question about growing asparagus

What will happen if I plant asparagus in an area where other plants are growing together?

I'm not an expert on this subject, but can tell you about my personal experience. About 6yrs ago I bought a bunch of asparagus plants, read all of the complicated info on how to plant them, then gave up and just treated them like any other plant. Also, instead of planting mine in traditional garden rows, I tucked them here and there in various parts of my cottage garden. They are doing great. Each morning as I make the rounds in the flower garden walking along winding paths to see what is blooming, I collect asparagus spears that have popped up between the roses, clematis, iris, etc.

The only problem I've found with planting them around other plants is that I have to be careful about spraying flowers with anything I wouldn't want on my asparagus. And sometimes the young asparagus spears may be hidden by all of the flowers around them. Hope this helps.

i don't have a big garden to set up a special area for asparagus, that is good to know.

I have a very small spot for vegetables but didn't want to dedicate a portion of it to the asparagus. As I alluded to above, I also didn't follow the instructions to dig a deep hole, cover them part way, wait so long, add more dirt, etc. I just planted them in a hole the same way I plant everything else. I don't give them any special attention. They get water (mostly from our very ample rainfall) and fertilizer with the flowers.

The asparagus spears are a good size now and are so delicious (much better than the 'fresh' asparagus in the grocery stores) that I frequently eat a bunch of them raw right there in the garden. I'm sure they would make a lovely salad if I could get inside with them. I let some of the spears grow into the fern-like branches later in the summer. Not sure if you are supposed to do this but figured it would help to feed the roots - and sometimes I do it just because I forget to pick them in a timely manner. When I cut roses, iris, etc for a vase I cut some of the tall fern-like asparagus stems, which are already right there in the flower garden anyhow, to add to the arrangement.

Good luck with your asparagus! If mine is any kind of typical example, they should do fine.

the methods you are all describing seem to work out well for everyone, the only reason people make the beds/rows etc is that the roots dont like being disturbed, ie, when hoeing or digging next to your other plants, leaving some ferny growth on the plants is correct as indeed it does feed the plants naturally as it dies down in winter, but just a few plants in a small area will do the job just the same, now-a-days people who do grow this in long rows is because the want to freeze some for outwith the season or they have a larger family to feed over the season, so it all depends on how much you want from your plants and the amount of space you have, if you do go for rows, then you just grow faster growing salad crops along the same rows as these are not taking up too much root areas, you dont have to just grow one row or crops and nothing else, with good planning you can inter crop things that have a short season or use the same space as a seed germination area as you would transplant your seeds without disturbing your Asparagus roots at all, most folks have smaller gardens now and crop rotation or side-by-side growing is becoming even more popular and needy than years ago when everyone had masses of ground to dedicate to long wide rows. hope this helps a bit. WeeNel.

I am thinking about buying the seeds, how did you get your asaparagus?

from the few online sites that i visited they won't send the crown to california. but i wonder if seeds will be good?

I'd keep looking for other sites--there are a number of mail order nurseries that won't ship things to CA because of the requirements on phytosanitary certificiates, but there are plenty of places that will. As far as I know the only type of plant (besides maybe some invasive ones that are banned) that you can never, ever buy from an out of state nursery is citrus so I'm sure there's someone out there who could sell you some asparagus. Here are some sources to start with from Plant Scout--some have plants and some have seeds. No guarantees that they'll all ship here, you'll have to check their websites but I'm sure you'll find one that will.

ecrane,

Did you maybe leave off the link(s)?

Although I order most things online, I actually bought my asparagus plants locally at either Lowe's or Home Depot. I think they put them out in early spring along with lilies, clematis, raspberry and blueberry canes, and such inside the store. If you don't find a mail order supplier maybe you can find them at a home center store locally.

oops--here it is http://davesgarden.com/products/ps/search.php?search_text=asparagus&submit=Search

I have seen them at Lowe's and HD, too. If you buy that way, you want to be sure to buy them right after they come in. But except for citrus and a few others things, a lot of on-line nurseries ship to CA. Apparently, Territorial Seed does not.

I purchased asparagus plants in pots from these folks. The potted plants they sent were actually seedlings, but they have done well. They ship asparagus to CA. The items they do not ship to CA are noted in the plant listings.
http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/?gclid=COyUifWflpUCFQIWFQodaVy9HQ

I bought two-year old crowns from these folks, who were far cheaper than Edible Landscaping. The crowns were really nice, big, and healthy. They are a very small family-owned nursery. They do not mention not shipping to CA. You could give them a call to be sure about it.
http://www.daisyfarms.net/

These folks also ship to CA. I have not purchased anything from them:
http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=48

Karen