Another asparagus question ...

[Curryandchips]

perhaps this has already been answered but I can't see the wood for the trees.

I have just planted 7 one year old crowns, and intend to sow seed to produce more crowns to plant next year.

My question is, just how many crowns do I need to feed a family of 4? I will presume that the spears can be frozen (?) and I have a daughter who is appreciative of most of the vegetables that appear on her plate. I am envisaging extending the existing plan of 7 crowns to 18 crowns, ie adding another 11, but is this a realistic quantity, having never harvested asparagus before.

[Curryandchips]

[supersprout]

Here's how I worked it out.

A 'feed' is x lb (I reckon 1/2 lb of asparagus for a meal for one).
The season is y weeks (I reckon six).
I want to eat asparagus 3 times a week on average during the season
Each mature asparagus crown can produce 1/2 lb of spears per year when fully established

I just planted 17 crowns :P ;D
Bet you can write the equation curry!

[grawrc]

I am planting 30 crowns. We are a family of 6 with an annexe of 2 (my nephew and his wife). I can't remember how I calculated it but I reckoned that would give us adequate fresh and a little over to freeze for the withdrawal symptoms.  ;)

[Curryandchips]

Yes well I reckon at 1/2 lb (= 1 plant) pp and 20 meals per year

plants = 3 people x 20 meals = 60 plants   arghh!

Will settle at 18 for now.

PS what spacing should I allow?

[grotbag]

plant spacing bout 2.5 ft row spacing 2ft (staggered)

[jennym]

...I reckon 1/2 lb of asparagus for a meal for one..

Thats a lot of asparagus! maybe I'm just mean, though - I give 'em about 6 spears at a meal, and reckon that would only weigh about 2 or 3 oz?

Would agree that I can never seem to produce enough though!

There's a brilliant link here on cultivation:
http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx6009.pdf

[daisymay]

Great article Jenny. Was going to get the seeds you sent me started this weekend, so just in the nick of time too   ;D

[supersprout]

...I reckon 1/2 lb of asparagus for a meal for one..

Thats a lot of asparagus!
Would agree that I can never seem to produce enough though!

Well they are sprouts jen ::), so I eat them on their own for a meal whilst the season lasts. Oh heck, am just greedy lol :P

[jennym]

Well, one day maybe I'll be able to do the same - at least 1/2lb of asparagus won't make me fat (unlike the cadburys lurking in the drawer here)  ;D

[carloso]

err looks like im mean to Jen

as i reckoned on about 6 spears each, by the time i'd have added another veg with it i'd be pretty full or have waste on the plate ! everyone to there own i guess

carl

[Curryandchips]

Sowed seed this morning to increase my plantation from 7 to 18 (hopefully). Donated seed, so not sure of variety.