New Allotment - asparagus

Hi all,

After working my way (slowly) through my new allotment that has been overgrown for over a year, I have been discovering jewels each time I'm up there.

After planting my runner beans and peas, I have started to notice lots of asparagus coming through where my beans and peas have been planted.

So number 1, how do I tell how old they are and what do I do with them as I have never planted asparagus before

and 2, can they continue to grow under my beans and peas, knowing that it will get shady under there once the beans and peas have grown or will I need to move beans or asparagus.

Any help would be great thanks 

I'd pull out everything that isn't asparagus, carefully, and thank my lucky stars that I had an asparagus bed.  Then plant peas and beans somewhere else!