wawwiz wrote:
Need a little help here. What I want to do is make a long trough,
above ground, deep enough for asparagus to continue to grow for at
least 10 years. Don't know a lot about the plant other than it taste
good and is very good for you. They say 2 years till the first
harvest.
So this is what I'm looking for:

1. Width and depth of the trough
1a.Material, i.e. what type of wood that will not be adverse to the
plant


Why a trough above ground? It has long roots and unless it can grow down
into the soil you will restrict growth considerably unless your trough is
enormous. If you must have a trough consider concrete blocks and galvanised
iron walls. It should be deep, this isnt a lettuce. The area depends on
how many plants you want to grow which depends on how much you like
asparagus. I would say about a square metre (yard) per person if you like
it but more if you really like it.

In any case make sure it is in full sun.

If you have never eaten it really fresh be prepared to be wowed and to
increase the amount you expect to need.

2. Soil composition, sand, clay, moss


Asparagus is not fussy about the heaviness of the soil but it is a heavy
feeder so you will need plenty of manure and orgainc matter and to top it up
annually with chicken manure or similar. Soils that are moderately heavy
with some clay are easier to keep fertile than very sandy soils.

3. Full drainage or little drainage


Not very fussy. I have it growing in a moderately heavy silt. You are not
going to grow any vegetable well in very heavy (all clay) or very light (all
sand) soil.

4. Fertilizer numbers, 1st in the beginning, then after the
foliage development stalk numbers i.e.10-5-20


Not that fussy provided the soil is kept fertile.

5. And if someone knows where to buy the best starter plants


It probably doesn't matter, go to the nearest place to you. This is an
international forum so it is not a good place to get that kind of advice.

BTW starting from crowns is not obligatory, if you start from seed it will
take a year longer to get into production but cost much less. Ask around if
any friends or neighbours grow it, the chances are their garden has
seedlings here and there, especially under shrubs. Small birds eat the
berries and then poop around the garden sowing the seeds in little packets
of fertilser. Seedlings transplant well at any time of year, full sized
plants only when dormant crowns.


--
David

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