Seeds in asparagus bed

[Jeannine]

When I was tidying up my asparagus bed today I kept finding what I thought were bug eggs of some sort,they were soft and round like slug eggs but bigger,they were  soft and pale almost white,I picked a few up and took them to a neighbour,he didn't know what they were either so we decided to stomp on them,to our surprise they popped open and about 4  or 5 hard black seeds came out. Asparagus seeds I presume.Does anyone know if they are any good, does anyone want any ?  Pod was size of a large dried pea,perfectly round, seeds about beetroot size.Variety is Cito.

[Jeannine]

[Rosyred]

ooh yes please if they are asparagus i'll give them a go please.

[Jeannine]

Hi I will find you some, at your own risk though as I presume they are asparagus, and I think Cito is a hybrid plant, you may get something brilliant . I still have the address from the Sunsweets.XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

Rosyred,I got the seeds for you today, some have actually sprouted in the ground,I will mail some tomorrow hopefully not the sprouted ones..but you might want to get a seed tray ready. XX Jeannine

[Rosyred]

Thanks Jeannine, You can't eat in the first year can you?

[cambourne7]

asparagus seed takes 2 year before you get a crop.

I picked up some asparagus seed last year and i hope to supliment them with a couple of crowns.

I just have not got round to digging the bed over :-)

[Jeannine]

Hi Rosy and Cambourne, you should eat any the first year not even when you plant crowns,I sneaked a few the first year after planting my crowns but the plants were extremely strong and my will power was weak,2nd year you can cut a little,by the 3rd the bed should be established. This is my 4th  year  since planting 1 year old crowns.  The crowns I bought were Cito,they were huge when they arrived and took off immediately.We had the bed all prepared the previous autumn, it is 1 foot raised and filled with good soil, 22 feet x4 feet,they have tons of room and I am convinced that this helps. We planted them the day they arrived and followed the instructions to the letter.The bed has had no special attention since it's initial very careful preparation. Last year we were picking them every day.
This year they are just starting to push through already.

Good luck with your new ones Cambourne and same to you Rosy,Your envelope is readt to go first thing, there are no sprouted ones it I hope but I would pop them in soil on arrival.I have no idea what will grow. I have put a few in soil myself to see what happens.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

Sorry that should read you should NOT eat any the first year.

[cambourne7]

Hi

Thanks honey.

My asparagus bed is 2ft by 10ft.

Its not been dug over yet but i aim to dig out a spades depth and then add a raised bed 1/2 foot high.

I am going to buy some well rotted manure ( only have fresh left ) and then back fill to the left of the soil now with compost. I was going to add the crowns then top up 2/3rd of the bed with more compost with  blood bone and something else ( brain escapes me ) mixed in and then add the asparagus seed avoiding where the crowns are and then top up the soil.

It seems like a lot of space to give to just asparagus but i am sure it will be worth it.

I am told that parsley is a good companion for asparagus so i was thinking of growing my parsley hamberg around the edge as it needs a long growing season. Found this a good read http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/adams/2003/aspargus.htm and http://www.asparagus.org/

I think the seeds i have are mary washington, i also have one year old plants i got from a friend but i dont think they made it though the winter but i will throw them in anyway. I am hoping to find crowns for the purple or pink variatys for contrast :)

Cambourne7

[cambourne7]

bed is now all planted :-) so excited when i counted the seeds there were 22 :-) the beds all planted and watered and i will take some photos tomorrow!

Just need to wait till next year for small harvest and then as the years go buy i think i will have enough to keep me going.

- Not even sure if i like asparagus!

[saddad]

Just cut a good 18 spears for lunch... 8 of us today and running late after a couple of beers last night!

[cambourne7]

sounds like fun, i have only got up 2pm !! and heading to bbq at 3.15 a couple of doors down.

So no cooking, no cleaning yippie

[Jeannine]

Rosyred how did you get on with these. I sowed 48 in cells and everyone came up. I gave them to a lottie neighbour when they were about 5 inches tall. They grew very well XX Jeannine