[princesspiggy]

we usually get our seed tatties and onion sets from gardening brocheres. we got loads yesterday from our local pound shop for 25% of the normal price. they seemed ok too. good range of standard varieties. jus gota tame the veggie patch now.
i planted aspargus crowns last year and havnet touched them since. should i trim back last years stems or just leave it alone? - and the samequestion for borage - i want it to grow back again but last years stems look horrible now after being frozen. will they grow back if i cut it off to ground level?

[Fleecewife]

Ah - taming the veggie patch is a life's work 

Borage just reseeds itself I think and the old plants die off, unless you are somewhere warm.  I don't grow asparagus but I understand that you cut the old ferns back to ground level to give the new shoots room to come through.  It would also stop them from rocking in the wind and making holes for rain and rot to reach the crowns.  I would love to have an asparagus bed but so far I haven't felt sufficiently confident that I could keep perennial weeds at bay for the 20 years of the bed.  I did see an article where someone had grown asparagus in a brick raised bed surrounded by concrete, where the perennials weeds couldn't get in - I will work on that idea.  How long will it be pp before you can cut your first spears?

[princesspiggy]

this is our 2nd attempt as i didnt protect the first lot and they got trampled by little feet. planted these last year in 3 sep beds. they grew long and feathery and i havent trimmed them at all. all dry now tho theres a few weeds. i know ur not supposed to harvest for a year or two so havent touched them. maybe i should tidy them up now its spring?

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

once you have borage then you have it for a very long time, its very difficult to ever get rid of it again.

[benkt]

I believe last year's stems should have been trimmed down in autumn when they stopped growing. One book of mine says cut to two inches tall, but we always cut ours back to ground-level to try and tame an outbreak of asparagus beetle. I'd definitely cut them back now though to allow the new shoots to come through.

[princesspiggy]

thanx, will give the patch a good tidy up, without feeling guilty.
also planted wildflowers lastyear and left in long all winter in hope the seeds will drop and regrow. had pet sheep grazing it down. will finishe with a quick strim. i hope they all grow back. the idea was low maintenance! 

[pottsie]

Just been to our local poundshop got all my potatoes, king edwards, charlottes, maris pipers for £1 a bag and they also had bare rooted fruit trees for £5, going to pop back tomorrow and buy 10 and put in a little orchard in, great for £50.

Rob.