Asparagus

Diary

Posted: Saturday 3 April, 2004

by Dan at 6:43pm in Growing Comments closed

Asparagus is something we've always intended to grow, but have never really got around to doing (other than a thoroughly unsuccessful attempt to grow from seed). This year though we ordered 10 crowns of Connover's Colossal, and they arrived yesterday.

Last weekend, in anticipation of their arrival, I prepared their bed. The perennial raised bed will be their home for the next 20 years or so, and it needed considerable attention to get it ready for the asparagus. The resident strawberry plants were removed, the soil dug deep and then riddled to a depth of 18 inches to remove large stones and other debris. Finally a good quantity of compost and well rotted manure were added, together with a few handfuls of sand to aid drainage.

The crowns were planted as per the instructions - 40cm apart, with the tips 10cm below the soil level - into a trench which allowed the lengthy roots to be spread out. It may seem like a lot of work, but considering their productive lifespan it should be worth it.