Asparagus Advice Please

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by lowrider69, Feb 15, 2019.

  1. lowrider69

    lowrider69 Gardener

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2009
    Messages:
    230
    Occupation:
    Disabled
    Location:
    Devon
    Ratings:
    +174
    Can I get some Asparagus Advice Please I planted these last year about mid summer and this is what they look like now do you think they have died out?

    and if yes any advice on where I'm going wrong please?
    asparagus.jpg
     
  2. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Messages:
    6,042
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Mad Scientist
    Location:
    Paignton Devon
    Ratings:
    +20,946
    Look fine to me, they should throw up new shoots around April. I would cut the dead material off at ground level, weed, mulch and then apply some fertiliser when you see some new growth.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • lowrider69

      lowrider69 Gardener

      Joined:
      Dec 5, 2009
      Messages:
      230
      Occupation:
      Disabled
      Location:
      Devon
      Ratings:
      +174
      Oh right that's cool then whats the best thing to use as mulch? some grass clipping maybe? grass could use a quick trim
       
    • NigelJ

      NigelJ Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jan 31, 2012
      Messages:
      6,042
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Mad Scientist
      Location:
      Paignton Devon
      Ratings:
      +20,946
      I was thinking more of well rotted manure or good home made garden compost.
      Asparagus need plenty of feeding to develop the crowns and produce good thick shoots, the grass clippings will take nitrogen out of the soil as they break down.
      I would think you are a couple of years away from being able to harvest any.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • lowrider69

        lowrider69 Gardener

        Joined:
        Dec 5, 2009
        Messages:
        230
        Occupation:
        Disabled
        Location:
        Devon
        Ratings:
        +174
        Will have to see if theres anyone local got some going free as dont have room for composting
         
      • Marley Farley

        Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 11, 2005
        Messages:
        30,589
        Occupation:
        Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
        Location:
        Under the Edge Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +14,123
        @lowrider69 you can buy bags of organic manure online or garden centres.. You don't pick the asparagus for at least the first two years as you want to establish crowns. Let them just grow away.. They are very attractive, then when the stems have turned brown in the autumn cut off at ground level and dispose of the top growth don’t try and compost it because of the risk of Asparagus beetle.. :thumbsup:
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • lowrider69

          lowrider69 Gardener

          Joined:
          Dec 5, 2009
          Messages:
          230
          Occupation:
          Disabled
          Location:
          Devon
          Ratings:
          +174
          ok will grab a few bags and cut them down and weed it thanks
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Marley Farley

            Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

            Joined:
            May 11, 2005
            Messages:
            30,589
            Occupation:
            Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
            Location:
            Under the Edge Zone 8b
            Ratings:
            +14,123
            Be careful when weeding not to dig too deep, they have thick white roots and you don’t want to disturb them.. :thumbsup:
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • lowrider69

              lowrider69 Gardener

              Joined:
              Dec 5, 2009
              Messages:
              230
              Occupation:
              Disabled
              Location:
              Devon
              Ratings:
              +174
            • lowrider69

              lowrider69 Gardener

              Joined:
              Dec 5, 2009
              Messages:
              230
              Occupation:
              Disabled
              Location:
              Devon
              Ratings:
              +174
              thinking about it even if I do weed it they will be back again in a week or two, there a nightmare in our gardens
              might be best just to cut them back rather then taking the risk if hurting my Asparagus roots?
               
            • lowrider69

              lowrider69 Gardener

              Joined:
              Dec 5, 2009
              Messages:
              230
              Occupation:
              Disabled
              Location:
              Devon
              Ratings:
              +174
              All weeded and cut back and put some organic manure on top, got few coming through already,

              Does asparagus spread? are should I plant some more?
              not sure how many have made it spring will tell I guess but it looks loads better now asparagus March 2019.jpg
               
              • Like Like x 4
              • Marley Farley

                Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

                Joined:
                May 11, 2005
                Messages:
                30,589
                Occupation:
                Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
                Location:
                Under the Edge Zone 8b
                Ratings:
                +14,123
                Looking good, mine are just starting to show now too. :thumbsup:
                 
                • Like Like x 2
                • Vince

                  Vince Not so well known for it.

                  Joined:
                  Mar 10, 2008
                  Messages:
                  1,861
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  North London / Lincolnshire Fens
                  Ratings:
                  +3,499
                  2nd year? Don't pick/cut no more than 2 spears per plant.
                   
                  • Informative Informative x 1
                  • Verdun

                    Verdun Passionate gardener

                    Joined:
                    Oct 16, 2012
                    Messages:
                    7,475
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    West Cornwall
                    Ratings:
                    +17,486
                    Controlling weeds is very important at this stage. Getting rid of weeds among asparagus is nigh well impossible and weeds will spoil the crop.
                    I would use a glyphosate spray or gel to treat weeds throughout the summer. This should eliminate perennial weeds.
                    You can make a good mulch by mixing mpc and dried manure/chicken pellets. Grass cuttings, in my experience, simply creates grass weeds, robs nitrogen from the soil at a time when nitrogen is needed and make a slimy, unattractive and smelly surface.
                    Be ready to stake your asparagus too to avoid root rock :)
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 1
                    • noisette47

                      noisette47 Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jan 25, 2013
                      Messages:
                      5,861
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
                      Ratings:
                      +13,960
                      Hang on, Verdun, think about this.....even assuming that glyphosate is still available (it was withdrawn from sale here on 1/1/19) you'd have to be very, very careful using it around emerging or actively growing asparagus shoots! Gel painted on dandelions or bindweed, perhaps, but even that is risky.
                      As for knocking stakes into the ground, if the crowns are correctly planted with the roots splayed out, it's a sure recipe for root damage! For a small row, it would make more sense to run a couple of strings or wires between two stakes, one at either end of the row.
                      I've got a 100m row of asparagus, been in 12 years now, and it's kept clean by a combination of mulching, careful use of a claw type cultivator on annual weeds and hand weeding.
                      I'd add to lowrider69, you've done a beautiful job on your asparagus bed, just keep an eye open for little, elongated red, white and black beetles and squash them on sight! They sidle round the stems to hide when they see you coming :biggrin: If you see rows of tiny black 'sticks' on the stem, rub them off. They're beetle eggs. You really don't want to see what they turn into if you leave them to hatch ;)
                      Asparagus beetle / RHS Gardening
                      All you need then is patience :)
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • Agree Agree x 2
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice