Any comments on growing Asparagus?
 

I have no experience whatsoever with asparagus (other than eating it).

I love the stuff, but never grew it, but recently I saw in a local store some bags of asparagus crowns. I got two packs of 8 crowns. I can go back and get more if needed. I have a total of 16 crowns.

Here is what I was planning... I was going to make a bed in a large container and load it up with good soil...and then plant the crowns in there.

Now here's the rub. I gather a 'crown' is a ball of roots?

Is 16 crowns enough? How much asparagus can one get from each crown in an average harvest?

Does anyone have any tips at all for what I am doing? How big of a container do I need for 16 crowns?

On a side note, if I ever want good quality mushroom compost dirt, they sell it by the truckload less than 1/2 an hour away. I can fill my whole bed with it if needed.

No experience growing asparagus in containers, but over 30 years experience growing it in the ground. It is a heavy feeder and when planting, each crown needs to have its roots spread out in all directions and the roots from one crown shouldn't be touching the roots from the ones on either side. The crown is the part of the plant that is where all the roots meet - the center or top as it were. Most recommend planting the crowns at least 18" apart. You aren't supposed to harvest any spears for at least the first year, if not the first 2, so that all the energy can go into developing a strong root system. I'm sure they would love mushroom compost, but as I said, you need to hope someone has been successful with asparagus in containers and can guide you. Can't imagine putting more than 1 or 2 in each container, though, if you're talking the 18 gallon kind that's talked about here. Sure you don't have enough ground to put them in?

My experience is about the same as already posted. It takes up to 2 -3 years before you can harvest them. You need to keep them well watered the first few months and keep them weeded well or they get choked out. Not sure about container growing. They do come back each year so if you put them in the ground keep it in mind that will be their long term home.

Ground... I have plenty of ground. The problem here is our over abundance of absolutely horrible weeds that will overtake anything you plant.

As for a container, I do not mean a bucket. I mean, if anything, something like a nice raised bed or something very large that would be equivalent to something like 100 gallons, or even more.

They sell some huge galvanized horse troughs that I can take a drill to and those will last at least a month of sundays or longer.

The permanent home thing is exactly why I am thinking of getting a big trough and using that. I saw one that was round, 6 feet across and 2 feet deep....320 gallons. $150 bucks...

Or if its cheaper I can build whatever I want. I don't want anyone being tempted to run over my stuff with the mower and I want to keep the good soil in and the bad stuff out.

A raised bed would probably work just fine. Just keep it weeded out and you should not have any problems.

Your plan is sounding better now that I know what you mean by a BIG container. They do need excellent drainage or you can have trouble with root rot. Again, just don't crowd the roots when planting and keep them fed and damp when they're small. Google some instructions about planting, because you need to cover them shallowly at first and then keep filling in the dirt as they grow during the first season. Weeds will be the death of them...I learned that by planting red raspberries too close to my first asparagus bed. :(

Ideally how deep should I build the 'container'/bed... 1 foot deep? How deep do good asparagus roots grow?

Will a hard freeze kill asparagus?

Umm...asparagus roots can go down several feet and spread for at least 2' on each side of where the stalks appear.

The key to keeping an in the ground bed weed free is heavy mulch. 6" of mulch, spread out at least 18" from the center of the row, on each side of the row, would be about right. Make a couple inches of that mulch composted manure and you'll have an asparagus bed that will produce top notch monster spears.

If I have 18 crowns, about how much asparagus could I get from that? Assuming that I do everything right.

The size and number of spears will increase as the plants mature, but once established, "they" say that each crown can produce 1/2 lb. of spears.
Also, they are very hardy.

Sorry, double post.

Hi Alamo5000,

Watch this video on asparagus planting.
[URL]http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/asparagus-grow/[/URL]

Wendy

[quote=alamo5000;193905]Ideally how deep should I build the 'container'/bed... 1 foot deep? How deep do good asparagus roots grow?

Will a hard freeze kill asparagus?[/quote]

One foot is deep enough. Mulch with cardbaord newspaper and then grass clippings or other yard waste (thickly).

Mine over wintered fine in Lakes Region-NH.

If you are looking for large, cheap containers, think:
Home Depot, Stainless steel bathtubs...$99.