[Tom Hill]

I planted my Asparagus on the 30th of October, the same day it arrived from T&M.
Yesterday (15th Nov.)  I noticed little spears appearing, is this normal for Autumn planting varieties or will it weaken the plants for next year as they dont have time to develop before winter really sets in.
My new allotment of 5 months is four miles from Lands End.

[JayG]

Far be it from me to criticise the great T&M but late autumn is not the usual time to be planting asparagus crowns (usually planted in spring so they get off to a good start in their first year.)

However, yours seem to have decided that it is spring, probably partly due to your mild climate - this has to be a guess but I wouldn't do anything drastic while they are trying to establish themselves, although a mulch of compost (or spent compost) might help to protect them when the colder weather does come.

[savbo]

My new allotment of 5 months is four miles from Lands End.

isn't it a bit wet?
 
sav

[Tom Hill]

My allotment is on former mining ground. Once you get below 14 inches it is loose broken rock, it drains like a collander. We get a lot of rain in the west but I can get on my ground within hours of a deluge.

[Trillium]

Tom, could you please post your general area which helps us in replying.  Just go into your profile and do the adjustment there. Thanks.

[sunshineband]

Tom, I planted my asparagus bed up in the autumn but didn't have any top growth until the spring. Plants seem to be easily confused however 

Could you stack straw around the crowns to keep the worst of the weather off them? A few slug pellet might not go amiss too, if you are happy to use them.

You may not get much frost down there is the far south west though

If your soil is that well drained you will need to make sure that they get enough water in the growing season

[savbo]

My allotment is on former mining ground. Once you get below 14 inches it is loose broken rock, it drains like a collander. We get a lot of rain in the west but I can get on my ground within hours of a deluge.

sorry I was being silly in a pathetic attempt at 'humour'...

I'll get my coat

sav

[Goosegirl]

Far be it from me to criticise the great T&M but late autumn is not the usual time to be planting asparagus crowns (usually planted in spring so they get off to a good start in their first year.)

I'm surprised they were sent out at this time of year for planting, unless for potting up until the spring. Then, I am not a fan of the aforesaid company.

[Tom Hill]

They were specifically advertised as an Autumn planting collection.
Mondeo
Ariane
Pacific 2000
Purple Pacific

It is the Pacific 2000 that are showing.

[Tom Hill]

My new allotment of 5 months is four miles from Lands End.

isn't it a bit wet?
 
sav

Once I saw it, I thought it was funny too.

[DD.]

My allotment is on former mining ground. Once you get below 14 inches it is loose broken rock, it drains like a collander. We get a lot of rain in the west but I can get on my ground within hours of a deluge.

sorry I was being silly in a pathetic attempt at 'humour'...

I'll get my coat

sav

I got it. 

[JayG]

Savbo  - way too subtle for me to "get it" until just now (quite good actually!) 

It's not difficult to think of a reason why the suppliers are happy to have discovered autumn and spring-planting asparagus varieties    but I suppose if they are hardy enough they could be a bit in front of spring-planted ones, although it can't be great news that some of them are starting to grow at the time they should be dying back (at least the suppliers' blurb doesn't suggest you'll be gathering armfuls of spears by next summer!)

Let us know how you get on with them Tom. I'm sure they'll be fine.

[Growster...]

I bought six crowns a month ago, as they were in a bargain box, and silly money. They were pretty dry as well, which is not a good thing.

Worth a punt at the price, and I popped them in amongst some compost to stay moist until spring, and who knows...

[Plot 1b,]

You can get autumn planting asparagus. plant as directed. With established beds the spears are allowed to mature thus feeding the root, producing better crops the following years. If the spears come above ground cut them back so the plant focuses on establishing the root system first. Dont start to harvest for at least 2 years. I give mine a good covering of salt over winter. Asparagus being from marsh land originally.

[snowdrops]

A plot neighbour dug his asparagus up in late August & so I had some of them & planted them straight away. I did see one frond a few weeks ago but then it disappeared. I wasn't intending of harvesting any next year. what do you all think? Is that a good plan?