I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I have a dozen
plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high. How should I look
after them during the winter to stand some chance of a first crop next year
please?

Duncan Heenan wrote:
I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I have
a
dozen plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high. How
should I look after them during the winter to stand some chance of
a
first crop next year please?

I'd be inclined not to cut any till 2006, unless the crowns you put
in were already two years old. All you have to do now is cut off this
year's stems, and give the whole bed a good two-inch layer of rotted
muck or weed-free compost. Even in winter it's best to keep an eye
open for weeds.

Mike.

"Duncan Heenan" wrote in message
...
I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I have a
dozen
plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high. How should I look
after them during the winter to stand some chance of a first crop next
year
please?

I don't know the answer Duncan, but I want to put some in also. I'll wait to
see what the thread brings out.

On Mon, 1 Nov 2004 22:30:44 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Duncan Heenan wrote:
I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I have
a
dozen plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high. How
should I look after them during the winter to stand some chance of
a
first crop next year please?

I'd be inclined not to cut any till 2006, unless the crowns you put
in were already two years old. All you have to do now is cut off this
year's stems, and give the whole bed a good two-inch layer of rotted
muck or weed-free compost. Even in winter it's best to keep an eye
open for weeds.

Surely you wouldn't cut off green stems? I let them die down
completely to brown stems and then remove them. Otherwise treatment
as above and DON'T cut any next year. It is worth the wait. I have 6
plants but now have and extra 9 grown from seed this summer. They
will not be touched AT LEAST until 2006.......


Pam in Bristol

Pam Moore wrote:
On Mon, 1 Nov 2004 22:30:44 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Duncan Heenan wrote:
I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I
have
a dozen plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high.
How
should I look after them during the winter to stand some chance
of a
first crop next year please?

I'd be inclined not to cut any till 2006, unless the crowns you
put
in were already two years old. All you have to do now is cut off
this
year's stems, and give the whole bed a good two-inch layer of
rotted
muck or weed-free compost. Even in winter it's best to keep an eye
open for weeds.

Surely you wouldn't cut off green stems? I let them die down
completely to brown stems and then remove them. Otherwise
treatment
as above and DON'T cut any next year. It is worth the wait. I
have 6
plants but now have and extra 9 grown from seed this summer. They
will not be touched AT LEAST until 2006.......

Good point about the top growth: I was assuming it was dying off
already. Duncan, I'd certainly wait till it's yellow: this is a sign
that the leaves aren't bringing any more food back to the crowns.

I'm sure it's OK to cut a few shoots next season if the crowns were
already two years old when they went in; but it won't hurt to wait --
I know I'd wait.

Mike.

"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
Pam Moore wrote:
On Mon, 1 Nov 2004 22:30:44 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Duncan Heenan wrote:
I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I
have
a dozen plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high.
How
should I look after them during the winter to stand some chance
of a
first crop next year please?

I'd be inclined not to cut any till 2006, unless the crowns you
put
in were already two years old. All you have to do now is cut off
this
year's stems, and give the whole bed a good two-inch layer of
rotted
muck or weed-free compost. Even in winter it's best to keep an eye
open for weeds.

Surely you wouldn't cut off green stems? I let them die down
completely to brown stems and then remove them. Otherwise
treatment
as above and DON'T cut any next year. It is worth the wait. I
have 6
plants but now have and extra 9 grown from seed this summer. They
will not be touched AT LEAST until 2006.......

Good point about the top growth: I was assuming it was dying off
already. Duncan, I'd certainly wait till it's yellow: this is a sign
that the leaves aren't bringing any more food back to the crowns.

I'm sure it's OK to cut a few shoots next season if the crowns were
already two years old when they went in; but it won't hurt to wait --
I know I'd wait.

Mike.

Thanks.
In fact they were all grown this year from seed (which takes for ever to
germinate!). So I guess it's patience, patience for another year +. Would
harvesting some (if there are any) next year actually harm them, or just not
be tasty?

Duncan Heenan wrote:
"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
Pam Moore wrote:
On Mon, 1 Nov 2004 22:30:44 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Duncan Heenan wrote:
I've planted asparagus for the first time this year, and now I
have
a dozen plants in the garden, each feathery and about 18" high.
How
should I look after them during the winter to stand some chance
of a
first crop next year please?

I'd be inclined not to cut any till 2006, unless the crowns you
put
in were already two years old. All you have to do now is cut off
this
year's stems, and give the whole bed a good two-inch layer of
rotted
muck or weed-free compost. Even in winter it's best to keep an
eye
open for weeds.

Surely you wouldn't cut off green stems? I let them die down
completely to brown stems and then remove them. Otherwise
treatment
as above and DON'T cut any next year. It is worth the wait. I
have 6
plants but now have and extra 9 grown from seed this summer.
They
will not be touched AT LEAST until 2006.......

Good point about the top growth: I was assuming it was dying off
already. Duncan, I'd certainly wait till it's yellow: this is a
sign
that the leaves aren't bringing any more food back to the crowns.

I'm sure it's OK to cut a few shoots next season if the crowns
were
already two years old when they went in; but it won't hurt to
wait --
I know I'd wait.

Mike.

Thanks.
In fact they were all grown this year from seed (which takes for
ever
to germinate!). So I guess it's patience, patience for another year
+. Would harvesting some (if there are any) next year actually harm
them, or just not be tasty?

It would weaken the plants if you harvested any: they need to be at
least three years old to be big and strong enough to lose some of
their leaves without ill effect.

You mention that these are seedlings, though: this brings in another
problem. It's generally more productive if you have only male plants,
so it's traditional best practice to take out any females (the ones
which produce berries) and replace them with males. So I'd sow some
more seed, or buy in a few male crowns. This isn't compulsory, but
why spoil a long-term ship for a short-term saving?

Mike.