Asparagus Question

In May I bought two strips of Asparagus plants basically plug plants 6 per tray and I planted them in a raised bed.They were only about 6" high but are now growing well but not sure what do do as regards cutting them down have had different answers some say leave them and cut them down next year and some say cut them down this year.They are about 9" high and quite bushy though on some of them there appears to be a main stem growing.Any advice appreciated.

 

MF's spot on Leave your plants to make lots of fern. It'll turn yellow/brown in autumn...that's when you cut it down to ground level. Same again next year. Pick the young shoots lightly in the 3rd year, from then on pick as much as you like between March and June/July, but once you've finished picking it, always leave the ferns to yellow before cutting down.

 

My asparagus is now in it's 3rd year so when would I expect to see the first sign of the new shoots.I cut them down to just above ground level in October.

 

When the spears poke up in the Spring (exactly when depends on your area/climate), you can take a stem or two from each plant. (Before the pointy end starts opening out). If the plants are big and strong, you can do it again this year.
That will probably be it for 2020, but as long as the fern has been allowed to die back naturally, the crowns should be well-developped enough to cut spears right through Spring 2021, as and when they push up.