51 responses
| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 17th August 2009 10:42pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Speedy Nth. Vic. 17th August 2009 10:53pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Jantina says... Hi Amanda, you're in luck living by the sea, asparagus loves to be mulched by seaweed or anything else if you can't get that. Just in case you want any more plants or for anyone else who is reading this you can buy asparagus seed form www.newgipps.com.au (New Gippsland Seeds and Bulbs) If you get the one labelled UC 157 Hybrid they're all Fat Bastards and easy as beans to grow. I've grown them for lots of people and they are all amazed at how quickly they are growing big fat spears. | About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 17th August 2009 11:02pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 17th August 2009 11:02pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author culebra Melbourne 18th August 2009 8:33pm #UserID: 2458 Posts: |
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| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 19th August 2009 9:12am #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Jantina says... Hi Amanda, other than delicious I don't know how to answer that. Everyone who eats it says it's very good. Ours is growing in a raised bed (about 5 inches)of volcanic soil over sandy/terra rossa soil. I don't water in the spring but we have fairly good rainfall here and we mulch with lucerne and a bit of chook poo.We have about 32 plants and it's so productive I'm forever giving away bunches.I've learned how to use the camera now so next step is to photograph all the food plants (and I may just stick in a photo of my flower garden too) but like you I am not keen to put in photos of naked trees. By the way asparagus is extremely tough once established. | About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 19th August 2009 9:29am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 19th August 2009 9:34am #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Jantina says... Well I figure that people have been very kind to me on many occasions (not to mention patient). Furthermore everyone here tends to barter after a fashion, for instance at work if you have a surplus of any vegetable or fruit or flowering plants or bulbs you bring them to work put them on the table and everyone knows to help themselves, avoids waste and everyone wins.Our personal friends operate on the same principle.Whoops sounds like I'm moralizing here, sorry. | About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 19th August 2009 9:47am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 19th August 2009 5:23pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 26th February 2010 12:38pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 26th February 2010 11:07pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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Grubs says... I know asparagus like to be mulched like crazy - how do you go about this without digging them up or burying them under the topsoil/mulch? i.e if the bed is inplace for 10-20 years - then the soil level will get higher and higher... do you dig them up and replant every now and then...or just scratch a bit of mulch around the crowns without overdoing it? | About the Author Grubs Melbourne 26th February 2010 11:21pm #UserID: 3334 Posts: |
amanda says... Hi Jantina - the blurb from the Diggers club says so.....apparently they are some kind of hybrid and they select for male plants? These produce the fattest spears, so they say. This is my first time growing them. Grubs - the spears will make it to the surface..although I used whole seaweed and as it goes hard and dry - it deformed the spears a bit on their way out!.. Jantina - how thick is your mulch? | About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 27th February 2010 10:56am #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
Jantina says... Hi Amanda,that's interesting about the male plants. To be perfectly honest I think there is a fair bit about Diggers that is dodgey, I only buy from them as a last resort. For instance they sell carob trees but they are only seedlings and they don't tell people that you need a male and a female to get pods (there is a hermaphrodite grafted tree available elsewhere)and you won't know if your seedling is male or female for many years. So novices buy these trees all anticipating lovely carob pods and get zip!So that's my little grizzle about them! Anyway with asparagus I still think the way to go is with the hybrid seed from New Gippsland Seeds. The same fat spears in record time for a tiny fraction of the price. The thickness of my mulch varies with the time of the year because I put it on in the autumn when I cut it all back to the ground, then it's about 6 inches thick and by the time spring comes around it's rotted down to about 2 inches. Seaweed and compost are the "a la carte" feed for asparagus but I use whatever I can get and add a bit of old chook poo if I think it is justified. Grubs these plants are tough as old boots, they will keep coming up no worries. | About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 27th February 2010 12:21pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
amanda says... Thanks Jantina :-) yes - they couldn't tell me anything much about the capulin cherry I got - even to the point of whether I needed two or not...All I got was "we have three or four that taste ok and we take cuttings from them" Probably best to leave the fruit trees up to the experts like Daleys!? wink! | About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 27th February 2010 11:10pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 28th February 2010 10:15am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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| About the Author Isa Cooktown 27th April 2010 11:56am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Tiggerbow says... Hi All, I have asparagus that is 1 year old. I have let all of the spears grow to ferns and they are amazingly healthy. I cut down the ferns a couple of weeks ago and put down a thick layer of compost on the top. The spears are now growing again !. Did I cut them down to early? or do I need to mulch more thickly?. Should I let the spears grow to ferns again or just cut the spears? Thanks in anticipation | About the Author Tiggerbow Perth WA 27th April 2010 3:49pm #UserID: 2209 Posts: View All Tiggerbow's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 28th April 2010 8:35pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Tiggerbow Perth WA 29th April 2010 1:19pm #UserID: 2209 Posts: View All Tiggerbow's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author John Mc 29th April 2010 6:05pm #UserID: 3496 Posts: |
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| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 30th April 2010 9:52am #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 4th May 2010 6:46pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author John Mc 4th May 2010 9:34pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author amanda Geraldton. WA 5th May 2010 4:42pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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snottiegobble says... Amanda, winter is the best time & you can split them up while they are dormant. I would do that & put them in large pots ready to go. Did anyone know that Asparagus is an excellent cancer fighter because it normalises cells? Funny thing is it doesnt have to be fresh,a can full everyday is also recomended! | About the Author snottiegobble bunbury 10th May 2010 2:10am #UserID: 3468 Posts: |
Neicey says... Hey guys, I bought some asparagus which looked like long yellow roots, and planted in front garden, about 6, how many asparagus can I expect to grow from each individual root. At the moment 3 little skinny shoots appeared which I have let grow into ferns which I will leave till die, and cut back, does it take a couple of years before the spears that appear are thick enough to eat. Any info would be appreciated. | About the Author Neicey Geelong Vic 2nd November 2010 10:08am #UserID: 4500 Posts: |
| About the Author au0rey 2nd November 2010 8:53pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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hawkypork says... I discovered asparagus growing between a pile of bricks in a friends backyard in December. I drip reticed them and covered them in sheep manure. When they died down I covered them in pea straw. I thought I had killed them until mid October when fat spears starting popping up. I have been picking them ever since. Yumm. I have planted about 6 asparagus crowns in a partially shaded area under my nectarine. My guide to picking them will be if the spears are thick enough next spring. My rhubarb crowns, which are also supposed to be left for a couple of years are ready to be picked from 4 months after planting in my garden. Without trying to teach other food growers to suck eggs, I reckon you should decide when your veges are ready based on what you see in front of you. | About the Author hawkypork Fremantle 4th November 2010 4:35pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
| About the Author amanda Geraldton Mid West WA 5th November 2010 6:55pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Brad G Hill, Perth 6th November 2010 12:14am #UserID: 2323 Posts: View All Brad's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Neicey Geelong Vic 6th November 2010 4:57pm #UserID: 4500 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jan Canberra ACt 21st February 2011 1:47pm #UserID: 3221 Posts: |
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krazykangaroo says... Hi Jan, The seeds are easy to grow. Just plant them in spring either in your ready bed or in a flat or punnet. They will come up in a couple of weeks. If you haven't bought your seeds yet I suggest you try an argenteuil variety (actually they are all the same variety but the names are a bit different in different catalogues). It is a heirloom with fat spear and very productive. I love mine. make sure your asparagus bed is deep and keep it weed free. | About the Author krazykangaroo Casterton, vic 21st February 2011 3:03pm #UserID: 4558 Posts: View All krazykangaroo's Edible Fruit Trees |
amanda says... My asparagus is 3yrs old now and ready for serious harvesting...so do I chop off every single spear that sprouts - or do I let a few of them form ferns to feed the crown? (I know u are supposed to stop harvesting at some point later on, so as not to exhaust the crown...just wondering about the "now" phase..?) Thanks in advance :) | About the Author amanda Geraldton. Mide West WA. 6th September 2011 4:03pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Mike Cairns 6th September 2011 4:31pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Aaron says... Hi Amanda, From what I have read (no practical experience as yet), keep on harvesting until they start to sprout thinner than a pencil! Thereafter it is time to stop and let it re-energise. I have just planted the crowns this winter and very fine shoots have emerged and are starting to fern. 2 more years to go!! | About the Author Aaron Perth NOR 6th September 2011 7:03pm #UserID: 3153 Posts: |
| About the Author Evo 6th September 2011 7:35pm #UserID: 349 Posts: View All Evo's Edible Fruit Trees |
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amanda says... hey thanks guys :) I have a mixed bag coming thru - of fat and very skinny ones...but they are mixed male and female plants? (is that possible? some grow the red seed things and other don't..) I grew them from seed (Fat Bastard) and each patch grew a few seeds....so it's too late to separate the crowns now :-( I saw "baby asparagus" spears in the supermarket yesterday - they are tiny things and cost quite a bit...I did try a tray out of curiousity - they were very tender - but barely a few mouthfuls..lol. Maybe the size difference is due to the male/female thing? | About the Author amanda Geraldton. Mide West WA. 6th September 2011 9:29pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author amanda Geraldton. Mide West WA. 7th September 2011 9:16am #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Aaron says... Hi Amanda, The ferns are growing very well and the spears are really getting to harvestable size. I have cut away many female plants, even before the flowers turn colour. But both male and female are coming out from one crown. Is that normal? On another note, I wonder if you could suggest what to do during winter. I have read that after cutting off all the ferns (after they turn yellow), add lots of manure and compost on top of the dormant crowns. I am worried about too much moisture seeping down, rotting the crowns. I would welcome any feedback from the forum. Thanks | About the Author Aaron Ballajura, Perth NOR 7th February 2012 4:15pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
amanda says... Hi Aaron. I don't know about male/female being on the one plant? U sure it was only one seedling that it came from? Maybe a female plant sends up non-flowering stems too? I usually wait until spring to re-generate the the compost/mulch...it's likely just wasted nutrients in the winter anyway. Once I have done that - they start sprouting within the week. They just get rain during their dormancy. Very tough plants. It's possible a heap of fert's could rot the crown over winter...I don't think I would do that myself. | About the Author amanda Geraldton, 400km North of Perth 8th February 2012 10:14am #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
Gus says... I know I put a few seeds inside some pots and let them go wild for about a year until the crowns developed. I never pulled out any seedlings after sprouting. I suspect when I harvested these "crowns" I was actually harvesting two of more intermingled crowns. Sound familiar Aaron? I kind of have a similair thing happening to you. | About the Author Gus 8th February 2012 11:26am #UserID: 6467 Posts: |
Aaron says... Amanda, thanks for the suggestion on the timing for the top-up! True about rotting the crown. I bought the 2 year old crowns from Melb thru Garden Express. It was only one crown, that I can see, that I planted in the ground. Maybe your statement about non-flowering stems could be true! Anyway I just snip them away before the flowers open. Hope to visit your large garden in Geraldton, Amanda. That is if I'm ever up that area! Gus, thanks for the info. I have actually managed to germinate 2 seeds (Purple type) during spring and they are onto their 2nd shoot/fern. The first shoot/fern wilted away after a month. Hopefully they will survive till next spring! Fingers crossed! Thanks for the feedback! Cheers | About the Author Aaron Ballajura, Perth NOR 8th February 2012 3:16pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
| About the Author Aaron Ballajura, Perth NOR 27th February 2012 3:53pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Aaron Ballajura 27th February 2012 3:59pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Aaron Ballajura 27th February 2012 4:00pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 28th February 2012 10:20am #UserID: 1947 Posts: |
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| About the Author Aaron Ballajura, Perth NOR 29th February 2012 4:13pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Aaron Ballajura, Perth NOR 1st March 2012 3:20pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author amanda Geraldton, 400km North of Perth 1st March 2012 11:46pm #UserID: 2309 Posts: View All amanda's Edible Fruit Trees |
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