Re: Asparagus

On Mon 10 May, VillaRose@aol.com wrote:
> I just saw your note on the "veggie list".  Sounds like you might be an 
> asparagus expert.  Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?  I've been 
> reading the list for awhile but don't know how to post a note there.
> 
> I recently bought a house with a well-established asparagus bed.  It is quite 
> large - about 30'x5'.  The former owner told me it had been there 10-15 
> years.  It was left untended at least one year, maybe two.
I would be inclined to start a new bed now but it will take 2-3 years before you get anything from it.
> 
> My first question is: How do I know when to pick them?  I know when I've 
> waited too long by the looks of the tip of the spear - but how do I know just 
> before it starts to "open"?
> 
> Second question:  I'm getting a lot of tall thin spears & the spears seem 
> very spread out.
Starvation or over-picking
  I am wondering if the crowns are getting too close to the
> surface.  Is that possible?  Should I pile more soil on?  Now or after this 
> years harvest is through?
> 
> Finally: How do you keep up with the weeds?
Primarily hand-weeding
  With such a large bed & the
> sprouts/spears so spread out, I just can't keep up (and get anything else 
> done, anyway).  Today I decided mulch was the answer & straw seems to be the 
> preferred substance around here (Amish country) so I spread about a bale over 
> the entire bed.  What do you think... bad idea?
> 
> Please feel free to just post this note to the list if you don't feel like 
> answering all these questions yourself.  Or.. ignore me & I'll probably 
> figure it out myself - how to post
 Easy, just send to veggie-list@eskimo.com instead of to me.
> and growing asparagus! :-)
> 
> Thanks,
> Therese
> 
I am no asparagus expert but I did experiment for some 20 years and was
still learning when I had to move and left my bed behind. I can look in
my library and see what the books say but it is probably better that I
repeat this to the list. Anyone out there who is prepared to help this
lady?
I recommend as the best book source  "the New Vegetable Expert by Dr. D.G.Hessayon.
ISBN 0 903505 46 0 Price $12.95  Published in US by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.,387 Park Avenue South NY Tel. 10016-8810
Allan
-- 

Allan Day  Hereford  allan@crwys.demon.co.uk
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