Any thoughts on the asparagus part of this offer http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/arr9026/1 gratefully received...
I'm tempted by the asparagus myself, but I've got enough rhubarb.
Terrace Max
Assuming you aren't going to buy the rhubarb, just 3 questions for you:
1, do you have a patch of ground to put aside to dedicate to this asparagus - never to plant anything else there? ???
2, do you really want 5 (or 10 or 15.....) each of three varieties? ???
3, can you afford to lose £11.99 (or multiples thereof)? ???
If the answer to all three questions is "yes", then go for it and enjoy! ;D
1. Yes. A crop of anything is welcome in May. As nice as asparagus, definitely!
2. See above.
3. Probably not but if you think it's an ok price...??
I think I impulse-bought 6 asparagus plants for about £5.99 in our local garden centre last spring, so 80p each seems reasonably priced.
Cheapest was a friend of mine who was giving away first year seedlings! But then you invest time rather than money.
Hey, it's only the price of a Chinese takeaway or just under 5 pints of beer, and you sound as if you'd really enjoy eating home-grown sparrowgrass. Don't go out this Friday, buy your asparagus instead :D ;D :D
I have an asparagus bed, and some of the plants are female and bear berries with seed. I have managed to increase the bed by growing on from seed. If anyone would like some seed to try in the autumn, please pm me, I'll make a note and send it on when ripe. Unfortunately I can't remember the variety, it could be Martha Washington.
I've found that they crop well from the third year, and the yield is very good from the original plants which are now five years old.
QuoteDon't go out this Friday
Just like every other Friday for me then, WP! Thanks for your help all - I'll buy them! Knowing T&M they won't show up 'till next year...
Sounds like a good way to get a little each of 3 varieties. I'm debating whether to get some crowns myself, and have been reading the Seeds of Italy booklet http://www.seedsofitaly.sagenet.co.uk/onions.htm, as one of the possible options.
Hey Jenny, I'd love some if you'll have spare. My flatmates are always talking about growing something that's not cheap to buy...I grow tomatoes and carrots and things. I could swap you some chilli seeds when I have them if you'd like.
Amanda
I just took a look in one of my books just to see what care asparagus needs, and it said "you will need at least 30 crowns".
No idea what this is based on or how many people they think I'm going to feed. It's just me and hubby.....does each planted crown produce a certain number of spears or what?
Any advice on how many to get welcome!
I remember reading the 30 crowns thing too, where I read it, that was based on a family of four, so 12 - 15 should probably do you?
20 crowns into one largish half plot? Can asparagus be interplanted with anything else or does it have to have a bed all to itself?
I read that asparagus is a good companion plant to tomatoes, apparently it helps stop some root nematode that attacks tomatoes. I tried it this year and it has seemed to work well.
The T&M offer is a fair price, I paid £3.99 for 6 crowns from my local garden centre, but had to spend ages trying to find packs of crowns not covered in grey mould :( I've just placed an order for the 3 mixed varieties, as I'm reluctantly going to have to move my existing crowns as I've changed allotment plots & don't know how happy they'll be about the move. Hopefully as they've only been on site for a year & the soil is fairly loose transplanting should go ok, then I'll have LOADS of asparagus, yum!
Quote from: redclanger on August 31, 2005, 18:54:03
20 crowns into one largish half plot? Can asparagus be interplanted with anything else or does it have to have a bed all to itself?
Just smallish salad leaves apparently. Bob Flowerdew reckons it coexists happily with grape vines but doesn't say how this would work...
QuoteBob Flowerdew reckons it coexists happily with grape vines but doesn't say how this would work...Â
Aha, this makes sense.
My grapevines are mulched every autumn (well I only planted them last year, so they got mulched last autumn, and will again this) with ripe compost, which is what you do with asparagus too. The business end of the grapevines are suspended above the ground by wires, so they aren't going to "use" the soil between them, leaving it free for a low-level crop in between. I suppose with asparagus being a wispy and relatively unsubstantial plant it won't get in the way of the grape crop.
I just might get myself a pack or two of these asparagus crowns...... ;)
I ordered a set of these and they havn't turnedup. Has anyone else had any or know when they are due to arrive?
Hey Viks
Funny you should ask. I chased them up last week and they are saying 'late October'. I'm sure the original offer said late September?? Anyway, this being T&M, March 2006 might be a reasonable expectation...
I am in the same position as organicartist, and I am going to move my newly planted (this year) asparagus, I am waiting until the fern dies down before attempting this.
I will be preparing the new site well as I did before, but has anybody got any advise for us before we attempt it please, is there anything we ought to be aware of?
Thanks
Rosemary
Quote from: suzylou on August 31, 2005, 14:37:56
I just took a look in one of my books just to see what care asparagus needs, and it said "you will need at least 30 crowns".
No idea what this is based on or how many people they think I'm going to feed. It's just me and hubby.....does each planted crown produce a certain number of spears or what?
Any advice on how many to get welcome!
Quote from a site that I came across (being tempted by the same T&M offer)
".... Two dozen crowns can produce enough asparagus for a small family, and by planting an extra dozen, there will be enough to freeze......"
and for planning the size of bed
"....Plant crowns 18 inches apart in holes that are about 9 inches deep and wide. ..."
I'd also like advice on moving asparagus. I am moving plots to next door and although we inherited the asparagus I would like to take some with me. Any ideas ?
For those wondering where their asparagus is, mine arrived today! :>
Mine too! Got them planted today - there goes nearly one fifth of one allotment! Fifteen crowns of asparagus take up a lot of space...now I have to wait... and wait...
Mine arrived today too. Hopefully I will get them planted on Saturday!!