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Help with Asparagus

Hi, everybody.  I planted 10 crowns of Asparagus Jersey Knight last year.
These were supposed to be two-year roots, so I would be able to take a
light cutting this spring.  Well, the spears are up, but not very many -
mostly one per crown; those with more than one stalk have a larger (but nor
large) stalk and one or two more stalks that are maybe 1/8" in diameter.
The stalks are all deep purple in color, with lighter scales; there is no
green whatsoever, though the tiny stalks of last season were green.  So
here're the questions:

Can I pick any of these stalks or should I wait another year?

Why the purple?  Did they send me the correct variety?  Or is there perhaps a
nutrient deficiency?

If there is a problem with nutrients, how do I correct it?  Soil is light
clay loam, formerly lawn then planted with cabbages for a couple of years.
I mulched over winter with leaves.

Why would only 6 of the 10 crowns sprout?  Last year all sprouted.

Thanks for any help you can give me.


Sheila Smith
mikecook@pipeline.com
Z 5/6
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