[Ian_A]

I planted some 2 year old Gijnlim crowns last April/May. I think they were 2 year crowns (maybe 3 year but certainly more than 1 year). Some spears came through last year which I ignored. This year I have a few scores of spears already about 6" above the ground. Do I leave them totally this year too or pick a few from each plant? In which case, do I just let the rest of the spears die off naturally?

[DavidT]

You shouldn`t start harvesting until the crowns are at least 5 years old, and then not fully until they are 7 years old.

[Salmo]

I planted 2 year old plants Gijnlim two years ago. The instructions I had with them were to leave all the stems in the planting year, cut everything just for 3 weeks in the next year and then harvest until mid June in subsequent years.

According to that you can cut all of your spears for 3 weeks this year and then leave anything after that to mature.

From what I understand Gijnlim is a hybrid sterile variety and this treatment is OK. This is not so with most other varieties which should not be cut for another year.

[blackbob]

I planted some 2 year old Gijnlim crowns last April/May. I think they were 2 year crowns (maybe 3 year but certainly more than 1 year). Some spears came through last year which I ignored. This year I have a few scores of spears already about 6" above the ground. Do I leave them totally this year too or pick a few from each plant? In which case, do I just let the rest of the spears die off naturally?

take a 3rd and no more.

[Loubs]

You shouldn`t start harvesting until the crowns are at least 5 years old, and then not fully until they are 7 years old.

Just put some 1 yr old crowns in. I thought I knew I'd need to hold back next year, but imagined I'd get away with a mini-feast next year. But you're saying I need to hold off till 2014, and not pig-out till 2016 

[lacewing]

I agree with Salmo.

[Pompey Spud]

You shouldn`t start harvesting until the crowns are at least 5 years old, and then not fully until they are 7 years old.

Thats not entirely correct for all you new asparagus fans.

Blimey..you'd never pick the stuff.

My 1 year old crowns are in their 2nd year. I won't harvest this year and will cut a few next year and than crop lots during the asparagus season.

[PennyS]

I thought to some extent it depended on the variety?

I read somewhere (and I can't remember where now) that with a couple of the newer F1s you can take a very small crop (ie more than the one spear) on the second year.  I do remember noting that it wasn't the variety I've planted a few weeks back, so it's just the one spear next year for me and looking for a slightly tastier albeit still small dinner in 2012....

 

[savbo]

david's guidance in the Vegetable Growing section on here recognises that many won't be able to resisit a spear or two in the first year!

[Trikidiki]

I ordered Gijnlim from New Park Farm about a month ago. They arrived last Thursday, 12" long thick roots. I was a little worried as there appeared to be quite a few buds knocked off. However I planted them on Thursday, covered them with some polythene cloches.

I lifted the cloches today and there are already some 4" shoots, looking very tempting.

The instructions say I can take a few shoots next spring.

I'll have to remove all sharp implements from the allotment for the next few weeks.

[savbo]

while googling asparagus knives and depths to cut (though given I only finished planting our 24 plants on saturday I know this is a little premature) I found a site (Ohio state Uni) saying to snap the asparagus rather than cutting it as this is less likely to damage other shoots and will heal more quickly - but I've not seen this advice elsewhere - what are people's thoughts?

[JayG]

I have tried the "snapping off" technique for the exact reasons you quote Savbo, but found the spears either snapped off at ground level or were so firmly attached that I felt I was probably doing a lot of damage underground trying to rip them out!

As long as you know that the crowns are at least a couple of inches below the surface then I think using a sharp knife run down the spear to about an inch below the soil is the easiest and safest way (or maybe I'm just cack-handed!) 

If anyone wants to know what those spindly 2 year-old crowns look like after about 6 years here's a pic of one of mine exposed by removing my mint pot for repotting. The actual crown was planted about 2 feet away from the centre of the hole, and probably illustrates why they need to be well established before they can withstand all their early shoots being removed!

[Goosegirl]

I got some Gijnlin crowns from Robinsons last year - I need to ring them to find out if they were 1 or 2 year old crowns. I have some lovely thick stems appearing but I am going to resist cutting any this year despite some books etc saying you can harvest a stem from each crown. This way, next year I will be in asparagus heaven.!