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#1
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any asparagus experts out there?
Hi - I purchased an asparagus crowns in the middle of April and planted
it out. The garden nursery said it was a two year old asparagus and should crop this year, albeit lightly. I know its only been one month, but it looks a bit spindly to me. I've put some pics online he http://www.thesullies.com/garden/asparagus.htm. Could any expert take a look at tell me if the nursery was being optimistic with its predictions of a crop. Also, I just took the plant from its container and plonked it in the ground with a bit of compost. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to separate the spears - for the sake of not stressing the roots, I opted not to. I'm now thinking that one plant (or crown?) will only feed me one meal next year, which is a poor return - so perhaps I better go and get a few more crowns. Or can I expect new spears to emerge from the ground next year, and if so should I allow them to grow or nip them off ? Many thanks in advance... Rgds, Kevin. PS - I am in Hove, East Sussex. PPS - I am a novice gardiner - which may be clear by now. But this usenet group is great! |
#2
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#4
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Thanks, everyone, for the info - I have a further question:
As you can see in the pic, I have five spears - ranging from a lanky two feet to a scrawny two inches. Would this be a single crown ? And does the number of spears increase each year as the crown develops? I think I'll have to go get some more crowns and sit tight until next year. |
#6
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wrote:
Hi - I purchased an asparagus crowns in the middle of April and planted it out. The garden nursery said it was a two year old asparagus and should crop this year, albeit lightly. I know its only been one month, but it looks a bit spindly to me. I've put some pics online he http://www.thesullies.com/garden/asparagus.htm. Could any expert take a look at tell me if the nursery was being optimistic with its predictions of a crop. Also, I just took the plant from its container and plonked it in the ground with a bit of compost. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to separate the spears - for the sake of not stressing the roots, I opted not to. I'm now thinking that one plant (or crown?) will only feed me one meal next year, which is a poor return - so perhaps I better go and get a few more crowns. Or can I expect new spears to emerge from the ground next year, and if so should I allow them to grow or nip them off ? Many thanks in advance... Rgds, Kevin. PS - I am in Hove, East Sussex. PPS - I am a novice gardiner - which may be clear by now. But this usenet group is great! You obviously don't watch /Gardener's World/. They did a piece about sparrows' grass last Friday. As far as I can remember (I was dozy after my fish and chip supper) they don't start producing a large crop until the second or even third year. The other problem is that you're a novice and growing sparrows' grass isn't really something you should be attempting as your first veggie growing project. Also check your soil type - where do you live? They also like to be in the full sun and, to the best of my knowledge, aren't that hardy, so would need to be kept under cloches at this time of year as we are still experiencing some nights of frost. Having said that, according to the link below, they will grow in almost any soil (it doesn't make specific mention of sand, but it does say acidic, so I took that to mean sandy). Basics can be found on the /Gardener's World/ site http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plant...ges/7092.shtml, but I'm sure someone else will come along who has a bit more knowledge than I do. As an aside, could someone please tell me why it's colloquially known as 'sparrows' grass' - is it to do with the sound of the word - or something else? Sarah The comments expressed above are written by someone who doesn't really know what she's talking about and have been gleaned from various sources, not least /Gardener's World/. Please check with a reputable expert before implementing any suggestions or advice. -- In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/ |
#7
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In article ,
Miss Perspicacia Tick wrote: The other problem is that you're a novice and growing sparrows' grass isn't really something you should be attempting as your first veggie growing project. It depends on your soil. Given the right one, it is a weed. Also check your soil type - where do you live? They also like to be in the full sun and, to the best of my knowledge, aren't that hardy, so would need to be kept under cloches at this time of year as we are still experiencing some nights of frost. Having said that, according to the link below, they will grow in almost any soil (it doesn't make specific mention of sand, but it does say acidic, so I took that to mean sandy). They are fully hardy, and they definitely don't need acid, but need deep soil and excellent drainage. In sand, they will establish themselves as a self-sowing weed. I don't grow asparagus - I hunt it. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#8
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Miss Perspicacia Tick wrote:
Also check your soil type - where do you live? They also like to be in the full sun and, to the best of my knowledge, aren't that hardy, so would need We're in East Anglia, hardly the least frosty part of the UK, and ours have survived several years without problems. As an aside, could someone please tell me why it's colloquially known as 'sparrows' grass' - is it to do with the sound of the word - or something else? I thought it was the other way about, asparagus is a corruption of sparrow grass, but maybe I'm completely wrong there. -- Chris Green |
#9
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#11
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#12
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On 11 May 2005 01:01:30 -0700, "
wrote: Hi - I purchased an asparagus crowns in the middle of April and planted it out. The garden nursery said it was a two year old asparagus and should crop this year, albeit lightly. I know its only been one month, but it looks a bit spindly to me. I think yours have established quite well but DON'T cut any. I put in 5 crowns about 7 years ago, and this year have already had 4 pickings, the best ever. I also planted, last year, 2 plnts from pots, bought from garden centre, and 9 seedlings grown at home. The 2 from pots have not shown at all and of the seedlings, so far only 2 are showing the tiniest bit of feathery leaf. Be patient! It will be worth the wait. Pam in Bristol |
#13
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Following up to Pam Moore
the seedlings, so far only 2 are showing the tiniest bit of feathery leaf. I had to weed the seedling with my reading glasses on all first season. -- Mike Reid Wasdale-Thames path-London-Photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
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