Asparagus plants

[bluecar]

Hello all.

I'm just about to inherit 12 5 year old asparagus plants. Obviously, there will be some root damage when I move them. Will I be able to harvest any spears this year or am I best leaving them for a year?

Also should I just leave them dormant (not planted) until about April time or would it be best to plant them now?

Regards

Bluecar

[bluecar]

[grawrc]

I would get them back into the ground as soon as possible although not if it's frozen or waterlogged. They like very free-draining soil. If you can't plant them now make sure they don't dry out. I would also give them a year to recover from the move before cutting, although you can see how prolifically they shoot. If there are loads of shoots I would feel free to cut a few.

[small]

I agree you need to get them in asap.....they'll be growing in a month. I can't see that an odd picking or two this year will hurt so long as you don't take all your spears off one plant. After all, you need to check the flavour, don't you?

[bluecar]

Thanks for your advice.

Regards

Bluecar

[caroline7758]

I was wondering whether my new ones planted last year would have survived the winter and wet, but when I went to my plot yesterday I could see at least one of them has!

[GREGME]

I think I would make sure I have the new bed prepared before digging up and moving and look out for a mild frost free week.

and good to hear your new ones have survived Caroline

[gavinjconway]

Difficult to do but leave them this year to grow and NO PICKING!!

[grawrc]

I think I would make sure I have the new bed prepared before digging up and moving and look out for a mild frost free week.

and good to hear your new ones have survived Caroline

Absolutely. The asparagus bed needs thorough preparation and it needs to be weed free.

[irridium]

i bought these crowns off for a friend's birthday to be gifted this week, but initially they were potted-on over the winter but they weren't really that great looking to begin with. the roots were i'd say 4-5" long and the central bit holding them together weren't  very big at all. i bought 3 off Ebay (never again) and the 2 crown had the crown bit divided in the middle, so I don't know whether that'll survive or not).

reason why i thought this was a good present for my friend as it's his favourite vegetable but as his garden is heavy clay, I know it'll have to be grown in a raised bed. With hindsight, I have bought this without much thought and I'm not sure whether he'll go  out of his lazy ways to make one especially for it. He's had the garden for more than 20 years but due to his stubbornness, he hasn't improved his soil.  that's why his crops all fail on him (or he gets very miserable returns)... oh well, live and let live