asparagus

does any one grow asparagus, if so isit true they can produce every year from the same seed bulb or how ever they grow.

 

First and foremost, you need a lot of room to make it worth growing asparagus - they need to be planted 18" apart with the same distance between rows - in addition, the roots spread out to anything up to 3' from each plant so that's another area you'd need to leave clear as well.

If you sow seed, it'll take 3 years before you can cut any asparagus so it's better to buy 'crowns' in which case you'll still have to wait a couple of years - although the plants will produce asparagus in those first two years (from crowns), you don't cut them because they are needed by the plant to allow a good root system to develop. They don't like heavy or acid soil and although they will tolerate some shade, much prefer to be in a farily frost free area and in full sun.

Once established they'll pretty much look after themselves and each plant can produce a succession of spears over the season, (my Grandad's 'record' was 35 from one plant) and '... can they produce every year from the same ...?' Oh yes - the same plants can go on producing edible spears for anything up to 25 years - the foliage (much beloved of florists) is pretty too!

 

i ate my first asparagus the weekend and loved it.
so would love to grow my own. im not looking at planting a lot of plants just a couple, so have room. well if the wifey lets me. :usr:.
many thanks

 

nothing better than some fresh asparagus

 

I've had crowns in my plot for three years now. Half of them have died, I get three spears per plant. They taste absolutely brilliant, this may be due, in part, to their scarcity. I'm on sandy alkali soil. Any pointers?