Allotments 4 All

I think probably add manure on top of the trenches. I believe you're meant to do it in autumn but I would think now is OK too.

I don't think there's ever a bad time to put manure on, but be careful it doesn't rot the shoots as they come through.

I would be inclinde to top dress them with either seaweed granuals or chicken pellets and a top dress with some fresh compost, the spears will be starting to stir under the soil now so try to avoid putting anything to heavy ontop :)
Loads of manure in the winter to keep them warm and happy :)

They haven't been protected at all over the winter- hope they will be ok.

no protection required, the underground parts are as hardy as a hardy thing.

To Amanda21; Personally, I prefer a single row as they have less competition on 2 sides, in blocks, they have more neighbours. However its all down to choice really, if blocks are more convenient, then so be it, as long as they are a good distance from each other they'll be fine.

Remember, there's no art to growing asp afterall they grow wild in the most unhospitable places, i know of a good specimen on a railway enbankment, and another on a rocky cutting next to the M25!

To caroline7758, you dont say what variety, but I would leave to grow this year unless you have really strong growth, and wait for some fat spears in 2007. Yum Yum.

I like asparagus ;D can you tell?

Makes your pee smell though!!  ::)

Allegedly ...

and here was me thinking tthat the only good thing about veg was it kept you healthy-i didnt realise there was novelty value too!
i shall look forward even more to my asparagus now! ;)

QuoteMakes your pee smell though

kitty ;D

Can I just report that I have finally managed to get my asparagus crowns planted this afternoon - feeling much relieved - I just hope they grow!

Can I just ask another question.  I have put them in a trench and covered with a few inches of soil - I know I just keep covering as they sprout through but how long to I do that for - just until they reach the ground level?  I ask only because looking at my neighbours asparagus bed he has mounds above ground level?

In the Veg and Herb Expert it says that you should keep covering the asparagus until the the bed is level in the Autumn, but mine are already about a third of the way up.  Am a very confused gardener!!  Although I must say when I had no idea what I was doing (not that I have much more now)!, I just planted some asparagus like you would a bedding plant, rarely weeded roung them and they grew fine.  Persistent little plant!

i'm hoping to put my asparagus next to a raised bed. the bit i'm i'm using is about 14" wide and 2.5m long. as it is right next to raised bed, and a reply earlier on said they have big roots, do i need to partition deep down to stop roots from entering raised bed area?