By Kmr
United Kingdom
which is the best strain of asparagus for growing in the west of Scotland?
- 21 Nov, 2010
Answers
If you don't mind waiting one year longer for your first spears, I'd recommend some of the F1 hybrid seed now available. Usually only £2 or £3. You may only get 30 seed or so in a packet, but usually you get 100% germination if you sow them carefully in pots or modules.
Grow them on in pots or in a carefully prepared seed bed the first summer, and then you can carefully unearth them in the second spring and plant them as one year old crowns.
This costs a fraction of buying in crowns, and in my experience when you order a dozen crowns, at least two of them are often very poor quality plants.
22 Nov, 2010
I was prepared for one or two weaklings included in 30 crowns Bertie but all arrived 100% perfect & healthy, subsequently 3 years on they are all in great shape. It's the garden centre crowns in plastic bags that I would avoid, you cant see if they have the essential 'bud' or not.
23 Nov, 2010
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Very hardy plant asparagus. There are various hybrids available now so I can suggest you go on-line & have a browse through the specialist growers. Do not buy plants in bags from garden centres. Buy fresh 'crowns' direct from the growers, they despatch at the correct time of planting.
I bought 30 crowns x 3 varieties three years ago so this Spring will be our first harvest. It has been well worth the wait. There is a bit of a photo of our asparagus bed in my GoY album.
I put a ton of well rotted compost & stable manure into the trench's before planting the crowns as they will provide spear's for at least 20 years.
21 Nov, 2010