[Allotment Jon]

I was clearing out one of my raised beds yesterday and discovered a row of asparagus that I planted earlier in the year and had forgotten about.

They are about 8-12 inch tall and look healthy.

Do I need to do anything with them as some people on the allotment said to cut down other say not.

Should I leave them or should I cut down and how far do I need to cut ?.

[JayG]

If you had forgotten about them I'm guessing they might be surrounded by weeds?

If so, weed very carefully (they don't like the competition and young crowns in particular are easily damaged.)

Asparagus is a herbaceous perennial so will turn yellow and then brown before dying back; most folk then cut them down to within an inch of the soil and then cover with a layer of compost or manure to help protect and also feed the crowns.

(Some use the cut-down ferns as a protective "mulch" but they would have to be removed in spring if you did that, and yours don't seem to have grown enough to do that anyway.)

[fatbelly]

Now that I have got a bigger plot  I intend to plant some Asparagus Crowns.
What is the month to plant them in, and I am told I won't get a crop for the first two year is this correct?

[fatbelly]

Just found this    ....
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/aparagus/index.php 

[DD.]

Answered you own question, then!

I raised mine from seed - I knew it would be a long-term project - but I've now got a bed of 39 crowns that cost me nothing.

[Salmo]

Wait until they turn yellow and then brown and then cut back, probably about end December.

As you have lost them once maybe you should mark the row with a stick at each end so that you do not inadvertently dig them up or walk on them.

fatbelly would be better to plant March/April/May next year. Although the plants are inclined to start growing in March the producers dig them in March and hold them in cold store to keep them in good condition. Asparagus planted now will only lie dormant over the Winter and may rot. Some of the Dutch hybrids will give you a small crop in 2012.