Posted: Tue Jan 04, 05 12:01 pm Post subject: Asparagus... Does it need to know that it's winter?
Our asparagus (sevewn plants, two varieties, planted last spring) seems to be in two minds as to what season it is. Some of the plants are throwing up new shoots like they think it's spring, some others are sitting dormant like they probably should.
Ought I be concerned? I'm loathe to cut the new growth back, and as I'm not expecting a harvest this year (although I might sample a shoot or two) I'm not inclined to do anything about this. Is it a problem?
It seems to be common practice this time of year to earth them up, although I don't think this will slow yours down much! Also, of course, you might have one variety earlier than the other.
It seems to be common practice this time of year to earth them up, although I don't think this will slow yours down much! Also, of course, you might have one variety earlier than the other.
It's plants from each variety that seem to be growing at the moment. It's the plants that didn't die off for winter, the ones that kept a bit of greenery, that seem to be racing ahead early (I guess that's no surprise).
I gave them a good layer of compost in November, and as that's all been taken into the soil by worms I might well do the same again.
This happened to mine when the plants were younger; after I cut back the dead stems and ferns, I just mulched over the whole lot, including the tiny wee new shoots with strawy manure until spring, when they started to shoot properly. They haven't done it this year, though.
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