[candygold1]

picked 6 nice spears yesterday

[Salmo]

It was all getting going nicely when along comes the frost. Any asparagus above ground this week has gone soft. I shall have to cut them all off and compost them.

[ghost61]

Like Salmo mine have suffered from the frost, but only the purple ones, strangely.  Lost just three spears due to harvesting before the frost.  Up to 141 spears so far...

[Lardman]

Mine don't appear to have suffered any damage  despite the heavy frost, although growth has been checked. The farm down the road earthed up their crowns last week - Im not sure if it was for protection or to increase the crown depth as it's a relatively newly planted field.

[ptarmigan]

141!  I've had 3....

[ghost61]

We have 30 productive crowns and a further 30 that are either one or two years old so not picking from them.  Even the ones I planted in March are producing spears - have to be so disciplined not to pick them!

[Hampshire Hog]

Just back from a few days away inspected plants today. They look rather sorry for themselves expected further edible spears but I think the cold weather has stopped them in their tracks. What to do??? Cut down all the spears and wait for new ones or wait and see if the current ones get bigger (only 3" up at present) ?
Appreciate any thoughts
Cheers HH

[gobs]

I doubt there would be much hope in frosted spears.

[Hampshire Hog]

Thanks Gobs it has turned colder here today so I have cut them down and fleeced the bed. Learnt a lesson anyway haven't had a problem with frost on asparagus before!!
Cheers HH

[gobs]

You are most welcome. They will re-shoot. Very goosebumpy here, too.

[Auntiemogs]

Well, after a bit of a late start, I have 12/16 plants now up (possibly 13, if 2 are close together), and I'm happy with that. 

I'm having my first experience of asparagus beetle, and am amazed at how much damage the little critters can do!  Thankfully, they don't seem to be very good at holding on to the plants, so a quick nudge while holding a bowl of water underneath seems to do the trick and is actually quite therapeutic! 

[ghost61]

RE asparagus beetle, it's the grubs that do the most harm, eating the fronds and stems.  We squished several hundred last year, but haven't seen evidence of any so far........(famous last words - they are probably laying the eggs as we speak!)

[Hampshire Hog]

I have had some fantastic spears in the last few days. However I have discovered a couple of beetles lurking on them when I got them home. Plus have seen a few distorted spears assumed initially it was due to slugs but will check tomorrow for any more beetles or indeed grubs.
Cheers HH

[Auntiemogs]

RE asparagus beetle, it's the grubs that do the most harm, eating the fronds and stems.  We squished several hundred last year, but haven't seen evidence of any so far........(famous last words - they are probably laying the eggs as we speak!)

I've seen a fair few eggs, so I've squished them as I've gone along.  Thanks for the heads-up though Ghost, I shall keep my eyes peeled. 

[ghost61]

The beetles lay their eggs on the fronds.  Little black pendulum eggs.  Squish em!  If too late, squish the larvae - not pleasant!