[rugbymad40]

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

[digital_biscuit]

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

[Nikkithefoot]

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

[compo]

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.

[Trillium]

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.

[Hampshire Hog]

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

[gobs]

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!

[cooperman]

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!