Gardening

Elad

(11,400 posts) Mon Apr 21, 2014, 03:25 PM Apr 2014

Starting an asparagus patch

I'm trying to start an asparagus patch this year, and I planted my crowns about a month ago and have yet to see a single sign of life. How long should it take for shoots to emerge? I'm becoming worried that they're not going to come up. Are you supposed to start when the weather's cooler, maybe I waited too long?

8 replies

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Starting an asparagus patch (Original Post) Elad Apr 2014 OP

Kicking-hope you get an answer. n/t JimDandy Apr 2014 #1

They take awhile if I remember correctly. femmocrat Apr 2014 #2

Depends on what zone you are in. postulater Apr 2014 #3

I get little thin stalks on mine about the thickness of a toothpick. Autumn Apr 2014 #4

mine never did take hold ginnyinWI Apr 2014 #6

Oh, I hope you get good crops! pengillian101 Apr 2014 #5

Wait them out a while longer alfie Apr 2014 #7

Give them some more time. bvar22 Apr 2014 #8

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)

1. Kicking-hope you get an answer. n/t

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 04:38 PM

Apr 2014

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)

2. They take awhile if I remember correctly.

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 04:46 PM

Apr 2014

Then you aren't supposed to pick them for three years! I have yet to harvest a single spear but I get huge ferny stems all summer.

postulater

(5,075 posts)

3. Depends on what zone you are in.

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 06:33 PM

Apr 2014

Likely, if you planted them a month ago, they are still figuring out that warm weather is coming. They aren't inclined to pop their pointy heads above the ground until the ground is good and warm.

Have patience. I bet you will be surprised in a few weeks.

Autumn

(46,295 posts)

4. I get little thin stalks on mine about the thickness of a toothpick.

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 07:10 PM

Apr 2014

I planted my patch two years ago. I've been told they take a while. I'm just afraid they or I will die of old age before I get any big enough to eat.

ginnyinWI

(17,276 posts)

6. mine never did take hold

Reply to Autumn (Reply #4)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 09:24 PM

Apr 2014

I think my soil must be too sandy or something, no matter how much I apply compost. I have had the little pencil thin ones for a few years but now they are getting smaller instead of larger. Meanwhile--get this--there is a wild few stalks a few yards away from the garden under a pine tree that is nice and thick! Too bad one stalk or two isn't enough even for a meal.

pengillian101

(2,351 posts)

5. Oh, I hope you get good crops!

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 08:50 PM

Apr 2014

Back in the early 1970's, my ex and I were quite the gardeners and tried over and over to get an asparagus patch to grow. It never happened.

Yet, at my parents' and grandparents' homes they grew quite prolific.

Good luck. It takes years and years. And patience. And a green thumb.

alfie

(522 posts)

7. Wait them out a while longer

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Tue Apr 22, 2014, 02:43 AM

Apr 2014

I live in north Georgia and mine just started sending up spears last week. I don't know what zone you are in. If you planted 1 year old crowns you can start cutting them next year.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)

8. Give them some more time.

Reply to Elad (Original post)

Thu Apr 24, 2014, 11:34 AM

Apr 2014

I believe it is the warmth of the ground and presence of moisture that triggers them to Wake Up.

We are in Zone 7, Central Arkansas,
and ours just started last week.
We are eating garden fresh Asparagus every night, and loving it.

If you planted Crowns, they are already at least 1year old, and you can probably harvest a few next year, but not too much.
From seeds, it is recommended to wait 3 years.

We LOVE our Asparagus Patch.
Asparagus is the very first plant HARVEST of our year,
the first marker for the season of abundance.
It is very low maintenance, and gives so MUCH,
year after year.

It just seems so WRONG..... Harvesting Asparagus.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1182319

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