[Lardman]

other than chickweed, bind weed, dock,couch grass , dandelions ...

This years asparagus bed, planted in May I think. If anyone else has a bed they have established this year I'd be really interested in a comparison.

[Trillium]

I don't have one planted in sand, but I know they definitely love sand because it's fast draining, which the crowns need. When I planted the crowns in my clay soil, I put a firm fist full of sand under each crown to keep them drier and it's worked nicely.

Only problem though with sand is that you'll need to feed them yearly as the nutrients also wash away. Not a serious problem though.

[New shoot]

Those look pretty good for first year crowns Lardman    Better that the ones I planted this spring   

[JayG]

As you know my garden is a bit of a sandpit as well, and after about 7 years I finally have an established and productive asparagus bed.

I've had to replace the odd one over the years and I must admit they never looked that good in year 1 ! 

[Lardman]

Happiness 

I knew if I kept trying different veg I would find something that would grow well. Truth be told its been 20+ years since I had asparagus and I can't remember if I actually like it !

Organic matter disappears into the soil at an alarming rate, but I'll keep them topped up - you can just see the last straggles of the comfrey mulch I put down a while back, they really enjoyed that.

[lazza]

I have a very dry bed in one corner, and I planted two asparagus "roots" (don't know the right term for them!) last year. I got nothing last year, so assumed they had died, but this yea - and only in the last week - I have spotted a small fern-like growth sprouting

[Trillium]

Yes, the crowns can sulk for a while, but nice when they finally are over their little pouts 

[sunshineband]

Lardman these look pretty much like the growth on the crowns I planted last autumn.. ours are a wee bit taller but have several stalks like this.

Looking forward to some next year mmmmmmmmmmmm 

[Swing Swang]

@Lardman - if you do like it then make sure that you use the most distant closet in the night if you want your family to let you carry on growing it - beware the chambermaids' curse!

[MikeJ]

Asparagus is quite okay with sand - it's a coastal species. Seaweed makes a good mulch for it, pity the nearest beaches are so far from Worcs    I suppose you can use seaweed extract or meal, but it's not the same as giving them fresh food