Question about asparagus grown from seed

[Digeroo]

I got a cheap packet of asparagus from Wyevale last year and it only had 11 seeds in the packet. F1 Altas.  It was supposed to have 12 but since I paid 50p I was still happy.

Due to various reasons mostly slugs I am now down to 6 plants.  But everytime I put them out to harden off the snails and slugs move in and strip them.    The surviving ones have resurrected from the dead.

If they are simply going to be slug food do you think it is worth continuing to nurture them or should I give up on them.  Does anyone have any suggestions of how to keep the slugs away.  I have tried slug pellets and still end up with stripped plants.   They seem to have just enough time to devour the plants before they die.

[Digeroo]

[pigeonseed]

No this is so hard to manage, isn't it? Have you got enough room indoors to keep them till they get big enough? Once they're big, they're so spiky and tough, they don't seem to be worried by slugs/snails.

Or outside on a second floor window ledge? (Obviously most windowledges would be too windy).

But that's if you're feeling stubborn. What with the fact that they don't always come true from seed, you might just be better off buying some plants/tubers. I have a lot of slugs and snails, but my tubers sprouted and surviced - they might sprout at a time of year when slugs are hibernating or whatever they do!

And I assume you can propagate them eventually by dividing the clumps, but I haven't done this myself.

[pigeonseed]

I mean 'survived'!

[winecap]

I grew some Martha Washington from seed and they have done much better than the crowns I bought - I only ended up with one of those surviving. I kept the seedlings growing in pots until the start of their second year and planted them out just as they were starting to grow again. Slugs or snails will always nibble the young asparagus as it comes through if the weather is wet, but I'd say its definitely worth persisting.

[gavinjconway]

Just plant them out into their bed and they will survive.. sprinkle slug pellets if you have slugs.

[Digeroo]

I think you are all right thank you,  If they have done me the honour of surviving they deserve to be pampered a little.  But if they are inside I will forget to water them.  Perhaps once the slugs have given up for the winter I can put them back outside.