Anyone grow asparagus?

Fred, I totally agree! Are you planning to host again, or should I volunteer? My place is a bit modest, and I would not be able to do it before mid October as I will be back and forth up north until then, but i would be willing to give it a try! Maybe another gathering would get Kat to come out of hiding!

I'm also on FB where we have a Naples (and surroundings) gardening group and those folks want to have another visit here. Except for Hetty those folks don't come to these on line forums like DG or ATP. FB seems to be taking over. My latest gardening craze is Bromeliads. You have to see them.

I'd love to come!

I'd love to come! Let me know when!

Coconut...I grow asparagus...rather, I am challenged by growing it and manage a few spears!!!

I'm having good luck, with daily watering, and tons of high nitrogen fertilizer and mulch. Folks cannot believe I'm growing edible asparagus, tho' the ornamental kinds grow well in the tropics.

I do trim the tops to about four feet. One I let go went to over eight feet! Now I guess I need to go take a photo---

I live in N.E. MS and have for some time, I'd like to find a palm which can withstand out cold winters. They need not be fancy as I'm not a fancy person. I'd just like to have a couple.
Do any people have any suggestions?
Thanks and much obliged, Lee

Melissa...I am challenged by our acid soil/rain when the asparagus like a fairly neutral to alkaline soil....so I am constantly testing the pH and buffering. Yes...they do love their food, don't they!!!!!

Lee:

I'm not a Palm expert but googling I found a couple of Palms that might do okay, depending on how cold it gets there in your area. I'm not sure if they would survive extended cold periods but here's a few you might want to check out.

European Fan Palm:

http://www.floridata.com/ref/c...
http://www.florida-palm-trees....

Pindo Palm:

http://www.floridata.com/ref/b...
http://www.florida-palm-trees....

Windmill Palm:

http://www.floridata.com/ref/t...
http://www.florida-palm-trees....

Kevin51, I don't know what your zone means by way of actual temperatures but here's a link to a page listing minimum temperatures for some palm species:

http://www.hardiestpalms.com/C...

But read carefully the preamble to that table. Some of the figures on the table seem unrealistic, the preamble explains it.

Kevin...there are a number of palms that grow in Seattle... Let me ask someone.... TTYL

I don't know of any palms that have been reliable without protection in 7b for me. Needle palm and windmill palms of cold prevenance are probably the best known for cold hardiness.

I would not recommend the Pindo. Mine barely survived here in Naples after a brief cold spell last year. It's OK now but for a while I had my doubts. Sure messed up those beautiful fronds.

Lin, Liz, Paul, and Fred,
Thanks bushels for the links. I'll check each out later after I get some things done.
Much obliged, Lee

kevin51 said:Lin, Liz, Paul, and Fred,
Thanks bushels for the links. I'll check each out later after I get some things done.
Much obliged, Lee

I'm in zone 5b and you have tempted me to at least try. Hmmm, now I wonder if I need to fly down to Florida and drive back with a truck

Check out the info on the Southeastern Palm Society site, there are many growing palms oudoors in areas where you would least expect palms to be hardy.

http://www.sepalms.org/

Thanks again, Lin, Zig, Susan, and Alice, (I hope I'm not forgetting anyone),
I think I've got my decision down to the European Fan Palm and the Windmill Palm but my the prices are higher than I had expected but I've plenty of time to save up. Plus, it will give me time to do a little more research.
I think it was Fred who said he'd not recommend the Pindo.
It seems only logical that in my zone 7 climate, some protection will be required during the Winters. Odd how I can drive only about 200 miles south of here, near the Gulf coast and see palms.
Again, thanks to all who have helped me.
Lee

kevin, don't forget the Sabal palm. We see them on the highways on I95 in Georgia.
fred

Thanks Fred, indeed I had forgotten that. Lee