Hi,
I wanted to share my experience sowing asparaus seeds and was not sure where to put this. I have also put it in my greenhouse cubit. I have read both that gus seeds can be difficult or easy to germinate. This is my second year doing this and I am not only expanding my own crop but selling croowns.

They germinated in about 3 weeks with bottom heat in a greenhouse. These are Jersy Knight.

more gus

starting to fern out.

They're cute little guys! How many years from seed do they take to produce edible asparagus? I don't grow veggies except tomatoes, but I love asparagus and it's definitely one I'd like to have in my yard. I'm not real patient though...

Karen

Karen, LOL!

Neither am I that is why when I started out I bought 2 & 3 year old crowns. You can harvest for 4 weeks when they are 2 years old after that you can harvest from first spears till June. Any after around June 15th I let them go to fern because that puts the energy back into the crowns for next year. I have absolutly loved growing it. My mature beds are about 4 years old now. I bought "all male crowns" but ended up with 2 females, which is fine by me cause I save the seeds in Fall and then sow them around December or January. So these little babies wont be pickable till 2012 or 2013. But I am starting them to raise and sell as 2 & 3 year old crowns as well as expanding my own crop. They are so worth the wait!

Susan, love those baby Asparagus. I planted some crowns in 2008 so this year I will be able to harvest. I was so tempted to cut a few last year but held off and went to the store. Husband is not interested in eating veggies so I'll have them all to myself. Yum

Chris, I wish I had that good fotune with my hubbie but he looooves gus! I went home to MA last April to visit family and he calle me everyday to tell me how the gus was busting forth in the garden. Needless to say when I got home there was hardly any left.

Mine is a meat and potatoes guy and has no interest in gardening. Since we both work sometimes he gets home before me and starts cooking, it is funny when he says to me I went out to pick some peas and I only found a few that was all dried up. Like the garden is a suppermarket with produce shipped in fresh daily.

I've never tried asparagus. I usually fill my veggie garden with all my tea roses for the winter so not much room for asparagus

I sure like to eat them. Raw or cooked, doesn't matter.

Karen

My husband likes it raw too. I prefer it steamed but still a little snap to it.

So, another excuse to graze in the garden, sometimes when I'm outside working and need a little snack I just go to the veggie garden and grab whatever is good raw.

I usually carry the ranch dressing out there with me, especially when the broccoli is coming in.

I like them broiled, too. Just spread flat on a baking tray, spray with vegetable oil, broil for a few minutes until crisp-tender.

Karen

My sons started some asparagus for his first year of gardening. We have been told that asparagus is tricky to grow. Should he "study' proper methods to grow asparagus? I believe he bought some asparagus starters at a local store near him. Are you saying he should not harvest and eat them his first year? Help. New to growing asparagus.

He should read up on growing asparagus. They like a high pH, good calcium magnesium and a lot of organic matter. They are planted deep to not compete with weeds....need even moisture. And...they are very very yummy!!!

Hmmm, the seeds like bottom heat to germinate, that makes we wonder if I could sprout some of the red berries (seeds) my plants are making, using my hot water heater as a bottom heater. It's always warm on top of it.

Interesting about your experience in planting seeds, Susan. I love asparagus but this came only after I learned how to cook it properly. Now I can eat a whole bunch from the market by myself! DH doesn't care for it and so far my little one doesn't either. My problem will be trying to secure space in our large yard for an asparagus bed! DH loves his grass.

Which variety would you say is your best producer and best for flavor?

Hello, Mary! Good to see you here.

Hi Angie. Jersey Knight is supposed to be mostly male plants. They produce fatter stalks. I bought 2 yr old roots. There were a few female plants in the lot, they are the ones that make the red berries. Last year I intended to pick some of the berries to start some, but between my memory and the birds, they disappeared. Some will sprout in the mulch. Yesterday I looked to see if my patch was showing any signs of life. It's still too early. Yesterday morning our temperature was 18 degrees. I think it would be good to grow in a raised bed. Angie, would your DH go for that?

I started asparagus seeds this summer. My plants are between 2 and 3 inches tall now. I have them in a container. My question, do I leave them on the deck through the winter, or should I bring them inside to plant outside in the spring?