asparagus

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

if I can source some do you think it'd be ok to stick them in now???  Sorry for all the questions!

Psi

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

[tim]

Product? "25 spears/yr".

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've had a couple of bad experiences with asparagus, and would never buy it from a cheap place again. The asparagus in Kent website sells top quality crowns; the difference has to be seen to be believed. I don't see the need for autumn planting as you're unlikely to get asparagus any faster.

[Barnowl]

Glad to help  - all fresh in the mind since I've bought crowns every year for three years. But since it's only three years can't advise on cropping potential. Experienced grower required  :)

Sorry, just spotted Tim's advice. Is that 25 spears per crown, Tim? Presumably 4th year and onwards.

[sawfish]

I just recieved my 10 Connovers Collossal from JParkers, so I'm planting them tomorrow. That'll be ok wont it?

I've already dug my trenches. 15 inches deep, 4 inches of ancent horse manure at the bottom, on top of that some bone meal, then some compost mixed with pearlite to make the soil lighter with some chicken manure pellets mixed in. I made the compost into a ridge down the middle and will spread the spidery roots across them.

plants 18 inches apart and 30 to 35 inches between crowns on each row. I'll cover the crowns with about 3 or 4 inches of soil.

Is that all right? I'm keeping them in the crisper drawer till tomorrow.

I've also planted some seed in pots in case I have any dud crowns.

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

brilliant advice.  Just seen an offer for 10 Connover's Colossal crowns for £6.45.  Very reasonable - anyone grown this variety before?  It also advises growing 30-35 cm apart rather than the standard 45cm.  All feedback welcome.

[tim]

Yes, Alan - a quote.

PS The one that got away.

[sawfish]

you also get lots of free trailing begonias with the jparkers crowns. If you like that sort of thing.

[sawfish]

DON'T get the crowns from JParker.

I just opened my box and only 2 were alive. I might just have been unlucky.

[daileg]

if you dont want the corms Begonias ill have them

[sawfish]

the girlfriend likes them I'm afraid Daileg.

I'm just gonna try that kent asparagus place and ask for my money back from JParkers.

They've always been great for stuff, I must have been unlucky.

[Barnowl]

DON'T get the crowns from JParker.

I just opened my box and only 2 were alive. I might just have been unlucky.

DON'T get the crowns from JParker.

I just opened my box and only 2 were alive. I might just have been unlucky.

If you are not replacing them,  I'd plant them anyway - even in pots. I had some I thought were dead (kept in the fridge for 2 months!), but around 50% came back to life. A good soaking might help.

If you are still looking I've bought (other stuff, not asparagus) from Read's Nursery in the past and they might have some left, but I'd call first to check their condition.

http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/acatalog/Culinary_Vegetables_and_Herbs.html

[Kea]

......Add lime if the soil is very acid. If you have tested your soil these vegetables prefer a pH of 5.5-6.5.

Yes I'm rather surprised on my site to see that because we got a load of free woodchip a lot of people have used this on their asparagus beds. Don't be tempted to do this as it will acidify the soil. I've used old straw over my well rotted manure.

[sawfish]

good program on the potting shed this week about asparagus.

see here.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00k6nws

[cacran]

Cheers for that Sawfish. I love the Scottish accent!!

[sawfish]

I'll be glad to see the back of Frieda Morrison, she was so annoying. She struck me as someone who wasn't remotely interested in gardening but just did the job.

14 years doing it and she was still clueless.

[sawfish]

my asparagus from asparagus-in-kent.co.uk/ have arrived. They look fantastic, so different from the JParkrs rubbish I got.

[sawfish]

Well thats my Gijnlim in. 10 Gijnlim, 4 Connovers Collossal and a couple of something else next year as I want to grow a couple of plants from seed. Total 16 plants, whats that, about 400 spears eventually Tim?

[vegging out]

I'm in my 3 season with 15 Gijnlim from www.asparagus-in-kent.co.uk,I also can't recommend them enough,excellent size crowns,four times bigger that the rubbish you see in garden centres etc.All crowns are producing well,I've cut over 80 spears so far this year and their still popping up.
  Does anyone with experience think I should keep cutting a bit longer or should I let them grow now,being the third year I didn't want to put to much stress on them,I've been cutting for 4-5 weeks now.
  Regards

[vegging out]

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