raised bed for asparagus

[stuParticipant]

Hello Charles I’m after some advice on asparagus. I’ve made a decision to designate a 15 ft by 4ft raised bed for 2 types of asparagus the bed is about a 10″ deep with roughly 4 ” of well rotten cow manure on top. My plan was to ridge 2 rows of soil place asparagus on top then add a mix of home made compost/green waste compost and mp compost with some wood ash. 1) is it a sound plan 2) is it OK to get 2 rows in a 4ft wide bed or should I just do a single row

[charlesModerator]

Four foot beds are a bit narrow for two rows of asparagus and a bit wide for one row. For example my beds are three feet. If you make two rows, plants will crop a little more in total at first, but become crowded in time.
I would go for one row and use the space along edges for other veg, in the first two years at least.
I am not convinced you need to ridge the soil unless it lies very wet in winter. I don’t ridge, and plants grow fine with similar compost to yours, on top.

[simondragonParticipant]

Have raised some globe artichokes and cardoons from seed this spring. Should I treat them the same way – 3 foot apart in their own bed, with maybe some small plants around the edge of the bed.

[charlesModerator]

They grow faster than asparagus and by late summer they will be nearly touching so yes, plant something in the spaces now, which finishes by August such as salads, beetroot, peas, spring onions.

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