[snowdrops]

Preparing a bed for asparagus, has anybody any recommendations for what variety to get, to buy some in or to grow from seed?

[sunshineband]

Growing from seed is slow but cheap, with it taking around three years to get plants large enough to crop from.

Buying plants as crowns is more expensive of course but after the first settling in year they are already productive. Varieties are a matter of personal taste.

Choosing all male varieties  avoids the red berries female plants produce germinating and giving weedy little plants everywhere. if you only have a small bed you can pick them off but it is easy to miss them

[Salmo]

Seeds at about £3 a packet are cheaper than crowns but not really. 10 crowns will cost about £12. If they are planted in the Spring you will be able to pick just a few spears the next Spring, pick a good crop the second year and a full crop the third year. Seed takes 3 years before you can pick any so the crowns will have more than paid the difference by then.

As Sunshine says, choose an all male variety. That avoids problems with berries self seeding, also the plants do not waste energy producing seed.

This site is a good source of information on growing.

 http://www.asparagus-in-kent.co.uk

[Auntiemogs]

I bought a selection from T&M, and they seem to be doing well (5 each of 4 different types).  I exchanged £5 Tesco Clubcard vouchers for £15 T&M vouchers, so it certainly helped cut down the cost. 

[JayG]

As Sunshine says, choose an all female variety. That avoids problems with berries self seeding, also the plants do not waste energy producing seed.

Or, as Sunny said, an all male variety! 

All-male varieties do have thicker spears anyway, which makes growing from seed even more problematic if you only want to grow male plants, although you can actually buy seed which will only produce male plants (no, I don't know how they do it either!  )

[snowdrops]

Thank you all, I wasn't bothered by cost just wondered if you got more varieties with seed, plus they'd be planted & settled in well. But it seems the consensus is for crowns & all male varieties.
Now just to ear mark the bed & get preparing

[AnneB]

I went for crowns and chose two varieties, Mondeo and Guelph Millennium.  I planted them last year and we took a handful of spears this season.  They seem to be doing well.  I got them from Pomona Fruits who sent very good planting and growing advice.

[snowdrops]

Thank you Anne, I'll take a look at them😊

[strangerachael]

And watch out for asparagus beetle - had them in my previous garden from the first season and could never get rid. Pesky things 

[snowdrops]

Hmm just another thing to protect against then ! 😊

[New shoot]

I find asparagus beetles start appearing once I leave the fronds to grow.  If the odd one turns up while I am cutting spears, they are easily seen and squished.

It depends on your attitude to pesticides, but if you are OK with it, a spray of Provado onto the ferns protects for up to 6 weeks and stops the breeding cycle.  I reckon that as I am letting the ferns grow and will cut them down in autumn, any residue will be long gone by next spring.

If you would rather not go this route, the beetles drop to the ground as a defence mechanism when the frond is disturbed.  You can use this to your advantage by going round with a bucket of water and tapping the fronds over it.  The grubs hang on tighter and will need squishing in situ 

[snowdrops]

Thanks that's worth knowing a bit like Lilly beetle then