Seriously excited that spring has finally arrived in Seattle. Some crops have overwintered in the garden; kale, spinach, lettuce, carrots. That’s great and all, but it is asparagus that tells me it is Spring – at last.
In 2009, the first spring at our new house, I planted something like 15 asparagus crowns. I was so excited to get started on this investment that I planted them as early as I could: March. And I planted them deep. If 4″ is good, 6″ is better – right? And then it rained. And rained. As it will in Seattle in Spring.
Two years later I was down to one viable plant instead of the platefuls of steamed asparagi I had anticipated. Disappointed, but undaunted, I replanted. Lazily towards the end of April, I dug in the crowns, made a concerted effort to dig out competing roots from grasses and trees, and then waited to see what happened. The crowns all produced. By summer I had strong 4′ fronds, but I was still holding my breath.
This spring up come 16 shoots. They look good enough to eat. But I won’t do it. If they survive until next year I might nibble on a few. But I’ll be a good girl and give them their 3 years of establishment. I’m in this for the long haul.
Sustainable Scientist 
Like all good things, the harvest in the long haul is worth the weight!
Oops, I mean ‘wait’!
Mmm – they do look tasty!
Awesome! I’ve screwed up asparagus many times now. Sigh. Hopefully this new batch will work out well. 🙂
I saw your post on slugs. Have they bothered your asparagus? This spring, when nothing else much was growing yet, I found baby slugs gnawing on the fresh young shoots as they came out of the ground. Became an obsession (oh, doesn’t it all!) to find them and pick them out. And feed them to the chickens!
I am the person who got your leftover crowns from when you planted this second batch and mine are coming up like gangbusters too! They are sturdy and delicious-looking, and we will quietly be taunted by our asparagus as well…. Though I thought that they were OK to eat as of next year… at least for a little while, and then to let the rest grow out… Sigh… They look so yummy….
Hi Kay – glad they are working out for you! Yeah, I might nibble them next spring – just one wee meal… Good luck!