners

I tried growing it from seed last year, having seen Sarah Raven (I think) growing it for its foliage for cutting. Complete disaster. Nothing happened.

Sorry. That's not very encouraging, is it?

Marking my place.
All I know is if you can get the stuff to grow, you have to wait a couple of years before you can cut it and eat it.
Hoping Alan Titchmarch is out there and ready to post!

I planted mine a couple of years ago and it is still nothing like big enough to eat. It gets marginally bigger every year though.

My understanding is that we need to buy crowns and these are usually one year old. The first season cut nothing, the second cut about 4-6 stalks max from each plant and then by year 3 you should be getting approx 20 stalks/plant. Also that in each of the first two years you let the plant fronds/foliage grow really high and then cut it down when it turns yellow. Ive found Monty Don's book helpful. Various gardeners, Monty and Sarah, have mentioned connovers colossal as a good variety. I'm still keen to give it a go.

I live in the south and planted crowns, let them grow and cut down in autumn for first two years then cut in the third year - def worth it, it is fantastic! I grow veggies that are expensive to buy and taste much better frshly cut and eaten that day -yum!

Hi chickenlickin - what variety did you plant and whats your soil like? Thanks for the good news.

Mrs percival is right - you need to buy one year old crowns, and don't harvest until year 3.

Lots of manure too.

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