Asparagus advice

[Pickle]

We recently put in new raised beds and filled them with fruit and vegetable topsoil from Rolawn. To my surprise one of my beds has now started to grow asparagus! I have no idea when it comes to asparagus what to do! (I know how to cook it it's the growing side of things I don't know about) It is dotted about the bed randomly and is coming up amoungst other crops.
I guess what I'm asking is, now I've got it I'd like to keep it but firstly do I just cut the spears off when they reach a certain height? And secondly, as the spears are so random how do I go about relocating them to one spot without disturbing my other crops?

[Nicos]

Don't cut the spears!!!!!

Are you saying that they are baby plants- grown from seed in the topsoil???

If so- the roots will be tiny-pot them on until big enough to put into a prepared asparagus bed.


Sorry- I forget..but it's not a newly acquired piece of land is it -with a hidden, already existing asparagus bed????...that'd be much harder to move!!

[Graham S]

Hi Pickle,
Did you have asparagus in the previous bed or have you recently moved in? If not then it either came in with your Rolawn soil or it's not asparagus? (but I'm sure you know your asparagus!!!) Do you have a photo?
Asparagus tips usually appear directly above the crown so if you want to move it, dig about 20-30cm either side of the spear and you should find the crown. It's not the right time to move it now so if you want to keep it then I'd wait until it's dormant in winter. If you did transplant it, you have to wait at least two years before harvesting any spears.
If left, the spears will grow to 6 foot tall, so this will shade your other veg.

[chriscross1966]

Atre you sure it's not horsetail?.... they look pretty similar early on...

[NOG]

I think its horsetail. If its asparagus it will be 1-2mm in diamater if its horsetail it will be 5mm.

Asparagus will also grow very quickly.

[Pickle]

It's definitely not horsetail (I'm plagued by that elsewhere in my garden). It literally looks like someone has stuck some spears in the ground. Although the ones that are a few days old now are over a foot in height. I'll try and take a picture tomorrow.

[Duronal]

ohhhh nice...... rogue asparagus, i'd rather that than bindweed or dandelion!

[Pickle]

Hopefully this will work! I've taken some photos this morning, question is can I get them onto this thread I've tried to take a photo of the tip and of the whole thing but it was all done in a rush so sorry if they aren't clear.

[Pickle]

Yeah! It worked

[Nicos]

OOOoooo....yum!!!!!

[Duronal]

no doubt about it you've definitely got asparagus

[Pickle]

Thanks for your replies I think it must have definitely come from the topsoil as the beds were put over what were strawberry beds. Now I didn't anticipate getting some free veg with my topsoil What a bonus Now just need to decided where to move it to when the time is right

[Edwardo82]

I think thats very cool to have such nice Asparagus just appear from no where

[Paulottie]

How unusual!...by the size of the spears those are not from stray seed but reasonably sized crowns. One wonders where Rolawn get their topsoil! ... certainly not screened or sterilized then!!

In brief,

Option 1 Prepare your new home this year and work around the plants. In October or Nov cut down the yellowing foliage. leaving 6" showing to mark them dig around them and lift as carefully as possible. then replant and wait a further year before harvest. Problems include not knowing how old/deep those crowns are plus inconvienience, plus no asparagus for 2/3 years thus...

Option 2: Ride your luck...Harvest them as long as they keep going grub up those in the way...meanwhile prepare a bed and buy 12 new crowns (about a tenner) and start another bed. ...tempting to my mind

Option 3. If your sure they came with the soil...Try and move them now...not established probably lift easily. replant carefully and immediately then water a lot...Take no spears this year and maybe a few next year....They might not make it especially if they are over 5 years old but hey...free and might work