Topic: 1st asparagus

[derbex]

Mine are starting to come now. I'm a year behind you, Yuet_Lee, I've seen some people say 3 years and some 4 -so you should be OK. I was thinking of taking 1 or 2 spears/plant this year and more next?

[Rose.mary]

I am very relieved to hear that a lot of you have not got any asparagus yet as I was beginning to panic. I had to move mine in January as I have moved plots. None of mine are showing yet, but it looks like there is still a chance.

Rosemary

[grotbag]

yuet lee, you can pick all you want if 4 year old, upto bout mid june

[Yuet_Lee]

Grotbag, Some of them are very thin, thiner than pencil. Some of them are thicker.
 How tall shall I leave it to grow above the ground before cutting?

[jennym]

I usually pick them when they are about 6 - 9" high, but only the thick ones.
Still no sign of mine yet  :(

[tim]

Seem to remember saying 4"? Sorry - 6-8" of course. And cut 2-3" below soil level.

But you don't leave the thin ones to go to fern yet, surely, Jenny? Even they can be tasty!

All this talk - just had to go & look - 1 x 1" shoot in 20'.

[jennym]

Well yes, but I have plants of different ages all mixed up in my bed Tim (blush) so I tend to assume they are the younger ones and leave them be.

[tim]

Really, Jenny - you??

But then, if you mark the first ones that have wimpy things, & check later if they revert to the norm, you might save a good plant from thinking it was 'ripe'??

Talking off the top of my head. Per usual!!

[jennym]

Tim - I will mark the wimpy ones, honest!

Meantime - found the first shoot  ;D (have been scrabbling in the soil daily) and here it is:

[grawrc]

Once you have mature plants and you are cutting shoots how many shoots should you leave on or does it not matter?

[grotbag]

I cut all my spears when about 5" tall, thick or thin i cut em all til mid june then stop

[Wicker]

Think I should be able to cut a few spears this year - (bought as 1 year crowns in 2004) as a few are showing about as thick as a finger where last year they were wimpy (a la Tim!).  Surprised at them being so advanced this early here tho a few plants aren't showing any yet, but I am looking forward happily.....