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Got some apsaragus from J parker in the spring - looked a bit manky but thought waht the hell.  So far only seen 3/20 come up - not good.  Should I be worried?  Will the get up above grond in the spring or are they dead?

I am thinking of buying a fresh batch in the spring from a specialist asparagus grower as I fear they are done for.  let me know what you guys think.

Psi

I think they've given up the ghost...  :-\

 :'( I feared as much.  They did look rubbish!  I think a specialist supplier is the answer!

PSI I'd contact J Parker and see if you could get some sort of refund, we bought our crowns mail order they were pricy but all 10 took and have cropped beautifully.I think when something is going to produce for many years it's worth the investment,Oh but how dissappointing for you and a year wasted  :(

the year wasted is the annoying thing.  Ho hum.  Will pursue a refund mind you - not really good enough eh?

 For what  it's worth Asparagus grows fairly wild here, you just have to remember where you saw the fern in the summer. ;-)))

But new asparagus plants do take a couple or so years to get established.

  I know it is quite expensive in UK or it was. this year was a good year and we could buy it from the local grower at less than 1GBP a pound. We like the very this asparagus, and at the grower she picks it out for me..... ;-)))
qahtan

A specialist supplier makes a big difference, but make sure the ground's right. I haven't been able to grow it successfully, and I'm now convinced it's down to waterlogging. I'll try again once I've got raised beds organised.

Quotebut make sure the ground's right

Please could you elaborate on what is right.  My daughter likes it but it takes such a long time to get a crop, is it worth the effort?

RObert's right: the soil needs to be free draining. Light soils are the best. I am moving my asparagus bed this year. It's going where I grew Kestrel potatoes this year. Raised bed (but I don't have wood round them) which has had manure,mushroom compost and my compost incorporated over the last few years. It used to be claggy clay but now it is light and friable down a foot. That's what asparagus likes and plenty of manure incorporated before planting. Also make sure there are no perennial weeds. Asparagus roots are like alien spiders but they break easily so you don't want to be ferreting round them to weed. The asparagus bed will need hand weeding so make sure it's weed free if you can before you plant.

Get all the weeds out, and make no compromises. Make sure nothing's in a position to spread into the bed. If you've got clay or soil that waterlogs, make a raised bed, and work in lots of sand if necessary. It likes sandy soil, but anything free draining is fine.

 When we grew it in UK, we were told about the drainage and feeding etc etc, here it just grows along  the grass verge whilly nilly. so I don't know what is best.. qahtan

Many thanks soil very well drained, gravelly.  I am a bit short of space, hate the stuff myself.

Hate it do you Digaroo?

Makes your wee smell then does it?
:P