[pairofacres]

Been following this with interest, as Asparagus is one thing I really want to grow on my plot. Just wondering, is it acceptable to move, or at least disturb it between years 1 and 2?

I'm just starting a plot, but probably won't have much chance to condition the soil straight away. If I plant some this year, then prep a better bed, will it tolerate being moved late summer, or will it just set it back another season before it can be harvested properly?

[DeadlyNightshade]

I dont know what I am doing wrong, but all I get of my 3rd year Asparagus is one long, feathery spear, thinner than a pencil..

Always lovely moist soil (welcome to Ireland :S ), pretty sandy and rich (loads of nettles growing )

[Trillium]

Yes, you can move it when it's still young as the main roots won't be very large by then, which is why you shouldn't harvest young plants for the first 2 yrs - the roots aren't large enough to support this loss. Be sure to dig up enough of a rootball so that most of the spreading feeder roots aren't lost and they'll never know they were moved. A key for your new bed is to add lots of sharp sand for good drainage. I always put a mound of sand right under the crown head so that if there's ever standing water then the most susceptible part, the crown, won't rot.

If the 3rd year crown is feathery, then the plant is starving and needs some rotted manure and a bit of lime as it prefers neutral pH soil.

[craggy]

Planted mine march 08...resisted the temptation last yeaar so fingers crossed they'll have survived the winter

snap,me too.Even got an asparagus saucepan waiting for them.

[pairofacres]

Thanks Trillium. I'll have to organise some crowns for this spring's planting in that case. I get the impression this region's particularly good for growing asparagus, so can't wait to get growing my own 

[Trillium]

You'll do well as asparagus is so tough it'll grow anywhere, even wild in our ditches. You should see some of the massive clumps - and all with no weeding or feeding. If the roots weren't so darned big or I had access to a backhoe I'd dig up a pile of them