Reply To: New asparagus beds

[Valmai Russell]

Hello Charles, Lottie and other potential asparagus growers. May I add a few words of caution on this topic. I am now onto my third asparagus plot , previous two successful but the latest will be from my own four yr. old seedlings and this year I am hoping (fingers crossed) for a bountiful first cut. Over the seasons I have noticed that the best cuts ALWAYS have been from bird sown seedlings that went unnoticed for several years about the property (usually under trees ) so apart from making very sure I had removed as much perennial weed as possible from my new beds (60 crowns) no other preparation, the biggest mistake however was a generous mulching of compost after setting out the crowns, the plants just failed to thrive so after clearing the mulch a slow recovery and I now take particular care with this plot and hand weed, though not today as there was a -10c frost last night. Anything perennial I prefer to plant in early spring.