Aspar-aghast!

[Lizard Man]

My 3 year old asparagus crowns have been busily sending up spears over the last few weeks. However, a recent visit to the lottie revealed that most of the spears that have emerged (and which I was hoping of harvesting soon) have died. They are sort of dry and flattened, as if hollow and collapsed. They also look a bit chewed? The newly emerging spears all look fine, though. Have they been attacked by a pest or is it likely to be due to the cold spells we've had recently?

[Lizard Man]

[Clayhithe]

Don't worry,  it's the frost.  I assume you've checked for asparagus beetle?

Cut them off below ground and wait for more.

Mine did the same.

(Harvest them before the frost gets them!!)

[Lizard Man]

Thanks, Clayhithe. Just panicking! The nibbling culprits are slugs/snails I'm sure (no sign of the asparagus beetle yet - bit early for them I would guess (too cold still - if the frost is responsible for dying asparagus spears then I'm sure the beetles wouldn't be too healthy either!!

I will wait for the next ones to come up and hope they fair better.