Asparagus & Rhubarb?

Minty · « **on:** December 29, 2008, 15:34 »

I know there were a few questions about asparagus earlier in the year but I bought some crowns yesterday and just wondered whats best to do with them at this time of year?

I have plenty of bed space prepared for them to go in but I just wondered if I'd be better off waiting a while and potting them up in the green house till the frost's have gone?

I also got two rhubarb crowns but I'm sure someone said that they will be alright to straight in as they are very frost hardy,is that correct?

Trillium · « **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2008, 18:39 »

Both plants are very tough and can be planted any time the soil is workable. neither will sprout until the weather is right, but the roots will happily spread while they wait which puts you ahead of the wait.

Minty · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2008, 22:33 »

Thanks for the reply Trillium,the bed for the asparagus is quiet workable and well drained so I'll pop them in tommorrow.

Trillium · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2008, 04:02 »

My best tip regarding asparagus is to mound a handful of sand in the planting hole and place the crown head right on the sand and spread out the roots from there. I find the survival rate improves dramatically with this good drainage.

Kagganz · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2008, 05:31 »

Hiya, can I ask where you got your asparagus and rhubarb from?

Also do they take ages before they fruit?

Thanks

paintedlady · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2008, 05:45 »

Quote from: "Kagganz"

Also do they take ages before they fruit?

Are you sure you want them to fruit?

I think you are talking 1-3 years (depending on age & size of the crown) before harvesting any asparagus spears or rhubarb stems. My asparagus seemed to grow very thin weedy looking spears in the first couple of years so did not look harvestable, but by the 3rd season they looked distinctly fat & edible - I only harvested a few this year to try out but looking forward to a bumper crop next year

Funnily enough I called in my local garden centre this week and they had pots of different asparagus & rhubarb varieties for sale.

Minty · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2008, 09:01 »

Quote from: "Kagganz"

Hiya, can I ask where you got your asparagus and rhubarb from?

Also do they take ages before they fruit?

Thanks

I got mine from B&Q,Â£2.98 for 4 asparagus crowns and the same price for 2 rhubarb crowns.

The asparagus are Gijnlim and the rhubarb is Red Champagne.

Kagganz · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2008, 13:27 »

Ooh thank you, my son works weekends at B & Q so I can have 20% off too! xx

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