Greetings from hertfordshire

[sallylockhart]

Hello,

I'm new to this site, and fairly new to 'proper' gardening, having only had yards/rented properties with strict landlords in the past.

However, I now have a proper garden of my own, which the previous owners very kindly left ready dug for veg, and which includes a greenhouse! Very exciting indeed.

We only moved in last week, but I have already put in some garlic cloves I started off in a plug tray in the winter - they have been sprouting merrily since we had a warm few days about 2 weeks ago and I thought I'd better get them in before things got out of hand!

I have lots of plans for things to grow so am bound to start pestering the forum for advice sooner rather than later :-)

Speaking of which, does anyone have any advice about how I should treat asparagus - there are some dormant crowns by the compost heap (my winter plant identification isn;t that good alas - everything in the garden is very neatly labelled by the previous owners!) - should I just wait and see what turns up, or is there something I can do to encourage them?

cheers.

PS - I know that I don't strictly have an allotment, but I was hoping that a garden and a veg patch would count?

[sallylockhart]

[MikeB]

Hi Sally,

Welcome and don't worry about not having an allotment, quite a few of us have veg patches in our garden and some don't even have that.  All you need is an interest in gardening.

Kind Regards

MikeB

[Alimo]

Hi Sally - wow you are lucky to have your patch previously dug and things labelled!  What wonderful people.  I don't have an allotment - just a patch in the garden, which I started last year.  I love it.  :)

Sorry - I can't answer your asparagus question - I don't grow it, but I'm sure someone will be able to tell you what to do.

Alison

[Bun]

Hi Sally, I'm in Harlow. Where abouts in Herts are you? :)

[GREENWIZARD]

[Svea]

welcome aboard :)

[John_H]

Hello Sally

I think the most important thing with Asparagus Crowns is not to let them dry out.

They crop quite early in the year before most other veg, which is a real bonus because they fill whats called the 'hungry gap' between the end of winter veg and the growth of most late spring ones.

You can benefit from this most if they are allowed to grow in well drained, fertile soil (maybe on a raised bed) and where they get plenty of sun. Sandy soil is quite good because it keeps the slugs at bay and also warms up earlier in the year than clay soils.

There is a bit of information on the Wiki (button at the top of the page) but I expect you will need to use the search facility to get the full benefit of past discussions.

JennyM has just put this link up

http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx6009.pdf

[kippers garden]

Hi sally, i'm from Leicester and used the site for the first time last week.  I have an allotment (since June 05) and i've already found this site really useful.

Happy gardening!