[mrsparkle]

I'm currently in the process of double digging my soil in preparation for a raised asparagus bed.  I've got myself some old scaffolding boards so I can build the bed to the following dimensions: 2.5m long  x 1.2m wide x 45cm tall.

Usually you read that crops can be planted closer together in a raised bed and i wondered if that would be the case for asparagus too?  If so how many plants do you think I can fit in this sized bed?  I know that the advice states 30-45cm apart down the middle of the bed but wondered if pushing it to 20-25cm is asking for trouble?


Perhaps I created a raised bed 1.4m wide I could get two rows in it?  Do you think that could work?

Sorry for my constant asparagus posts but I want to make sure I don't balls it up and be stuck with a poor crop for 20years

[New shoot]

Hi MrsS - I reckon you can get a decent crop in raised beds that size.

I have 2 raised beds both 1.5m x 1.25m opposite each other with a couple of cheap black metal arches side by side between the 2.  I've got 6 asparagus crowns in each and a cordon apple at each corner of the beds.  The asparagus has been in 3 years now and I got a bit of a crop last year and have huge spears just starting to push through now.  Get tons of apples too.  I mulch heavily with fym over winter as it is all a bit crammed in, but it seems to work.

Think the only piccie I have is of it in the snow but will post it on so you can see how compact it all is 

[mrsparkle]

Hi MrsS - I reckon you can get a decent crop in raised beds that size.

I have 2 raised beds both 1.5m x 1.25m opposite each other with a couple of cheap black metal arches side by side between the 2.  I've got 6 asparagus crowns in each and a cordon apple at each corner of the beds.  The asparagus has been in 3 years now and I got a bit of a crop last year and have huge spears just starting to push through now.  Get tons of apples too.  I mulch heavily with fym over winter as it is all a bit crammed in, but it seems to work.

Think the only piccie I have is of it in the snow but will post it on so you can see how compact it all is 

Cool! Thanks for the advice.  I'm suprised you managed to get 6 in each raised bed.  I think I'll try to cram ten into to mine

[Lardman]

If mine ever get delivered, I'll be putting 10 into an 8x4 bed (2 rows of 5 ) information here http://www.asparagus-in-kent.co.uk/ suggests 4 crowns per sq yard.

edited - as I have clumsy fingers today.

[New shoot]

I think with raised beds you can get away with a lot more if you really look after the soil.  My asparagus beds get a full bag of farmyard manure (garden centre 70L? size) each every winter.  I feed with pelleted chicken manure over the summer once I have finished cutting to build up the crowns for the following year as well