Allotments 4 All

Hi - I have 2 double rows of 3 year asparagus. How close can I plant other crops to it or walk near it - do the roots spread out a long way?

thanks

jeremy

Having just moved some five year old Asparagus I can tell you that the span, from the middle was two feet. One foot either side of the centre.

The roots go out a fair way. I think it's safe to walk between rows, but don't plant too close once it's established. Mine's just gone in and I'm probably going to plant something else beside it this year, at any rate. It won't need all that space yet.

Watever you do dont plant inbetween rows we did that couple years ago with parsnips and as we have a lot. they overgrown  and overtook asparaguse we have just moved all our asparagus as we coudnt keep up with digging up parsnips as there was that many they kept seeding and growing more plants and they didnt come to anything so have got all asparagus up that we were able to save
pauline

I usually plant stuff like parsley in amongst the asparagus plants.

How long does it take from seed to the first harvest.I have sown three weeks ago and now i have got 12 asparages babys

3 to 4 years!!!! :o :o :o :o :o

But it's worth the wait - so be PATIENT  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Last spring we planted two row of three year old crowns, all summer they sent up nice healthy green shoots, but this year only one plant has done anything. We had a little look under the surface of some of the others but nothing there yet! ??? Is this right, or is it just to early yet. (We are in Essex)

This is the 3rd year for mine - still no sign yet. I have put a lot of manure on top which may have cooled them down a bit. Dont know if that was the right thing to do or not really. I didnt want the clay soil to be baked hard/cap before the spears came up.

Manure is good. I think we've had a very cold start to the year and that may have delayed things.

Mine were trying to come up in February so i covered them up again with more manure and soil and the other day put some sand on the top there were some peeping through again.

The more space you leave, the bigger the crop of asparagus.
It is a gourmet crop and you have to decide how much space you can afford.

See my page on growing and times.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_asparagus.html

First year for mine; they've been in about three weeks, and, unsurprisingly, no sign. I put the rows 3 1/2 feet apart, and for this year, I'll probably put a row of brassicas between them. They won't need that much space yet.