mulching asparagus

[Sarah-b]

Hope we haven't been through all this before - but anyway:
Is it a good idea to mulch asparagus? Worried about perrenial weeds taking hold after planting the crowns that will arrive soonish I guess.
OH says 'how about gravel?' So how about it? - presumably that would prevent future applications of FYM?
Or what else might be good?
cheers,
SB

[Sarah-b]

[Mrs Ava]

My crowns were planted about this time last year, and were 3 year old ones I think, so am hoping for my first light picking this year, and I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to it!

Following from advice on here, and watching what my lottie neighbour has done, I have place a good mulch of leaf mould over my "'gus grave" this year which I believe not only feeds the soil and crowns, but helps protect any really early spears from a late frost.  Would worry that gravel may damage the spears as they come through, or even worse, prevent them coming through!!!  Maybe straw would be an option, or shredded paper, but personally, I would go for the leaf mould/fym route.

[tim]

We use compost or manure.  Some growers then top with straw.

We also like seaweed meal, & give a BF&B feed now, before the mulch.

[gavin]

I used compost - but I read somewhere of using parsley (and letting it self-seed to run riot)  --- a bit far-fetched? 

All best - Gavin