[New shoot]

Whoop whoop    The first few spears are breaking through.  The coated wire mesh is standard issue for my raised beds at home because of cats, but the asparagus grows through it well enough 

[andreadon]

Wow!
 
that's early!
Where in the country are you?
I'm mid-Kent and haven't seen anything

[New shoot]

Reading is in the Thames Valley and lies on the M4 between Newbury and Slough.  My garden is fairly sheltered as I am down near the river