Asparagus, From Crowns to Cropping

[@Aaron999]

Only Charles would/could have a progression video on a multi-year crop like asparagus! These videos are so instructive. Shooting footage and not expecting to post it until a year later is a testament to the quality of your content. We appreciate it!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Aaron!!

[@hacgarimman9660]

Absolutely. The system he uses is very well though out and always conclude with finess

[@garrettscott4094]

Charles, I do believe I could listen to you narrating in real time the growth of grass. Thank you for sharing your experiences, knowledge, and points of view.

[@angelad.8944]

I love this comment! it's so true, haha.

[@koogoogle]

He really is such a lovely person. I am so thankful to have found this channel.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I shan't put you through that!! Thanks Garrett 🌱

[@garrettscott4094]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig you are quite welcome. Quite a few people in the field of gardening, regenerative agg, and microbiology explain things as if you should have always known them. They unintentionally demean one in their quest for knowledge. You make learning quite approachable for those who need it to be. For that, I thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@garrettscott4094 Cheers 🥂

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

I like how when you spotlight a veg you show an entire years a growth. I also understand how difficult doing that management actually is and appreciate the effort. Mary Washington asparagus is where it's at. No need for the modern hybrids! My great grandma had a plot that was probably Mary Washington that was probably somewhere over 50 years old before the bed all died! It was left to grow up and make seeds every year so it was constantly refreshing itself with different ages. Also the birds planted lots of asparagus in the fence rows.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How amazing and I wish we had her here! Thanks

[@MM-fr9yh]

I just bought MW asparagus and am looking to plant them soon. Its good to know that someone else has them as well. Wish me luck.

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

@@MM-fr9yh everyone has that variety if it's an older plot.

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig is it an old American (only) variety??? What are your heritage varieties then?

[@tudorpottudorpot8423]

University of Guelph here in Ontario, invested many years to create new Asparagus hybrids, Guelph Millennium, and Eclipse. This was to meet demand/need of North American farmers, and growers. Millennium, and Eclipse show intermediate resistance to rust, the most damaging disease in asparagus plantings. Also more cold hardy. Most importantly, almost double yield compared to Jersey types. Mary Washington is a good choice for home growers. I live in a very cold area, so the ability of newer asparagus hybrids to cope with cold is a very important factor. Sharing so other gardeners know there are options. Freda

[@SagaJohanna]

Ive never understood how asparagus grew so I’m so happy that you made this video! Thank you!!

[@kevindice1092]

Such a wonderful plant, truly belongs in every garden. We have 4 beds here at the farm, the first of which I helped my father plant 45 years ago. It’s still producing a lovely harvest each May.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for sharing this Kevin, and a great memory for you!

[@erinobrien8408]

Wow, how fantastic!!

[@beauvaisboy]

As I start my vegtable patch for the first year (No dig)the wealth of knowledge you transmit is superb and your personality makes the videos a real pleasure. Thankyou👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Jonathan, best of luck

[@joydavis4087]

Amazing start to a new asparagus bed. ❤❤❤ and lovely to see the established bed.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Joy

[@Dyynamo]

My asparagus bed is about 6 years old now. When I started it I planted a few daffodil and tulip bulbs around them, then I covered the whole bed in wood chippings that I get for free from a local tree surgeon. I let the bulbs flower and I get a lovely display in the spring, then when the flowers are dying off, I spread another layer of wood chippings onto the bed prior to the asparagus peeping through.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds gorgeous!

[@endlichdrin]

Here in Germany, I find loads of cardbord in the big supermarkets. It is used in the beverage section in between the plastic bottles (where the bottles are sold from euro-pallets). The markets themselves collect it (presumably several times a day) and [as far as I understand] compact it and send it to recycling facilities. Bottom line: No one complains when I take several sheets with my purchase. And the big advantages over boxes are: It comes in defined sizes, does not need to get unfolded and is usually ink-free. No cardbord boxes needed.

[@erinobrien8408]

Excellent idea!!!

[@gypsygem9395]

I get my cardboard from an animal feed store, but if I had time, I could also get plenty of it from the nearby market town on the commercial waste collection day as all the clothing shops put out tons of cardboard.

[@danfarkas5375]

You take so much care with your content. I love when the finish of the video is at a different time of year from the start. I don't even like asparagus lol.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I appreciate that Dan, and how amazing!!

[@nickthegardener.1120]

My new plot has the collosal variety, luckily the old ferns were still attached, so I recognized that it was asparagus and didn't dig them up when weeding that bed. I then found the label. The old ferns were thin so I assume it was its first year planted from crowns, so got another year to go before harvest. It's so tempting to have a couple of spears. 👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is good, and do pick a couple!!

[@xSunshinex4206]

Want to, but can't decide where to plant it so will have to wait a while more. Same thing every year, I get cold feet on where to plant them. Got quite a few things ironed out by this video though, thank you 🌻

[@doinacampean9132]

Don't worry about that, you can always move them - they won't be very happy, but Self Sufficient Me did it... so, it can be done. Just put them in the soil!

[@amandajlemen]

Oh this is perfect! I'm getting my asparagus crowns in a few days and I was really looking for a no dig tutorial on it, as well as strawberries! Thank you again, you always seem to be right on time

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Perfect! Good luck with planting

[@KPKENNEDY]

My plot was 75% bindweed when I took it over. The last few bits of bindweed finally gave up halfway through the third year. No dig made it easier to get more of the root out and more easily. Its too early to say about the Mares tail, but not digging and breaking the roots may possibly be helping. However I am aware that it maybe wishful thinking! I enjoyed your video and find your video's honest, interesting and full of useful idea's. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Kevin for great feedback. Two more years of marestail probably :)

[@rosemarystanley1363]

Our Asparagus bed is 3 years in - this video has us looking forward to spring! Thank you for sharing your experience :)

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

What season do you harvest?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Our pleasure. For Scott, late April to late June

[@robb5984]

What a wonderfully satisfying sound - the snap of a fresh spear!

[@shaunbliss1396]

Perfect timing Charles thanks I’m expecting a delivery this week!

[@kilzme2222]

We've started using your no-dig method for our beds this year and have also started our first asparagus patch. Look forward to them already! Heavy harvest my friend!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Brock and thanks

[@deborahddenmark]

Thank you so much! I feel confident now to plant my crowns. They will be shipping soon!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Long term commitment! I'm trying to plan my garden in Sacramento, Calif. Long growing season, no rain, very hot summers. 35+ days over 100°F (38°C).

[@grandiesgarden175]

Colfax here. I just planted about 40 corn, some greenbeans, (2 of the three sisters. More beans later, so the corn is strong enough to hold them), last week potatoes. Im at 3k feet. Ill bet you will have a lush lovely garden in your climate! I encourage you to get what you can in the ground NOW! ;)

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

@@grandiesgarden175 yup! Tomatoes went in last week. Peas, corn, et cetera soon.

[@michaelsnelgrove5779]

I used to have an asparagus bed when I had an allotment. Nothing like picking it and steaming it ten minutes later - best flavour in the World! I really miss it. Even farmers' market asparagus doesn't come close to it in flavour.

[@Scott3387]

Obviously you have far more experience than me so it might be a poor suggestion or one you are familiar with but I recommend a horihori over a trowel for weed removal. Much studier and difficult to break while also being thinner and therefore disturbing less soil. Amazingly effective tool.

[@Emeraldwitch30]

Its my favorite garden tool.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Scott. I would not use a trowel except that it's copper and I family believe that copper is the best metal for soil energy, not steel as with the hori hori, great though the design is

[@Scott3387]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig ahh the only side of your gardening I cannot get behind. Viktor Schauberger is too hippy for me. Don't take this as mocking though. If it works for you then that's great and wouldn't ask you to stop. I'd hypothesise however that it's the cost of bronze tools that is the effective part. You are paying for a premium product with higher manufacturing standards and that's what let's it cut the soil easier. The energy/magnetism part is much harder to test.

[@gypsygem9395]

Not finished watching the video yet, but thank you Charles. I've got a couple of crowns of Gijnlim in pots at the moment (couldn't plant them in the ground last year so it was a way of keeping them alive!). I'm planning to plant them into a huge tub I've got until I've decided where their final home is going to be. This is mainly because I've got a lot of horsetail at one end of the garden and Phragmites australis rush almost everywhere else where I'm starting my market garden. The rush is a pain to get rid of, so the ground isn't exactly ideal for asparagus yet. I noticed this weekend that one of the pots has already got two spears!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Big job!!

[@odiums_taint]

thank you so much for all the wonderful content! this was the first of your videos that i came across, and have enjoyed re-watching to glean all i can. i planted my own crowns in mid march (7 weeks ago), the day after seeing this for the first time. i was so excited to see 80% of the asparagus i planted have surfaced just today!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice feedback and that's exciting!

[@mariakraska5738]

Gdy już się wie jak uprawiać szparagi to wtedy jest to takie proste 😀 pozdrawiam 👍💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🥂!!

[@Warrior-In-the-Garden]

Love how you put weeds in their place. Yeah "we're not afraid of you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Haha thanks

[@mudoh2131]

I have let my asparagus bed get badly overgrown, will have a go at rescuing it and will probably start another bed next year. I love asparagus and absolutely refuse to buy iy out of season shipped halfway round the world. Thank you Charles, inspiring as always.

[@JanDeBondt]

Same here. Escaped chickens scratching everything loose... and a piece of the garden too far away in the garden that got neglected way too much. I also might try rescuing some crowns... but a new order will soon arrive and will be planted much closer to our house to keep an eye on the weeds.

[@martinsmith251]

I’ve been watching your channel for a couple of years now and I think this is the most I’ve ever seen you dig! (Pond doesn’t count!)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks 👍!!

[@jeshurunfarm]

I had time to watch the full video now and it is well planned and edited (again) We also enjoy your work in educating and gardening. Respect from Africa 🇿🇦

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Justus 😀

[@ourgarden381]

I am planting 3 crowns today and am planing on planting them in a large bed I use for rubarb. I will be planting it in front of the rubarb so it will get the sun. I've just watched your video again and really appreciate your content. Thank you for the help you have already given me!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck! Remember that rhubarb is thirsty in the summertime, when it will be grabbing some moisture from the asparagus, I hope it works for you.

[@diogene5772]

charles talking about great tools ... here i am with the most rusted shovel i hinerited from gp still my fav over the 5 clean other i got

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is interesting and perhaps it's because it has the best shape or the nicest handle, there are so many fascinating aspects to what makes a good tool

[@diogene5772]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig mostly the way it dig ... just like a butter knife x) its so rusted the shape started to look like a arrow head

[@Constantinului]

Dear brother Charles, thank you for sharing this one. Great info and insights !

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hexmonkog1762]

thnx Charles. Again a high quality well thought of video. I love it 😍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you liked it!

[@dn744]

Looking good. Planted lots more flowers this year. Daughter saw Rainbow Chrysanthemum, so asked I grow her some. Challenge accepted 😎

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@blondiethebuilder5676]

Great info on your channel for me, I'm starting my homesteading and one of my first to plant is asparagus, I've already ordered them, will definitely follow your tips . Thank you :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck!

[@karenl7786]

Oh to have the space to grow asparagus! It is quite beautiful.

[@homermtz]

Sir Charles! Teach me your knowledge

[@bfrommars]

Thank you for the video. I have read that Asparagus roots can go down as far as 15 feet! I usually plant mine on a small hump in the trench to avoid stress on the crown.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for the info! Nice to hear Carol

[@I.love.mygarden]

For so many years I didn’t start wiht asparagus as I new it’s so long to wait.. and later for so long regret it ;)) but finnaly last year I’ve put few crowns! Maybe I will add few this year also! Thank you for great movie!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I wish you well Agnieszka!

[@I.love.mygarden]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you! :))

[@janicejurgensen2122]

Thank you for all this information! I have asparagus that were planted over 20 years ago and have started giving me fewer each year so I want to replant! And this video makes it seem much easier than I was about to do! Ty

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vlunceford]

I have a small bed of asparagus that I recently weeded, added fresh compost, and topped all with a thick layer of well-composted wood chips. Hoping to increase productivity on that bed. Here in the Southeastern USA, Bermuda grass is my nemesis. I laid cardboard before filling my raised beds, which are now 3 years old and full of Bermuda grass that is coming up from underneath the beds. I try to stay no-dig but the Bermuda was so thick in my beds that we spent many ' hours removing as much of the grass and its rhizomes as possible all the way to the bottom of the beds. I re-spread the soil in each bed, added fresh soil and compost, and will use well-composted wood chips as top compost/mulch. Hopefully our aggressiveness with the Bermuda grass won’t harm the soil in the end. I gardened in 2020 but not in 2021 due to both weather and illness, so the grass got out of hand. The plan is to stay on top if it going forward and out let it get so bad in the future.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well done, and yes it needs persistence! Hope you are mulching nearby paths too, so it can't spread back horizontally

[@ximenaisabeljimenezgalindo9044]

Me animo ver tu hermoso video , gracias Charles 🇨🇱😷

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@gustogarden]

This is definitely one of our next project, and some of your tips will surely be useful. Thanks for your work from italy!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful!

[@conniehusband1365]

Thankyou Charles! Want to get some asparagus started this year. You get a thumbs up before I watch, devoted advocate. Now.....about this snow🤔

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh dear, wish I could send our rain and sun 🌱

[@clarelove3738]

I am so envious of your asparagus crowns. Really hard to find decent crowns in Ireland. I eventually got asparagus spears after 5 years from what were supposed to be 2 yr old crowns at planting time, so it took nearly 7 years 😮‍💨

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear that Clare, v frustrating

[@jasonhatfield4747]

The timing of this video is amazing. I have 50 asparagus crowns coming in April and plan on starting them exactly the same way you demonstrated here. I have my work cut out for me I fear, haha

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck and you can do it! So much asparagus!!

[@bankyankerdude]

Perfectly timed video! My mom gave me some crowns as a birthday gift this past month and I had no idea what to do with them 😂. Thank you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Happy birthday!!

[@bankyankerdude]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you

[@koogoogle]

Your eight year asparagus bed is beautiful

[@prubroughton2327]

i have a little asparagus experiment going at the moment here in NZ. I have set aside a little patch which is not harvested until late summer early autumn. I am no cutting the spears they are the biggest and juiciest I have ever had and is a great treat when you are fed up with zucchini and lettuce.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Enterprising!

[@rosen-garten629]

Thank you for another lovely video on a vegetable I love dearly! I so wish I had more space to try it. It would be nice, if you could come back to that bed at some point, to show us, how it developed :-).

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes shall do, early summer tour

[@nachis3]

Love your video. I just planted asparagus crowns and your video is very informative.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Awesome! May they grow!

[@seanirishterrier6588]

I grew mine from seed last year, most survived the winter in large pots. Now in their 2nd yr & ready to be planted. I won’t be cropping them until next yr which I believe is the earliest I can do this.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Spot on Sean

[@breaker-one-nine]

Good video. I grew a mix of varieties from seed last year so I'll have a mix of males & females, need to plant them out in next few weeks. ps. I'm not jealous of the bindweed. We luckily haven't got that. My main perennial weeds are rush, sorrel, buttercup & dock.

[@gypsygem9395]

I can sympathise! I have the same (except sorrel), the rush is ... gah!!

[@plantsoverpills1643]

Asparagus…..a wonderfully healthful vegetable😋

[@carolineholland4178]

Love the copper spade. I have purchased a few precious tools from Implementations and I couldn't bare to use anything else. If only they could make a horihori knife with a serrated edge. That would be amazing! Something to get deep into the soil with minimal disturbance to lift out weeds that could also be used to slice or saw off spent plants at ground level leaving the roots to decompose underground.

[@gypsygem9395]

That really would be something, I could do with something like that for cutting the rushes that grow in my garden as deeply as possible without disturbing the soil too much. Perhaps I'll buy a cheap bread knife or similar to do the job. (Thanks for the idea!)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Caroline, I shall ask about copper hori hori

[@carolineholland4178]

Great idea, I just love copper gardening tools.

[@carolineholland4178]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig If you could work your magic and get one of these into production that would be amazing! Also if the said company could offer a sharpening service rather than replacing that would be brilliant. Your success in getting the 60 cell plug trays adapted for the smaller plot holder is very useful, thank you very much.

[@equisader]

With you on the copper hori hori. I have the niwaki carbon steel one. It's excellent but copper would be fabulous.

[@aileenshaw9279]

Hello Charles. I have been eating asparagus from the same plants from my grandmother’s garden for over 65 years. My parents moved into her property when she died and continued the asparagus bed. I have since moved some of the plants 3 times as I have shifted house. The last two shifts they were planted in raised beds which were only filled with compost. It would be interesting to know what the variety is called. I wish I had known about no dig gardening in my early gardening years!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hello Aileen, this is an amazing story and thanks so much for sharing. I did not know that you could successfully transplant large asparagus, and that's very reassuring. They sound like a wonderful variety!

[@kensearle4892]

I didn't know you could move them either. I like that as a have a few good ones I want to move to a new bed.

[@aileenshaw9279]

@@kensearle4892 I shifted them in winter when they were dormant and hoped for the best. They are planted into a raised bed in compost which is topped up each year. There is no soil in the raised bed. I give them a light top up of blood and bone a couple of times a year. Best of luck.

[@erinobrien8408]

That's incredible, Aileen!

[@ssmith2608]

How long do the asparagus live for? That's amazing 😁.

[@meapantz1983]

I've just got some purple crowns this year to pop in. I also have loads of the green ones growing from seed from 6 months ago so hopefully they will get good in a few years

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That sounds promising. I recommend planting the purple ones maybe 15 cm closer to each other because they are less vigorous, in my experience here.

[@meapantz1983]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig top tip. Thank you Charles 😊

[@maryt8184]

I started asparagus from seed this yr. They grew better than I expected. I realize they will take longer to get a harvest, but the cost savings are substantial. Our climate is not ideal for asparagus, so we shall see how they do. The ferns are pretty in their own right, and I tucked a few into the flower garden.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds promising Mary

[@shametienne8975]

Hi Charles, do you have any issues with Ground Elder? I have a 3.5 year old asparagus bed and Ground Elder is taking over. Is it all over for my Asparagus?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I eliminated some at the beginning with mulching followed by regular removal. It needs persistence and unless you are proactive, your asparagus might struggle

[@shametienne8975]

@Charles Dowding thanks Charles. Been pulling them out, so not as bad

[@conniehusband1365]

Scrumptious! Cant wait.

[@ramthianthomson601]

Thanks x

[@ruthohare9840]

I'm waiting for my crowns to be delivered. The bed is almost ready, cardboard, sand (from our old sand school), molehill dirt and finally spent mushroom compost. The sand and dirt layers are to lift the crowns up above ground level and provide good drainage as it's very wet here in North Devon. I made the mistake of planting rhubarb into the ground last year and it all rotted. This year I made dirt mounds and put the rhubarb on top and it's all come up fine, so I figure the asparagus ought to be ok too. 🤞

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well done Ruth!

[@keetajo4437]

We've had asparagus grow along our railroad for over 50 years. It is not mowed and full of grass and weeds. Asparagus is hardy and does well with little to no help. Just remember to cut below the soil and not to snap above the soil. And to let some go to seed. And they will give you so much you will be giving it away to friends and family

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice observations thanks

[@quantafitness6088]

Thank you very much. Such an easier way to do it.

[@hilshils3426]

Also, Very interested to read about the perennial weeds & how to deal with them in an established bed! I’m battling with couch grass in a newish bed of dogwoods, using imported topsoil which must have had it in it, as have no other couch grass elsewhere. Good to hear if I keep at it, it will go, especially if I locate the ‘parent’ root? I have a bit of bindweed and ground elder which I am trying to defoliate regularly hoping that will weaken it… Maybe a video on weeds??

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I always recommend not to import soil because of this problem exactly, and also it's often not truly topsoil! However, you have it now and yes, you need to keep removing new growth, plus you could put some cardboard down now with a little compost or woodchip on top to hold it down. I've made loads of videos about weeds, see this one for example kzbin.info/www/bejne/g57ZY619m816btk

[@hilshils3426]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you…I should have searched!

[@creative_grassrootsgarden]

Great advice. I'm going to give asparagus a try this spring. 💚

[@nickhammersonrocks]

BY FAR THE BEST VEGETABLE TO HAVE IN A CAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@olberarosa2346]

AWESOME VIDEO SR WATCHING YOU FROM TEXAS

[@dispmonk]

I’ve got a massive Horsetail issue. The best way I’ve gotten rid of it is to tarp it off for a year. Then let chickens hit it in spring. And make sure the surrounding area is kept mowed. Takes a couple years for sure. Some people say if you keep the soil extremely fertile it’ll just go away on its own. I’m still improving mine so can’t verify that. 😜

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That's good, you are well organised and all of that makes good sense. I agree, and soil being more fertile from organic matter means also better drainage which does not suit the horsetail, because it likes ground that lies wet

[@dispmonk]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig yes, it’s definitely a pioneering species, one of the oldest plants on earth. I think it’s drawn to really poor soil‘s as well. Surprisingly, my ground isn’t very wet, it is largely clay though and devoid of nutrients and biomass. So much so I broke down and did some soil tests because not much would grow. It had been hayed for about 100 years without ever any inputs back in on it. Even with putting compost down for 2 years I couldn’t grow anything well. I’m Looking forward to this growing season because I got all the nutrients up with alfalfa meal,other biomass, and compost. Most of the perennial weeds are gone to so I can finally get into proper no dig. Anyhow I’m just babbling now. Good video✌️

[@ohio_gardener]

Some of my asparagus is a little over 30 years old, and still very productive. I haven't seen any sprouts yet, but the rhubarb is now coming up so the asparagus won't be far behind.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is wonderful to hear, what an amazing plant it is, I hope your season is a good one

[@waynesell3681]

Pleasant video

[@jeshurunfarm]

Wow Charles. You have double the views in one hour, that I get in a life time. Respect from Africa 🇿🇦

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh wow!

[@jeshurunfarm]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig you must be doing something rite. I will keep steeling with my eyes.

[@tonyawiley9575]

I just planted my first asparagus bed from 3 year old crowns I started from seed. Super excited to see how they do! My question however, is once the spears are large enough for harvest, when do you stop harvesting for the season and allow the plants to "fern out"?

[@K_C.]

The plants will tell you, when the spears start to bolt faster and get tough to bite. Asparagus beetle shows up around then so I chop one last time after their eggs are laid and compost it.

[@tonyawiley9575]

@@K_C. makes sense. Thank you so much for the info!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

As I say here, late June. To allow growth for building roots.

[@tonyawiley9575]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you! I must have missed you mentioning that.

[@PlantObsessed]

I need to move my asparagus. Do I have to start over the 3 years before harvesting again?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Maybe two! See how well it takes, keep it watered initially

[@MiekeBondvandenBrink]

Tell me more about what you can grow in an asparagus patch, I've always been told asparagus doesn't like competition, didn't like to share?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

From July to September, asparagus makes a forest or green above and its roots are pumping soil for all the moisture and nutrients they can find. But in the winter, it's dormant, so it is possible to transplant spinach and spring onions in October. That's a late start but harvests are worthwhile.

[@charlescoker7752]

Mr. Dowding, I watched Paul Gautschi in Washington State USA. He found breaking the shoots off at the crown tells the plant to send up a new shoot. Just breaking the stem. The crown thinks it still has a spear. And does not put up a shoot to take its place. You can find the short video. , Paul Gautschi Asparagus Harvest. Do not know if breaking off the dry stems at the crown would tell the plant to send up a new spear , or not. But give it a try.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Charles. Must say though that we have plenty of harvest. Shall try!

[@charlescoker7752]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Your Welcome. Will be interesting to see you do the experiment, and do a video about it.

[@charlescoker7752]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig One other thing. You heard of Willard Water? 60 Minutes in America. Did a segment on it in 1980. You can find on You Tube. They went to see if it was snake oil , or the real deal. It helps plants use the fertilizer better. Increases the roots in plants. Has other uses. Like for bad burns The company now makes a product just for the garden . Along with the clear, and dark versions.

[@clairemcconway6266]

that's interesting, but could it increase the risk of overharvesting and exhaustion? You'd have to be very discliplined and not take all the spears that come up.

[@azamshakoor3098]

Always a pleasure to watch your video,, sir Charles,, thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge with us 👍👌🇮🇳

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

My pleasure Azam. I hope that asparagus will grow in your climate!

[@azamshakoor3098]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Hooe so never tried but sure will let you know once I grow them,,

[@kipstrange1973]

Thanks for the tips.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It's a pleasure!

[@stevendowden2579]

great video charles

[@sandrafuentes3449]

Guau que rico .me encantan los espárragos gracias por el video ❤️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Maravillosa Sandra

[@marcidevries5515]

My asparagus patch is being over run by goldenrod! It produces well in the spring before the golden rod comes up, but I just don't know how to get rid of the persistent weed with its thick runners! Would I be better off digging up these 10ish year old plants to start them in a new bed? It's about a 10' by 20' bed. Goldenrod broke easily into my nearby No Dig area near that perennial bad last year. I'm going to try tarping that nearby area for a full year before trying again in Michigan.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Marci, and I don't know. Clearly you need to be persistent when you first see the Golden Globes and not let it take over. It's now clearly very difficult, best of luck!

[@doinacampean9132]

Goldenrod is apparently full of health benefits, so you may want to keep it. Besides, they don't really compete with each other, do they? (I'll have to look at the roots depth for each of them). If nothing else, pollinators love them.

[@marcidevries5515]

@@doinacampean9132 There is plenty of goldenrod in the field next to the garden that the bees can go to 😉 The roots are extensive and aggressive. The plants are comparable heights and competing for sun.

[@jonerlandson1956]

yay for asparagus....

[@johndyer9232]

Couch grass looks familiar to crab grass in the US to me.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Maybe the same, it's Elymus repens

[@jimmybowens]

You should try gardening with Kaikuyu grass in Auckland NZ - your situation is like a utopia compared. 😂

[@erinobrien8408]

Perfect timing this video, thank you! Q: I've had 50 Jersey Knights in a weedy, dug bed for 3 yrs. Obviously they're not producing harvestable size spears. I've created 6 new, no dig beds. Would they be better off if I dig & replant them in a new bed, or if I put down some cardboard and compost around them and keep on top of the weeds? (Zone 7b- extremely wet all yr excepting summer) Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge!!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Erin, you could do either. If the former, put compost on the card. Maybe the soil wetness suggests raised beds.

[@erinobrien8408]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig @Charles Dowding Thank you for your response! So, I'll follow your lead and experiment! I'll transplant 1/2 to a new bed & keep 1/2 in situ while improving the bed's soil with card, compost.

[@karenharkness4847]

I have just planted some wild asparagus bought from Franchi. What does well intercropped with it in a raised bed? Someone said strawberries on a permaculture forum...

[@bfrommars]

I saw strawberries too, they have quit shallow roots so won't compete?

[@erinobrien8408]

My question too!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good plan!

[@tranthiduyen615]

Bạn trồng cây măng tây thật tuyệt vời

[@Jardin-de-invierno]

Always love your videos

[@hilshils3426]

Hi Charles, really interesting video, as my asparagus bed is 3 years old now but still, last year, the stems were pretty spindly. I’m not picking them of course, but wonder if they need a bit of feeding as well as mulch to strengthen the plants? They are in sun till around 3pm in summer, so maybe that’s the problem..can’t do anything about that as we live in shady Hampshire!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and I think you maybe have planted a variety that is not very good. Some amazingly do grow thin spears and unfortunately will probably not change. I hope I'm wrong! That's only a small difference in terms of sunlight, and would not cause it.

[@keetajo4437]

Cut the spears just below the soil so that it regrows. If cut above the soil that spear will die off and not regrow. Towards end of season let a few go to seed so they can seed your area

[@patrickmcgillable]

Thanks for this great video! Is it also recommended to add compost on top of the crowns in the fall and mix in the soil?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No need to mix in, worms do that through the year. I add compost on top once a year.

[@rachelstark2391]

Could you trim the asparagus roots, and did you cover the crowns?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

A good point, you could trim the roots a little. The crowns are just below surface level.

[@christinashurina1008]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 Thank you very much for the information. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🍅

[@irishfruitandberries9059]

How many spears would you allow to grow per crown after harvesting? Thanks Charles

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No fixed number because it depends on the vigour of the crown

[@kensearle4892]

I have tried Asparagus beds. My 2nd bed after 5 years is not so good. Some died due to competition of raspberries, rhubarb, and weeds creeping in. After lessons learned, I think my 3rd plan has a better chance. 1. A dedicated bed for asparagus. Maybe some annuals on edges but definitely not other perennials that will compete. 2. Treat as a hedgerow where they will not shade other nearby vegetables when they are 3-4 feet high 3. Place a tarp a whole season or year ahead so the weeds are dead-dead-dead 4. Lay the crowns on a light layer of compost. 5. Then a thick layer of several inches of compost over them to avoid digging the holes and keep weeds dead-dead-dead. 6. Plant 2-3 times more plants as I think I'll need because some die and some will take an extra year or two. Extras will look nice. 7. Hopefully then they will grow-grow-grow

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nicely described Ken and I wish you success by 2025-6!

[@Heather_At_The_Ridge]

We just moved from a large city lot to substantial acreage; I dug up my asparagus which I had started from seed in January 2021. It's all in pots. I have to create the beds to get them in the ground. Do I remove soil and spread the roots? Or plant with the entire clump in tact? I am not limited on space; how much space is optimal? Too much/too little?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You could do either Heather, depending what you see when removing the rootball and my preference would be to spread the roots out, ideally late winter to early spring

[@Heather_At_The_Ridge]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you very much!

[@angelad.8944]

Great video. I have a patch and would like to expand. I do have the beetles and have been dealing with them well enough. I wonder if some diatomaceous earth in the soil would help interrupt their life cycle. Do they spend any of their time in the soil around the plants? I use the cayenne, peppermint, soap etc mix for them up top and that seems to do the trick. Recipe is easy to find when internet searching. My big question, when is the best time to rescue and transplant asparagus? I know of an old spot full of very established plants but it will have an out building put there soon enough. I was thinking more is better when it comes to having an asparagus source. The ground will be workable in a few weeks(fingers crossed) and I was hoping to rescue them asap.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I would not worry too much about the beetle, and regarding the move, yes ASAP and before the middle of April if possible

[@angelad.8944]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Excellent! Thank you.

[@equisader]

A few weeks on i have 57/60 germinated in my cd60. I'm pretty thrilled with that. I need to pot on now and i'm wondering if the deeper planting technique with the modules applies to asparagus seedlings too? Can't believe i'm even doing this. Your videos give confidence just to try. Thanks so much.

[@hoosierpioneer]

I have a volunteer asparagus shoot, for several years now. Every year ONE SHOOT, ONE FERN ONLY. I want it to multiply. Any advice? I'm tempted to eat that stalk this year!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I have suffered that and reckon it's from the crown being of poor quality and it will never make any good result for you. I would replant or better still, sow from Seed, ASAP

[@hobin1433]

I started some asparagus plant from seed in early spring.. when can I add the starters to my garden.. did I hear you say next winter?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes exactly, and best time is March. Keep potting them on to make large plants