Pathetic asparagus.

[caroline7758]

I planted a row of asparagus crowns last year and thought they had completely failed. However, I have now got very spindly shoots on 5 of them, but some of these are about 2 inches high. Is it worth leaving them in the hope they will do better next year? And if so, what can I do to encourage them? I don't know what I did wrong, except maybe didn't protect them enough over the winter?  :(

[caroline7758]

[gavinjconway]

They are still young plants and they will get bigger over the next couple of years. Leaver them in!! The season has been so rubbish everything is confused.. you can pick a few next year and then go for it the following year.

[gwynnethmary]

Those I planted last year are spindly too, but those from two years ago are thick and chunky.  I think it's a question of patience.  Those I planted this year are still sulking underground!

[gavinjconway]

I saw some on the site today that are 2 years old and only just starting to spike through.. also spindly.

[Eamon]

I watched Gardener's World last night and Monty Don said it's been a terrible season everywhere for asparagus. He's leaving his to strengthen for next year.

[green lily]

I've glynjim I think its called and its been great masses of shoots. But I feed it every year and remember the seaweed meal as its a sea-side plant. I suggest you weed and feed now and mulch over winter with muck or similar. Home compost can give too many weeds. Be patient and generous with care and you should be well rewarded. Nothing should be picked before plants are 3/4 years old.Best of luck.. :)

[caroline7758]

I watched Gardener's World last night and Monty Don said it's been a terrible season everywhere for asparagus. He's leaving his to strengthen for next year.

Makes me feel a lot better if Monty's with me! ;)

[goodlife]

My seed grown plants that I planted last year FINALLY decided to shoot up.. ::)They now about 4" tall but at least they are alive.

Caroline..as your crowns are still getting established..don't expect much from them for another year.. ::)..like Green Lily said..give them feed as they need to build up their strength...sprinkling of chicken pellets won't go amiss.. ;)

[Froglegs]

I've swapped one of my plots(from back to back,to side by side..it's along story)at the beginning of the year and had to move my 5 year old  asparagus crowns  to a new bed,it's not liking it at all  :( any shoots that have come up seem to fizzle out,at 5 years was it too old to move?should I bite the bullet dig it up and put new crowns in next spring ???.

[gavinjconway]

My seed grown plants that I planted last year FINALLY decided to shoot up.. ::)They now about 4" tall but at least they are alive.

Caroline..as your crowns are still getting established..don't expect much from them for another year.. ::)..like Green Lily said..give them feed as they need to build up their strength...sprinkling of chicken pellets won't go amiss.. ;)

Hi goodie... I grew 2 packs of seed this year to plant out when the early spuds are out.. my seeds took about 4-8 weeks to all come up (had 98% germination) and now have potted on to 3" pots. They are growing many new spears although very small thin ones as theay are brand new.. The packet said up to 10 weeks to germinate..

[goodlife]

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Hi goodie... I grew 2 packs of seed this year to plant out when the early spuds are out.. my seeds took about 4-8 weeks to all come up (had 98% germination) and now have potted on to 3" pots. They are growing many new spears although very small thin ones as theay are brand new.. The packet said up to 10 weeks to germinate..

Yes, they are surprinsingly easy to grow from seed and grow quite quickly once germinated. If I remember right..mine took only couple weeks to come through.
The "spears".. ::)(if that is what you can call them in early stages) of mine are not much thicker than in their first year, but looks like they are going to grow quite a bit taller .
This rain will do good for the plants and get them really going.. ;) ;D..another two years to go for the first harvest.. ::)

[gavinjconway]

Cant wait for mine to get planted out and then the wait till they are mature in a few years!!

Asparagus and GemSquash are my 2 best veg ever!!

[chriscross1966]

THe UC72 I have have finally all shown... some plants came up in March and are now massive great things, but the last three have only come up in the last day or so.... hopefully they'll get a lot stronger this year.... now they're all up I think the plan is to put a load of compost and BFB down, mulch over with cardboard and then maybe more compost.....

[Jeannine]

I put in a new bed this year and got shoots almost straight away but of course very very thin, I now have foot high ferns so am hoping this will be enough greenery to help them for next year.

XX Jeannine

[goodlife]

I've swapped one of my plots(from back to back,to side by side..it's along story)at the beginning of the year and had to move my 5 year old  asparagus crowns  to a new bed,it's not liking it at all  :( any shoots that have come up seem to fizzle out,at 5 years was it too old to move?should I bite the bullet dig it up and put new crowns in next spring ???.

This is something one our 'quiet' friend here that I've been 'chatting' with told me about asparagus..and I'm passing the info to you...
"Asparagus is a monocot with adventitious roots (monocots have only adventitious roots). When adventitious roots are damaged they don't re-generate further back as do real roots, entire new roots have to be produced. Adding some P will help re-generate roots ('bulb food'/bonemeal)."