Asparagus

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Asparagus

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Foghorn

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 49
Location: Barcombe, E Sussex

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 05 7:01 pm Post subject: Asparagus
Planted some asparagus last year - plants grew vigorously and I cut them back in the autumn. I have about an inch of woody stump protruding from each plant at the moment. My question is, when should they start to send out new shoots this year? Also, have I cut them back correctly - is there anything else I need to do? Thanks! (Have not taken a harvest from them yet, by the way)

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 05 7:14 pm Post subject:
Ours hasn't started shooting yet, April/May depending on their site. We let the tops to go very brown and then cut them down to stop the crowns from being rocked in the wind. Sounds like you've done it right, just a few weeks to go.

Foghorn

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 49
Location: Barcombe, E Sussex

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 05 11:46 pm Post subject:
Thanks - will have to think about taking the first harvest this year (Year 2) - any good indicators for when it's safe to do so? I had really excellent thick-stemmed growth last year, tall bushy plants. Is it worth a crack this year do you think?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 05 7:01 am Post subject:
I assume they were one year crowns when you planted them, so they are now two. Some people will say don't remove anything this year but we tried one spear from each plant last year and the plants still did fine. I wouldn't pick more than that though.

Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 05 11:49 am Post subject:

Be careful if you are weeding around the plants, as there will be very small emergent shoots not far under the surface - mine are just starting to show now. It is quite handy to leave the brown stem bits there to show where the plants are vis vis weeding and mulching. My bed got a mulch of manure a few weeks ago. Looking forward to my first cut this year; mine are three this year, grown from seed.

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