Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: rugbymad40 on February 26, 2008, 16:16

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: rugbymad40 on February 26, 2008, 16:16

Has anyone grown asparagus from seed before.

The tubers I purchased and lovingly nurchered throughout last year have been die over the winter :cry:

Those available in the local nursery look pretty poor specimens.  So I purchased a packet of seeds and thought I would give it a try.

Does anyone have any useful asparagus tips (excuse the pun)?

I know full well there won't be a crop for a couple of years, but at least I will be assured of the quality of the plants.

Any help and advice is greatfully received.

Rugbymad40

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: digital_biscuit on February 26, 2008, 16:19

Hey

Your asparagus is supposed to die back over the winter. They will come back nice and strong in the spring!!

I am growing them from seed this year so will know how well they do! I do think the best bet is to get crowns though, however, i am not an asparagus expert!

Daz

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: Nikkithefoot on February 26, 2008, 20:21

Hi Daz

See the link below as this was discussed a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=13248

As rugbymad says it does die back during the winter.
Tips for success? Apart from shedloads of patience, grow only male plants, have a well manured prepared bed, mulch well at start of growing season, cut sparingly in the first couple of seasons (once the plants are two years old or more).

Good luck

Nikki

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: compo on February 26, 2008, 20:24

I was looking at the seeds in the nursery today, but it said 3 years before picking  :shock:  So i`m gettint the crowns instead which said next year. You havnt dug yours up yet have you? as digital biscuit said, they do die back.

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: Trillium on February 26, 2008, 20:25

Seeds are easily started, best in individual pots of compost now. By planting out time, you should be able to see the little ferny sprouts and space them accordingly.

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: Hampshire Hog on February 27, 2008, 19:55

Cheer up asparagus is tougher than it looks. I had to put some into a flower bed quickly in the autumn dug it up in spring all looked dead. later down at the allotment it started to shoot up after being "dead" for 3 or 4 months!!

Cheers HH

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: gobs on February 27, 2008, 20:33

Well, as said they die back for the winter and will shoot in spring again, no need to worry or sow, Rugby. They shall be doing this for decades on you!

Title: Asparagus from seed
Post by: cooperman on February 28, 2008, 00:08

its usually better to buy 2 year old crowns from a specialist grower (plenty around) and you will then get a light crop next year, all of the garden center crowns  I have seen look like 1 year old wimps.  Obviously a diff in price.....
The BIGGEST thing with growoing asparagus  is making sure you prepare the growing bed properly, after all it will be there for 20 years+

happy munching!