[shokkyy]

I'm thinking about stealing another chunk of the garden for an asparagus bed, but since I've never grown it before I'm not quite sure what would be ideal conditions for it. Can anyone answer these questions for me, so I can pick out the best spot. I may need to compromise on some of these, but I guess really what I need to know is what can it put up with and still give a reasonable crop.

Does it mind clay?
Does it mind shade?
Does it need much soil depth?
Is it rabbit bait?
How much space will I need for a reasonable bed (feeding 2 people)?
Will it mind a bit of competition from tree or shrub roots?

[mattwragg94]

as no-one has replied i'll give it ago - heres a link that may answer a few of your questions:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=91627.0

also to answer another one of your questions - yes asparagus roots go very deep -  i think around 6ft - but im not sure.

[JayG]

Rather than try and guess what choices you have available shokky I'll just say that asparagus likes a deep, well drained soil, will stand a bit of shade but prefers full sun, will produce around 15 spears per plant per year when fully established (some say 25 - I wish!) and is very unlikely to do well in competition with tree or shrub roots.

As for rabbits, I really don't know whether they like it as much as I do! 

[Trillium]

I have bunnies around my place and they never go for the asparagus (thankfully!!). Guess they're just not gourmets 

And my soil is clay and that's where I planted them. I tried to amend the soil a little before planting but there's only so much you can do with clay. I added BFB, some compost and manure to mine and it's okay if the soil is a bit to the alkaline side since asparagus prefers it. They're fine with neutral soil too.

And they really do prefer all the sun they can get but will tolerate a few hours of shade.

It does need some soil depth or frost will heave the roots out  I speak from experience. Dig your planting holes as wide as they are deep, and spread the roots out. Sit the 'crown' on a mound of sand to keep the crown dry and carefully fill in soil. If the crown sits in water, it rots quickly and that's the plant gone; nothing will save it, so do go to this extra step. And don't crowd plants - they need about 15", preferably more, apart because at maturity the roots are massive.

[New shoot]

I think 'ideal' is full sun and well drained soil with no competition at all Shokkyy, but this is what I have at home and I would say its a very worthwhile crop for 2 people 

I've got 2 5 foot by 4 foot raised beds at home with an arch linking the 2 beds.  There are 2 cordon apples in the corners of the beds trained over the arch so 4 in total and then 6 asparagus crowns in each bed.  The soil is fairly heavy but has been improved when the raised beds were created and gets a very generous mulch of compost or bagged farmyard manure each winter.  The beds sit on a north/south alignment so one bed gets more shade and the crop there is later by a couple of weeks, but still very welcome.

Hope that inspires you to find a spot and have a go 

[sunshineband]

Our asparagus bed has  20 crowns and they are now four years old, so we can enjoy a few this year,

Heavy clay soil with loads of stones, but planted them on ridges with sand incorporated into the back fill soil.

Mulch in spring with compost from the bin, but it was so dry this year I am waiting until the soil has had a good soak.

Feed with Blood fish and bone in spring too (did do this  )

Sunshine for about six hours a day.

Planted alongside blue berries on one side, raspberries in the fruit cage on the other ---- have to pull out raspberry shoots though 

Will be plenty for two of us, plus some to share with friends and familiy too