Asparagus from Wilkos

fatbelly · « **on:** January 05, 2011, 13:51 »

Hi I am looming to plant some Asparagus crowns these year but I am put off by the price from Suttons T& M etc.

I have seen Asparagus crowns in Wilkos in the past and was wondering has anyone bought any and what success did you have.

Or am I better biting the bullet and paying premium the big suppliers demand?

Thanks

savbo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2011, 14:06 »

have you tried Kings? I got 2 packs through the NSALG scheme and was delighted with the quality - obviously fresh from the ground. All established well and I'm looking to trying a few spears this year...

they're doing them for �15 for 12 crowns

Kristen · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2011, 14:08 »

Are you in a rush? I grew from seed, looked after them in pots until the following Spring, and then planted. Mine looked a lot more healthy and vigorous than the one-year-old-crowns that were on offer - and all for a few quid!

But it will take an extra year before you start harvesting.

half-and-half maybe?

stompy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2011, 14:19 »

I grew mine from seed too Kristen,
I had 8 plants for the price of a pack of seeds and ok you do have to wait an extra yer but i bet they will be a better plant than the baught crowns, and i got quite a good crop in their 3rd year.
I bet i wouldn't have got that from a shop baught crown!

DD. · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2011, 15:12 »

I grew 39 from 40 seed I sowed from seed given to me by a plot neighbour.

MoreWhisky · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2011, 15:18 »

If your going to buy crowns buy from a good supplier. You are going to have them for yrs so its worth it.

I recommend Rodgers in Pickering. They will post to.

http://www.rvroger.co.uk/?linksource=frontpage

Jen · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2011, 19:31 »

I bought three packs (9 plants) from Wilkos
four years ago and they are going strong,
cut loads last summer. Planted another 6 last
year, hopfully they'll be as good.

paintedlady · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2011, 05:01 »

I bought asparagus crowns from Wilkos about 5/6 years ago - the first year I had to plant each into deep pots because I was unable to plant them on the plot, so in the 2nd/3rd year I didn't harvest apart from a token gesture. They are perfectly fine and I've been happy with mine, the past 3 years I've had great harvests.

I can't compare with any other variety but I certainly wouldn't disregard the Wilkos ones just because they are cheap.

Kristen · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2011, 07:10 »

I agree, nothing wrong with cheap, its just the mis-management that I see so often in the "sheds" - bags of such things with bare roots just drying out left there for months ...

I don't know about Wilcos specifically - maybe they have higher sales and thus faster turnover of stock, and as a result they are always fresh, in which case Brill!

For a crop that will be in situ for 20 years or more it needs good quality crowns. If Wilcos sell them then Brill!

Salmo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2011, 10:30 »

I bought some from
http://www.asparagus-in-kent.co.uk

No cheaper than T&M etc but they are direct from the grower.

They dig them and hold them in chilled storage so they will deliver up until May. That gives you plenty of time to prepare your bed. With some varieties you can take a small harvest the next Spring.

Best to go for all male varieties as they do not waste their energy on seed production and you do not get seedlings appearing all over your plot.

The disadvantage of growing from seed, apart from the long wait before harvest, is that you will always get 50/50 male and female plants. Avoid seed or seedlings given by neighbours as you do not know what you are getting.

DD. · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2011, 10:33 »

I grew from free seed as a challange.

OK - I have a few female plants, but what they hey - I've 39 crowns that cost nothing.

fatbelly · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2011, 11:00 »

Loads of good advice there, thanks to everyone. It is good to hear so many different points of view and opinions. It really helps.

Regards FB

Kristen · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2011, 11:03 »

I found a DEFRA list of vegetable prices, week-by-week, for 2004-2010 (wholesale prices though)

http://www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/foodfarm/farmgate/homegrownprices/index.htm

Asparagus �/kg in 2010:

9-Apr - 14-May �7-�9
28-May - 11-Jun �4 - �5
18-Jun - 9-Jul �5 - �6

I don't know how much yield you get from a crown? or what the markup is from Wholesale to Retail/Supermarket? But crowns costing �1.30 each look like they would pay back pretty quickly ...

Allotment Jon · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2011, 13:56 »

Mine came from a local gargen centre reduced to 0.99p for 3 crowns. Early in the season they put tall the Potato tubers along with several other items and then reduce everything when they need to change the display. All mine shot up this year and look fine.

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Asparagus from Wilkos

fatbelly

Asparagus from Wilkos

savbo

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Kristen

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stompy

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DD.

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MoreWhisky

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Jen

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paintedlady

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Kristen

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Salmo

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DD.

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fatbelly

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Kristen

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Allotment Jon

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