Baby Asparagus 2015

Thank QB and Donna for your research.  Well, I have to figure this out...  I'm a bit annoyed at EarthBox!  Do you all think I can uproot them when dormant period starts and relocate?  I'd really rather do it right than continue in an exercise in futility.

I feel for you Windmere.  Another example to be suspicious of marketing claims right?
Can't give you any certain advice about when to uproot but it does make sense to me to uproot when plants are dormant.  Maybe check with you local extension office to be sure..

Thanks LM.  These boxes work great for everything else I've planted in them.  I think the person I spoke to either did not really know what they were saying or they wanted to promote the idea that anything can be grown in them.

Your welcome. 

On the bright side we have this lovely forum to learn/share and keep us on track.

 

When I had to move my asparagus bed when the new lawn was about to be installed, I removed the raised bed and, shovel by shovel, moved the asparagus crowns to their new home, square foot by square foot.

In retrospect, I should have added more compost on the bottom of the new bed, but nearly all of the crowns survived and produced.

I don't normally jump in after a conclusion has been reached, but I really love Earth boxes. To me they are mini SFGs that are bottom watered. Mine are one ft by two ft each and filled with 6 inches of MM. I would love to ask Mel about his experience with the length of the asparagus plants life when planting 4 per square in the SFG (which translates to eight per EarthBox) but I can't find the Ask Mel thread we used to have.  Was it called something different?

CC

I agree that Earthboxes are very good for growing things but a few things with deep root zones that are perennial and continue to get bigger each year.......I don't think so.
It seems logical they would outgrow their space in a hurry.
But for lettuces, a seasonal tomato, cukes, and other things that grow for only one season and then you clean it out for the next year, I feel they are great.  I'm not knocking them.  Far from it.  For many that can only have their 'gardens' on decks, patios and fire escapes, they are the perfect answer and for those with garden space, they are ideal to move hither and yon to get the best sunshine or shade when needed.
Wish I had a half dozen myself.

My guess is that there is a philosophical difference of perspective at work here.  Do you want your asparagus as a long term crop versus do you want as much as possible in as small a space as possible in the short term?  Neither is wrong, just slightly and often over lapping goals. Maybe to Mel and Earthbox it seems like a minor thing to replant every few years and worth it. 

On the when to transplant question, I would do it when ever.  Sure dormant would be best but not necessary.  I splurged a couple springs ago and bought a few plants in greenhouse pots.  It was late spring by then and they were up.  I spread their cramped roots and planted them about a foot deep.  They grew and seem to have thrived though this spring is still to be seen.

Took the camera out to our yr2 bed, and I see spears at 6,9, and 11 o'clock...


and another a 7o'clock...


So far, so good!

Windsor.P

Congratulations on your babies! Bet you'll be looking every day to see what else is there.  I'm having fun comparing the number of spears, pictures, and dates from last years growth to this year.  Gardening = personal amusement park.

Looking good Windsor. Congratulations!

Ok... I've done some research regarding the EarthBox asparagus question....

In the SFG Answer Book (I don't have actual page number because I have e-book), it does indeed mention planting in entire 4x4 box.  It also encourages planting 4 crowns per square if you can afford enough rootstock.

This is what it says about planting them:

Fill box with 3 inches MM and make little mounds at each spot where crown will be placed.  Then drape the roots over each mound.  Finally, pour the remaining 2 inches of MM to the top of the box covering the roots an inch or two.

Now, Mel's opening comments about asparagus is that they are like children, they "require lots and lots of patience."  He goes on to say, "You see, asparagus is a biennial that takes a few years of becoming established before it will yield its first harvest."   He recommends planting the entire box because, "If you're like most people, you're going to want to harvest a lot of asparagus when it finally comes time to harvest."

By virtue of Mel's opening comments, I'm inferring that he's anticipating you're in for the long haul... this is a very long term crop for a box.

I just got of the phone with EarthBox customer service.  I wish I could say I am satisfied with their answers.  The lady told me that asparagus is not on their planting list (I most certainly was told last year that 8 would be good).  The lady I spoke to said I could probably plant six per box... I am dubious of her answer because her answer was hesitant and by her speech pattern, she really sounded like she was guessing.

She told me that, currently, EarthBoxes are a little more than 8 inches tall from the grid over water reservoir to the top.  Of course, this measurement depends on how high you fill the box with MM.  The length of the box is 29 inches and a foot wide.

After all this, now my personal conclusion is that it's worth a try to use my dedicated EarthBox for 8 crowns of asparagus.  Mel recommends less than the depth I have to play with as well as 4 crowns per square. 

Everyone, thanks so much for your input.  I never would have worked this out without your help and encouragement!

April 30th I at last got my first spears!  A nice bunch from the plants growing among the peonies.  There is one just poking through in the raised bed.  We had omelets and steamed asparagus for dinner last night.  Yummmmm

Turan wrote:April 30th I at last got my first spears!  A nice bunch from the plants growing among the peonies.  There is one just poking through in the raised bed.  We had omelets and steamed asparagus for dinner last night.  Yummmmm

Turan, seeing those first spears peek out really is a neat thing to behold.  Your omelets and steamed asparagus sounded delicious!

My silly kind of humor.  If you're a certain age you might get a kick out this too --

Now das cute right there!  I don't care who ya are Das cute.  Course ya gotta be old enough to get it.     

Gardening humor!!

Hominy and understanding.....yeah, veggie humor!

That is very funny, to the precise extent of how goofy it is. Reminds me of Gary Larson.

Scorpio Rising wrote:   Hominy and understanding.....yeah, veggie humor!

Dang, I just got this!

Blame the brown acid. lol