Asparagus

I have never grown this. I didn't know until recently they grew from crowns (like rhubarb?) Dobies are offering them for sale. Are they easy to grow? Could I just plant them in the borders all be it with compost etc?

 

I think it is late to be planting crowns ... and I would want a dedicated bed for Asparagus. But the plants would look pretty in a border, and whatever spears you harvested would be a bonus ... so a qualified "Maybe" :D

 

I planted a few crowns earlier on in the year and also sown some seeds , the crowns are not doing too well in fact the wee seedlings are coming on far better although it with be a few years before I can get a taste of them.

One to give a try next year maybe Granny.Hel.xxx.

 

Crowns can make a really slow start, and emerge late, so I have read.

But I don't suppose the crowns in plastic bags in DIY Sheds are going to be brill ... fully dried out by the time they are purchased I would think?

I've grown from seed this year, but not before I had a pretty serious look at what these folk sell
http://www.asparagus-in-kent.co.uk/index-1.html

From seed either grow an F1 all-male variety, or consider rouging out the female plants (that seed seed). The spears from female plants are less thick / strong, and they will be inclined to self-seed the plot

Mine are in pots in the conservatory at the moment:

 

If anyone laughs at this I'll I looked at Kristen's pics and a memory stirred. Yeras ago I planted seeds for this all over the garden. I vaguely remember reading somewhere it looked pretty in the borders. Now I am going back over twenty years when asparagus was a bit of a rarity. I don't really think I knew much about it. Anyway I pulled it all out it got so big and messy and seeded everywhere:rotfl: i think i can safely say it grows well in my garden.

 

"If anyone laughs at this"

What. this you mean?

"I have never grown this."

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

 

interested to see your asparagus seedlings Kristen. ihave some just emerged and would like to pot them on what soil / compost have you used in yours?

 

Multi-compost (Arthur Bowers, but I suspect any would do)