My sister-in-law has given me some asparagus crowns to plant. I've read that they're not to be harvested the first year but in the next paragraph it says to cut all the spears down to the base in Spring. Does this mean I can harvest them next April? (09) Do I just leave them alone after planting until then? I'm confused. ???
They need a couple of years to get established properly. Harvest nothing this year, and only the odd spear per crown next. After that, you can harvest what you want as long as you let the plants grow unmolested after harvesting.
No!..Leave any spears that emmerge to grow, that way they get the energy down to roots to make bigger and better plants. You should not cut any spears even 2010. Unfortunately asparagus is one of those plants where strict patience will pay off. I waited 3 years after planting before I had my first taster..
The longer you leave the crowns to settle (many books recommend mimimum of 3yrs ), longer and better your crowns will produce. It is not unknown to crop asparagus from fields that have 20+ yrs old crowns.
But do cut the grown stems down in late summer/autumn to prevent any seed from setting...
.... and burn or otherwise dispose of the cuttings in case of asparagus beetle.
".... and burn or otherwise dispose of the cuttings in case of asparagus beetle."
yep...thanks for that...answer complete ;)