Hello all.
I started my one year old plants this Spring. As per instructions I didn't attempt to harvest any and last week the spears seemed to be yellow enough to cut back. The weather has turned really cold, but according to the book I should be mulching them now with rotted manure/compost. Is this right or will I be trapping the cold earth in and do more harm than good?
As always I look forward to your replies.
Regards
Bluecar
Personally I mulch twice a year. After cutting them back in the autumn I cover them with straw and compost to protect them from severe frosts which will kill young plants then in the spring I give them a covering of manure to encourage strong growth. You won't harm them by trapping them in cold earth as long as it's not waterlogged. In well drained soil it's the frosts that can do the damage to young plants. More mature plants have a deeper root system so don't suffer as much.
I will be cutting my asparagus down shortly, weeding the bed and then applying a top dressing of extremely well rotted manure. It is virtually akin to soil - the farmer stacks the manure for two years and this residual bit of last year's manure has been sitting on my plot for a further year.
I do not put a huge amount on, possibly just one inch or so every autumn. Lots of manure was dug in when the bed was originally constructed.
I cover my asparagus row with well-made compost to a depth of about 6 inches. This is probably more as a soil conditioner and to protect the young spears in spring - I always find by autumn that it's completely disappeared and the asparagus roots are all showing again. This method has kept the plants going for 25 years so I must be doing something right!
Thanks all.
I'll manure with well rotted manure/compost.
Regards
Bluecar