We made an asparagus bed and planted 10 crowns in it a week and a half ago. How soon should I start to see ferns coming up?
Asparagus Crowns
Mine sprouted March 14th in 2009 and March 26th this year. Sorry, I did not keep a journal the first year - 2008.
You won't see "ferns" they will look like the asparagus you buy in the store. Dependingt upon how old your crowns are, they might be very thin. Mine were 2 year old crowns when I set them, and I waited three summers before even tasting a single one! This is the first year I've been able to pick as many as I want.
You should leave the spears alone, they will grow very tall and turn into ferns. Let the ferns dry, and cut them back early next spring before your next round of spears appear. Then repeat one more time.
IT'S WORTH THE WAIT :)
'Tis the rare gardener with such patience!!!
Thanks for the info. I'm just hoping that the roots are surviving. I'm anxious to see something green popping up. I was hoping to eat some by 2012, but it sound like I might need to wait until 2013. I think it will be worth the wait!
Yes, it is! But also keep your eyes peeled for the asparagus beetle that can stripe your "fronds" clean. Plus, slugs and snails will eat the new shoots so fast you won't even know they are trying to come up. This spring is the first time in years I've been able to harvest handfuls of asparagus spears and steam them to ad to my breakfast!
Last year, I was also careful to collect the seed and I have a five gallon pot full of itty bitty starts. Yes, it will be a few years, but they'll be here and ready to take over when the old bed gets tired.
I planted some a month ago but they didn't come up. :( Is it too late to try and plant some more? I hate to lose a whole year since they take so long to begin with.
Gwendalou - I'm in the same zone as you - here's a link from NC State University
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8002.html