bethzaring
Master Chef
Larry, and Pepperhead, what are you planting, seeds or crowns? And if crowns, how old were they? In 2015, I planted my third asparagus bed and all three times, started with 2 year old crowns.
Today's harvest
- Thread starter GotGarlic
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larry_stewart
Master Chef
I planted crowns, I think 2 year old, both times . Just didnt work out. To its defense, it isn't in one of my prime garden spots, but I have much more productive crops in those areas of the garden.
cookiecrafter
Senior Cook
Asparagus grows wild in IL. As does berries and mushrooms. Going mushroom hunting is very popular.
pepperhead212
Executive Chef
I also grew the asparagus from crowns, both times too, since I figured that's giving me a head start. I've considered doing it from seeds, but I don't know how that could be better.
cookiecrafter
Senior Cook
Is asparagus a two year (two season) producer?
bethzaring
Master Chef
No, trying to grow from seeds would not be better. Growing from crowns does give you a head start.
bethzaring
Master Chef
Asparagus is a perennial. My first bed grew well for about 20 years then the stalks started to struggle and I dug that bed up and planted new crowns. Ugh, my back hurts to recollect that. I took three years for that project.
So I guess the lesson from your bed of asparagus, beth, would be to change perhaps 1/3 or 1/2 your bed 3 - 4 years before the old one starts to struggle? Then you would have a continuous supply, of young going to old? think that would work?
bethzaring
Master Chef
I did not know how long my first 80 foot bed would produce well. When I started to replace the first third of the bed, we were getting enough asparagus from the rest of the bed that we were well supplied.
blissful
Master Chef
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2008
- Messages
- 5,294
My 30 year old asparagus started struggling. In the meantime, two other patches sprung up on their own in different areas, which we now water and they are spreading. Then we put in 2 more small beds. Each year we grow seeds by winter sowing. We buy or collect seed (in the fall), then plant early in spring (now). We fortify the beds to use all the space in them. We grow more every year because it is practically free to start seeds.
We love asparagus so we eat most of what we grow, and when asparagus comes up from peru for 99 cent/lb, we dehydrate it and use that in asparagus soup in winter.
We love asparagus so we eat most of what we grow, and when asparagus comes up from peru for 99 cent/lb, we dehydrate it and use that in asparagus soup in winter.
You are definitely making me jealous. I love asparagus and buy them when they look really yummy in the store. BUT... it is one of the things on my no-no list - which I ignore.
Did start a small patch at my sons'. Last year was year two, so should start getting edibles this year. It's a very small patch so don't know how many servings we'll get. One spear each? LOL
Did start a small patch at my sons'. Last year was year two, so should start getting edibles this year. It's a very small patch so don't know how many servings we'll get. One spear each? LOL
Kathleen
Cupcake
My asparagus bed has done very little. I think I will start a new one in a different location. In the asparagus spot, I am attempting "no dig" potatoes. I've never grown potatoes before, so this is a fun experiment.
Maybe the potatoes will make the asparagus wake up and do something.
