My 3 year old asparagus crowns have been busily sending up spears over the last few weeks. However, a recent visit to the lottie revealed that most of the spears that have emerged (and which I was hoping of harvesting soon) have died. They are sort of dry and flattened, as if hollow and collapsed. They also look a bit chewed? The newly emerging spears all look fine, though. Have they been attacked by a pest or is it likely to be due to the cold spells we've had recently?
Don't worry, it's the frost. I assume you've checked for asparagus beetle?
Cut them off below ground and wait for more.
Mine did the same.
(Harvest them before the frost gets them!!)
Thanks, Clayhithe. Just panicking! The nibbling culprits are slugs/snails I'm sure (no sign of the asparagus beetle yet - bit early for them I would guess (too cold still - if the frost is responsible for dying asparagus spears then I'm sure the beetles wouldn't be too healthy either!!
I will wait for the next ones to come up and hope they fair better.