[Allotment 38a]

Hi
I've just been given 5 asparagus crowns which will be a new feature to my allotment however I'm new to growing them.  Can anyone offer any advice about the planting of them.  I've read about creating a trench to plant them on just below the soil surface.  My main concern is that at the moment I have a fairly full allotment so the area I would ideally use for the asparagus is currently occupied by chard.  Can I keep the crowns in storage for a while or do they need planting straight away.  Any help will be great. Thanks Liz

[Hampshire Hog]

I was given some crowns several years ago in January and put them squashed together into a flower bed till I planted them in the spring. When I put them initially in the ground I was uncertain they would survive but they now give me a good crop. My temptation would be to find them a temporary home till you clear the bed. Watch out would be to ensure they don’t dry out given our erratic weather. My only other comment is that 5 crowns is a relatively modest number if you want a good supply.
Good luck HH

[Allotment 38a]

Thank you very much for the reply.  It's seems like a really good idea and I'll bear in mind the advice on the number of crowns.  Cheers Liz

[Nobbie]

As there are only 5, I would put them in pots for now so that there is less disturbance when you eventually put  them in their final positions. Choose a size so there is plenty of space around the crowns.