I'm a bit confused about cropping mt asparagus.
For years I understood that you cut all the stems during the cropping period then leave them all to grow into ferns to feed the crown. Vince our Italian guru told me to leave one stem on each plant when you cut the rest, then Bob Flowerdew said something similar on GQT.
Having had a bit of a search on the internet it seems my original method is still recommended.
So what are your thoughts on the matter? Do you cut everything or leave some spears to turn to fern?
Also my crop is very late this year so if yours is the same will you crop a bit later than usual?
I cut all my spears now, usually you leave some in their early days, year 2 crowns so as not to deplete the strength of the plants for future years.
I think, that if you leave spears to grow on with established crowns, the plant won't send up as many new ones.
Correct me if I've got it wrong folks.
Ninny
I really don't get it so I cut some and leave some ??? ::)
Made a macaroni/cauliflower/sweetcorn/pea/onion cheese and served with fresh picked steamed asparagus. yum yum yum :)
Quote from: Ninnyscrops. on May 20, 2012, 23:00:39
I cut all my spears now, usually you leave some in their early days, year 2 crowns so as not to deplete the strength of the plants for future years.
I think, that if you leave spears to grow on with established crowns, the plant won't send up as many new ones.
Correct me if I've got it wrong folks.
Ninny
I thought you had to cut them all too, well that's what I do?
I have done bit of both ways.
When I had my 'old' asparagus bed that is no more...at first at the begining of the cropping season, I used to cut all spears down..but as the season progressed and was coming to an end..I used to leave odd thinner spear to develop to ferns and kept cutting the 'fat' ones for eating and around end of June I used to stop cutting and all that appeared was left to grow. Nobody didn't advise me to do this way..it just sort of 'felt right'..those thin spears weren't worth of eating anyway so leaving them to grow didn't seem to make any difference to the cropping neither.
Sadly I managed to kill my plants when I tried to move them into another location..they didn't like it and now I'm in year two with my seed grown plants. The old crowns when I dug them up where HUGE..roots all over the place and I uspect that was the reason they got bit 'upset'..I just couldn't get 'clean view' of the crown and lift them with mimimum of damage.
That's all interesting, I think I will cut them all off this year, until later on and then let a few grow, while still cropping the big ones.
I understand that asparagus does not like being moved Goodlife and your experience suggests that.
Thanks for the replies :)
Quote from: pumpkinlover on May 21, 2012, 18:17:32
That's all interesting, I think I will cut them all off this year, until later on and then let a few grow, while still cropping the big ones.
I understand that asparagus does not like being moved Goodlife and your experience suggests that.
Thanks for the replies :)
Nooooooooooo... you
must leave at least 4 or 5 to make food in the plant for next year..
ps. they don't mind being moved as long as you leave them for a year before you pick any..
It doesn`t like being moved!
Keep bed weed free and add a layer from compo bin for a feed.
I cut them when they are fat but in about 6 weeks I will let the odd skinny one grow into a fern and leave till dead,
then snip off later in the year after all the goodness has gone back down to the roots,
I think when they die off(ferns) It is best to cut them down before the wind rips them down and
causes a bit more damage.
Year one cut nothing, year 2 always leave some and cut just a few, when really healthy they produce loads!
Our English asparagus season is only for 8 weeks. So crop until end of June at the latest then touch no more. Let the ferns grow high and don't cut them down until they have well and truly yellowed or dead so they have fed the plants for next year, mulch well in winter.......think daffodil foliage ;)
Ninny
Thinking of mulching asparagus in winter-I've read that you can use seaweed-has anyone tried this? We put it on our potato bed in the winter and had a great crop last year, and I feel as though the asparagus could really do with something to feed it......or something!
I am pleased that this subject is being discussed as I am always confused about what to do, too.
My concern is when to actually pick it. How long should it be? I look at it and think I will leave it for another day, then, as if by magic, it is too late. Already started to turn into a fearn. It grows so fast, I often think you could almost see it grow!!
Presuming the plants are three years ir older.Cut everything that comes up at first, then after mid June don't cut anyhting.Let the spears develop into tall ferns, don't cut them off till they yellow in the fall. The tubers pull nourishment down from the fern fronds just like daffs and tulips do with their greenery.
Younger plants are dealt with differntly.
XX Jeannine
Thanks Jeannine, that is useful information. How high should they be when I cut the ones for eating? If I have let some (loads) turn ito ferns already, can I cut the short ones off that are still coming up until the end of June?
Quote from: cacran on June 02, 2012, 11:08:43
Thanks Jeannine, that is useful information. How high should they be when I cut the ones for eating? If I have let some (loads) turn ito ferns already, can I cut the short ones off that are still coming up until the end of June?
I break mine off when they are about 8-9 inches tall. This means they will fit in my saucepan!!
Break! I think you should cut them just under the soil!
When I was looking into this I read that cutting themunder the soil can damage the crown, and as the bed I planted was not planted deep enough I have started cutting above the ground. 8-9" height is good, but walk away and back and they will be 18" ;) ;) ;)
I never cut them as I would always forget the knife.. My veg patch (2 acres when in Zimbabwe) was 100 mt from the house and invariably I would be walking past and pick for the feed before the main meal..
I use a curved asparagus knife , scrape away the soil round the spear and then cut under soil level XX Jeannine
Another lovely crop today, on the table for son and I as hubby and daughter don't eat it (one of these days I will get them to try it ::)).
If you don't get up to where you are growing it every day, as I can't at this time of year, cut down any ferny looking ones and compost, if there are 1 foot ones with even seedy looking spears cut them at ground level and take them home along with the short ones. Your kitchen knife will tell you the best place to cut them for cooking as you prepare the long spears, just cut them in the most tender place.
Ninny
I had a massive beetle infestation... went out three consecutive evenings and got 200+ but could see all the egss on the fern. So last week I cut all the fern and any emerging spears and burnt what couldn't be eaten... hopefully that has broken the cycle. Now have a fresh flush emerging. Will take one or two cuts then leave to build up strength... keeping an eye out for any beetles... :-X
Saddad..will you try some rhubarb leaf mulch to see if that has any effect?..I'm trying to trial rhubarb leaves against different pest but I'm glad to say (touching wood) that I'm 'lacking' pest here to trial with.. ::)
It would be interesting to see if rhubarb would have any effect.
Well I have no shortage of leaves... just pests now, touchwood! :)
Does cutting close to the crown damage it?
My plot was visited by a Frenchman who watched in horror for a few seconds as I cut spears level with the earth, grabbed the knife from me, and burrowed right down to the crown and cut everything off there.
We had no more asparagus for a week after he had gone because he had removed all the growing shoots, not just the emerging ones.....he was a guest, so I could not just stab him instantly with the knife and put an end to the agony of watching the pillaging of my precious plants.
I had carefully explained that I knew there were differences in the way English and French cut their asparagus and I would use the English way - but he was clearly too shocked to pay attention. He said he had been cutting asparagus since he was 5 years old on his father's farm, and there was only one way to do it....
The point is, the crowns were not damaged and the bed was soon back in full production.
Saddad, I had my first ever beetles this year, 10 days ago, cut everything right to the ground (sob sob, couldn't eat any cos they had all these disgusting larvae poking out) and a week later I had enough to eat again, still finding the odd beetle though, checking twice a day - I'm going to take one more cut at the weekend and then leave them, I've been cropping since March and I think that's enough. I'm going to try rhubarb mulch, I don't see that it could hurt. That and the squish check!
You might get a better result with repeated spraying with rhubarb tea.
Touching wood, never seen a beetle on my asparagus and with the advice of rhubarb as a deterrent I'm wondering if it's because my rhubarb grows about 5' away on the diagonal from the bed. Just a thought.
Ninny