Okay... I am not using the square foot gardening beds, but I have the book as it has some useful and interesting concepts for general gardening in beds...
I have an area of my garden (4ftx5ft x 3ft high) as a bricked raised area. no idea what it was used for (I only bought this place a year ago) anyway, I have decided to convert it to an asparagus bed (by removing the roof and filling with soil/compost!)
I have read in "Mel's" Square foot gardening book, that its standard practice to place one crown/square... however he states if crowns are cheap enough (not too bad on ebay!) then he recommends 4 per square (1 sq ft) as it gives a heavier yield... this seems amazingly squashed...
anyone else got his book? Can you imagine 4 crowns/sq ft being successful??? ???
he does state the beds should last 20 years, so its not like he's just doing it for one year...
I'd love to know your views...
mat
To answer your question without bias may I suggest that you look at the growing methods of those people who rely on a good crop for a living. Farmers will not be bothered by the cost of the crowns but insist on maximum yield per acre. If they could get a higher yield by planting at a density of 4 per sq ft instead of 3-4 per sq mtr they would do so.
Most farmers look stupid and act stupid but they know a thing or two about money.
farmers do not act or look stupid... none of my friends do anyway...
this bed system relies on not needing paths between crops... but even so...
However, I am sure I read elsewhere that some asparagus growers do dig up crowns, bring them inside, force them crammed together, but then the crowns are thrown away... this books seems to imply they can grow happily like this... it amazes me too... not sure I risk trying it... but I get a large container and see what happens as a trial...
I don't necessarily agree/disagree with what he states... interesting tho...
My asparagus bed was planted with the crowns at 18" distances, 4 years ago. the crowns now are about the size of a large dinner plate. there is a maximum yield for any area, more plants doesn't neccessarily mean more crop (by weight) but might by number. ( lots of thin spears) as stated earlier, if it was a worthwhile excercise, the commercial growers would do it.
rgds, tony ;)
Quote from: mat on February 18, 2009, 22:46:46
However, I am sure I read elsewhere that some asparagus growers do dig up crowns, bring them inside, force them crammed together, but then the crowns are thrown away...
Are you thinking of rhubarb crowns? ;)
I've heard that about rhubarb crowns for certain, but not asparagus. Having grown asparagus for a number of years, I really don't think there would be space for 4 crowns to a square foot.
Just one to a square foot would be crowded IMHO.
I use the square foot method all the time...
I have two plot, each is 2,720 square foot ::)
No, definately asparagus mentioned!
ah well, obviously everyone thinks that 6" is just far too crammed and hasn't dared try his recommendation...!!!
mat
Asparagus has been forced in the past, I'm not sure whether it's still done. I suppose 4 per square foot would be a short-cut to the sort of density which might be found in a long-established bed.
I was reading the info on 'asparagus in kent' trying to work out how many to get and they said 4 per square yard - I had the square foot garden book a while ago too, not all of his diagrams were divided by feet, some squares were bigger - perhaps he means 4 per yard not foot?
Just a thought :)
I'm preparing my asparagus bed at the moment, having grown my crowns from seed last year. The bed is 4ft wide and 21 feet long.
I will put in 3 rows spaced 9",24",39" across the bed, with crowns at 6",18",30",42", etc down the bed. I'm shall planting on manured ridges 6" high, with the crowns 2" down. The bed will therefore take 63 crowns in total. I wouldn't want to cram them in any denser than I am doing.
To sustain them through their life cycle I intend to manure each autumn to feed the soil, and supplement with fish/blood/bone in the late spring.