Asparagus problems

Hi folks,

I'm hjoping someone can help me.

I planted asparagus seeds "Colossal" three years ago and have left them to mature before cropping for the first time this year.
Last year there was a lot of asparagus beetle, which I dealt with though not comprehensively (lots of crushing and some spraying), so I would not be surprised if there were over-wintering eggs in the soil.

This year, the spears have been emerging for a few weeks now, but many of them are very sick. They are yellow, appear "wet" and the stems have collapsed in, causing the spears to fall over. Very unappetising.

Cutting them open and looking at them inside and out I very carefully, I see no evidence of beetles, grubs or eggs. Nothing in the soil samples I took either. No photos I've nor symptom descriptions I've seen on the web look like mine do, so I'm flumoxed, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. There is a photo here:



Many thanks,.
Chris


[edited to show photo]

I am sorry to say this sounds like it could be violet root rot, which cannot be rectified.

If it is, then you will need to burn the plants, as it is very contagious.

Can you post a photo please?

I was going to suggest frost but with no real conviction. Violet root rot may well be correct as asparagus is suseptable to it but I have only seen it in carrots and potatoes.

Where abouts are you. Violet root rot is quite common in the peat soils of the Cambridgeshire Fens. Carrots, potatoes and many other root crops are suseptable. I think it likes damp acid soil.

Hi folks, and thanks for all your help so far.

Addressing your points: there are no signs of munching. I am in Bedford, UK. The symptoms I researched don't seem to match violet root rot.

Since i posted, I spoke to my plot neighbour, who says he has some of the same problem on his asparagus and points out that we had a -4 degree frost a week or so ago which he suspects to be the culprit.

I'm hoping that was it, and if it was, then I shuold see normal spears emerging very soon.

Fingers crossed & Thanks again,
Chris

Since my earlier reply I have seen a number of shoots on our allotments looking exactly like yours which convinces my that frost is the culprit.

A lot of asparagus this year seems to have just put its head above the surface and stopped. We had a sharp frost last night which has made some tips soft. I suspect they will look like those in the photos very soon.

The old hands say that these slow growing spears will taste bitter anyway so they might as well be cut and composted.

Lets hope we get some warm weather soon to bring on the next lot.