Hi there,
This is the first year of asparagus on my plot and I've taken great care to prepare the ground right for the plants which are now about 3-4 foot high and ferning out.
However - I first noticed asparagus beetles getting on them and laying eggs about a month ago and every time I've visited the plot I've been hand-squishing all I can find and trying to get the eggs off too. Despite this, they are now covered with the larvae every time I get there ... I can't find many eggs - but the caterpillar like grey things are trying to strip the ferns of all the green growth ... it's like a plague - I try to squish those too but it's hard without damaging the ferns.
Is there any advice out there? ... I've invested pretty heavily in these plants and really want them to establish well. At this rate there will be no fern left to photosynthesise and feed the roots for next year.
:BangHead:
There's a thread below called summer fun begins....
I don't think there is any remedy except constant vigilance and squishing. I was up to 100 beetles a night at one point, must have caught most of them cos I've only had one or two larvae, disgusting things. The eggs are laid at right angles to the stem, a bad infestation and your precious asparagus spears look like miniature hairbrushes......
Good luck!
Well I probably have limited the damage - but I am at a loss to where they have come from ... it's my first year with asparagus and no-one else on the site thinks they have them and their ferns look amazing. But they were there as soon as the spears started branching out.
I think there must be another host plant - I grow at home, there's no other asparagus anywhere near me - and suddenly after many years, 2 years ago they appeared. I think it's just going to be a constant battle, I hope you can keep on top of yours.