two questions - raised beds and asparagus!

hi, this is my first posting (apart from one in the welome to the forum bit!) so let me know if i have put it in the wrong bit please.

i have two questions and would be really grateful for any answers!

1.  where do people recommend getting asparagus crowns from?  i only want 5 or so, i can find places selling 15 or 20 but i don't have the space for that many and i am not sure which is the best place to get them from

2.  also - i have built some raised beds (they are 15-20cms off the ground i guess, the ground under neath is pretty good and was dug over nicely before the beds were put down.  what is confusing me is that in the books they all say that with raised beds you can plant closer together than in normal rows.  but they don't tell you how much closer!  i have built the recommended sizes of beds (ie 4ft by 4-5ft) but if i go by the planting guide on seed packets etc i am not going to be growing much!  if anyone can shed some light on this please do as i don't want to crowd everything out or end up with one measly brocoli plant

many thanks, rachel

I would wait and get some autumn planting crowns.  I have nine plants in a 1m square bed, planted 30cms apart all round.

you need to plant the asparagus when dormant.
Obviously it should be producing spears at present so very much alive

Cheers HH