The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Bert on July 15, 2013, 08:57:28 am
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Two questions. Can I grow asparagus in tubs? Can I grow it in my polytunnel ?
The landlady who created the veg garden in the first place couldn't grow asparagus in the beds ???
After giving it a (7 year) chance, of increasingly pitiful results she ripped it out.
I don't want to wast space, time or money if its not going to work. advice needed please ;D
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I've scraped the asparagus idea ;D I'm going with sweet potatoes instead :excited:
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even though you've scrapped the idea, I'd love to know whether it would be viable, I'm thinking probably not? But I'm a pot lady!
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i dont see why not. we have grown it a few times but had trouble keeping the weeds away so they got damaged and didnt want to come back the following years.
if you can keep soil in good condition and not distrub them too much,itd be worth a punt.
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I agree with Shygirl. You should be able to do it in a tub providing it was really large and filled with light, sandy soil. Not sure about the polytunnel. Might get a bit too hot in summer.
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We've got it in our poly-tunnel - we're in NE Scotland at about 250m, acid, thin soil - the asparagus does fine - though it is troubled by weeds which I seem to grow in abundance - shame we can't eat those too.
Sue
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Thanks everyone now I'm really confused :thumbsup: :-J
I think I will try it in Tub, but outside :fc: :fc:
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i think its 2 years before you can harvest more than a couple of spears. good luck.
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I've just planted an asparagus bed so no idea on it's long term viability but there is plenty round here so I'm assuming it will be OK (I'm in Kent). They need lots of water and, yes, it's key that you don't harvest anything for the first two or three years. They have to get properly established before you harvest and even after that you have to be careful how much you cut otherwise they will get weaker year on year. My supplier did say it would be OK to cut a very few spears next year (we planted while dormant early spring this year) but not sure I'll risk it. How you plant is important as well so I'm not sure how easy that would be to do in a tub - you have a ditch with a small ridge down the centre so the crowns are placed on the ridge with the roots dropping down either side and then you cover them up but they'll still in a ditch which helps the watering. As they get older you can earth up for bigger spears, I think. Have a look on some of the specialist asparagus supplier websites because there's a lot on info there on growing the and the soil type they prefer - maybe it is a soil or weather issue for you that wouldn't apply in other areas.
H
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it was stinging nettles that invaded our bed. i think pulling them up upset the asparagus as the nettles roots are so long.
good luck :thumbsup:
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I would love to grow asparagus but the chances of getting rid of all the weeds in my garden are minimal. I reckon every weed seed in the area gravitates to my veg beds.
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I would love to grow asparagus but the chances of getting rid of all the weeds in my garden are minimal. I reckon every weed seed in the area gravitates to my veg beds.
i bet new compost and a mini polytunnel would work, but i dont have the commitment for it ::) im sure slugs would carry dock seeds into the tunnel ...lol
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I would love to grow asparagus but the chances of getting rid of all the weeds in my garden are minimal. I reckon every weed seed in the area gravitates to my veg beds.
No they don't MGWM cos they're ALL in mine.... ::) :sunshine:
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I would love to grow asparagus but the chances of getting rid of all the weeds in my garden are minimal. I reckon every weed seed in the area gravitates to my veg beds.
No they don't MGWM cos they're ALL in mine.... ::) :sunshine:
Not ALL of them. Maybe we get half each. ;D