chocolatelikesnow: asparagus

Showing posts with label asparagus. Show all posts

Sunday, 24 February 2013

Asparagus Update

So far, so good. It appears that my asparagus gamble is paying off. Yesterday I decided to take a look inside the cloches I had placed on top of the asparagus crowns that I planted earlier on in the month, and I was pleasantly surprised to find spears poking through the soil in 2 of the 3 cloches. Anyway, off the cloches came, and I lovingly buried the spears under some more soil, which I think is what you are supposed to do. Then I replaced the cloches in an attempt to protect my baby asparagus from the horribly cold weather we have been having.

A quick look in the greenhouse revealed nothing much. All the lupin (Lupinus perennis) seeds we had planted a week or so ago appear to have germinated and were proudly poking through the soil. Unfortunately there is no signs of life in anything else I sowed last week. I have a feeling that my sowings of aubergine, chill, and sweet pepper are not going to be successful. They are covered and insulated, but they are not in a heated propagator (I don't have one). I think the temperature in the greenhouse by day is warm enough but it is still getting very cold in there at night. I will give it another week or so and if there are no signs of life then I will have to rethink my plans.

Finally, I planted a row of radishes (Sparkler). It may well be a little early, but I NEEDED to plant something!

Sunday, 10 February 2013

Asparagus Gamble

In the spring of 2011 I bought 10 crowns of asparagus (if I remember rightly Connover's Colossal) from a well-known mail order company. They went into a weed-free and well-prepared bed and I was very much looking forward to eating lots of asparagus in a couple of years. Unfortunately, only six of the plants produced any growth in 2011. Anyway, we left them to get on with their business, hoping that they may do a little better in 2012. Come mid-April last year I visited my asparagus bed on a daily basis, peering closely at the ground hoping to see a beautiful green spear poking its head through the soil. Eventually, a couple did. In total just 3 plants produced some growth this time, throwing up just 1 or 2 spears each. I was a bit fed up.

I went shopping last week and paid a visit to Wilkinson's. They were selling asparagus crowns for £2.30 - much cheaper than the ones I bought by mail order. What's more, I could actually see that they were alive, as you can see below.

So, I decided to buy a packet, and much against the advice of everyone I spoke to, I have planted them. I know it's too early, and yes the frost will probably get them. But I thought it was worth a shot. I don't have too much to lose, and if they still have some healthy looking crowns in store come mid-March I will probably buy some more then. Anyway, in the ground they have gone.

I have used a cloche to try and warm the soil around the crowns up a little and protect them from frost. If you look closely you can see the spears sticking out. After planting I read that this growth should be covered so now each is covered with soil. Will my gamble pay off? My Dad is pretty convinced that they are all going to die. I am trying to be hopeful!

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Summer is Here!

Spring Time Owl Print by smalltalkstudio

Yay, after a small glimmer of Spring in March and a truly dismal April (here in the UK anyway), it looks like Spring and Summer have arrived at once! I love this print by smalltalkstudio, and am thinking of buying one to cheer me up in the dark depths of winter.

It has been ultra hot here for the last few days and the heat really seems to have brought the allotment on. I couldn't believe the changes almost overnight.