[devonbarmygardener]

Nothing coming up in my asparagus bed in Sunny but cool Devon either
Patience is a virtue apparently!

[Lardman]

Had the first couple of spears yesterday with a fresh egg - still don't know what all the fuss is about  Id rather have a cabbage.

[devonbarmygardener]

I love cabbage but asparagus is so scrummy!

[Nobbie]

Mine are just poking through. First year of picking-it's been a long wait since planting the seed in 2011. Looking forward to the first tasting! 

After last year's cold winter mine took until mid-May to appear.

Mine were only sowed last year and transplanted into the bed a couple on months ago, but all are now up and some are 10" high. I hope i don't have to wait until 2016 for my first meal I'm sure the packet (Suttons said you could harvest in the first year, but I took that with a large pinch of salt. I did have one spear which I'd broken by accident and it was very nice.

Just checked and it says for Arianne F1 Asparagus:

Sow March-April under glass at a temperature of 18-20°C (65-70°F). Plant out when frost risk has passed, 45cm (18") apart. Keep weeded and watered. A light harvest can be achieved in August of the first year. Pick May-June in subsequent years.

[Baldy]

Very little in North Devon (well, in my little bit of North Devon) - one or two little things about an inch but nothing from most of the bed. Patience Baldy, patience.

Cheers,
Balders

[gobs]

There are earlier and later producing asparagus varieties, for those in despair.

[CDave]

I'm in Tyne & Wear - mines showing - got about 6 big spears so far from my bed of 20 plants. Its the third year for the plants and I've resisted picking any at all so far. But not any more!!!!!! Guess what I'm having for breakfast on Sunday 

[weirdsowing]

First of my asparagus crop grown from seed sown in 2011 - a long worth while wait we ate it as a starter steamed with curls of butter.

[devonbarmygardener]

First of my asparagus crop grown from seed sown in 2011 - a long worth while wait we ate it as a starter steamed with curls of butter.

Looks scrummy
Simple is best with asparagus

[Beetroot Queen]

First picking today, sorry but i am with lardman on these 

[pompeyboy61]

Have now picked about 10 spears. Third year so looking forward to many more. Will have them in a minute, steamed and with melted butter

[gobs]

Had the first couple of spears yesterday with a fresh egg - still don't know what all the fuss is about  Id rather have a cabbage.

Instead of a 'fresh' egg, I would do, too.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

Mine are just poking through. First year of picking-it's been a long wait since planting the seed in 2011. Looking forward to the first tasting! 

After last year's cold winter mine took until mid-May to appear.

Mine were only sowed last year and transplanted into the bed a couple on months ago, but all are now up and some are 10" high. I hope i don't have to wait until 2016 for my first meal I'm sure the packet (Suttons said you could harvest in the first year, but I took that with a large pinch of salt. I did have one spear which I'd broken by accident and it was very nice.

Just checked and it says for Arianne F1 Asparagus:

Sow March-April under glass at a temperature of 18-20°C (65-70°F). Plant out when frost risk has passed, 45cm (18") apart. Keep weeded and watered. A light harvest can be achieved in August of the first year. Pick May-June in subsequent years.

It will be interesting to see what your results are-I've not grown Arianne. Conventional advice is not to touch the crown until the third year-I've heard that even taking some spears in the second year can set the crowns back. Most of my spears are much thicker this year in Year 2 although one crown has produced a wispy shoot so I'm not touching that crown this year and giving it a good feed.

Personally I hope to have the crowns for many years to come and I'd rather be patient than do anything that might be detrimental to them.

I wonder if it would affect sales if seed suppliers put on the packet "Should not be harvested until three years after sowing" 

[Nikkithefoot]

I noticed today that if I looked very carefully I have about 9 out of 20 plants just showing above ground. The stems look quite sturdy compared to last year. This will be their second season, so only one to go before I can pick one or two