So here we are almost at the end of April, and my asparagus is still
showing just one weedy shoot. It did this last year, but I assumed that
was because it was the first season, but I was hoping for a bit more of
a
show this year, and maybe even enough for a modest side-salad.

The ten crowns I planted have a sunny, well-drained bed which has been
mulched with compost and manure. The soil contained a lot of very well
rotted bonfire ash, and produces some fairly mighty weeds, and the
crowns
were planted in trenches 'by the book'.

What more does it need, or am I just being too impatient?

We've got two rows of ten crowns each. The Connovers Collossal have been up
for several weeks and they are exactly as named - collossal (and
succulent!). The Franklim have just started to put in an appearance and
won't be ready for at least another week. So, don't panic - different
varieties come at different times.