Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Do asparagus plants have a life expectancy?

ako1974 · May 15, 2018

I have a bed that is now (I think) 9 years old. I had planted 2 year old crowns. It's been extremely productive...until now. Fewer spears, and thinner. I was wondering myself if additional compost would do the trick or if the bed is beginning to decline.

However, I also planted 2 other beds within the last 2 or 3 years. Both of them were more productive last year by this point. So I can't conclude anything yet. Typically, when we have late cold - as in some past years - they were slow to break dormancy. But this year, it's been steadily warm for weeks. I do notice some thicker spears now sprouting, so we'll see...

I have read that with the proper conditions, a bed can go 20 years...

May 15, 2018	#2
ako1974 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: New Jersey Posts: 109	I have a bed that is now (I think) 9 years old. I had planted 2 year old crowns. It's been extremely productive...until now. Fewer spears, and thinner. I was wondering myself if additional compost would do the trick or if the bed is beginning to decline. However, I also planted 2 other beds within the last 2 or 3 years. Both of them were more productive last year by this point. So I can't conclude anything yet. Typically, when we have late cold - as in some past years - they were slow to break dormancy. But this year, it's been steadily warm for weeks. I do notice some thicker spears now sprouting, so we'll see... I have read that with the proper conditions, a bed can go 20 years... __________________ Arne Zone 6A, Northern NJ