Your comments and tips

16 Jan 10, meg (Australia - tropical climate)

neighbour in babinda grows asparagus. bunnings cairns had crowns recently. i am having a go .

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27 Jan 10, Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Our asparagus did not go so well after four years - we found out too late that we had mainly female plants which don't get very fat, nor had we really manured the soil enough I think so probably a bit nutrient deficient as well. I gave in and bought some asparagus plants from Diggers this year - a variety called Fat Bastard (sorry but that is its name). Has anyone tried this variety and how did you find it?

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30 Jan 10, warren (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Evelyn I haven't tried the fat bastard variety but I have Mary Washington in at present. Grew these plants from seed and it has taken 5 years for my first really good crop although I could have picked after 3 years I didn't and the wait has been worthwhile.. The secret is to use plenty of manure- I have found sheep and cow manure is great and I dig in a few bags in early winter so it rots down well before spring. Also plenty of water in summer so the crowns don't get dry.

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31 Jan 10, Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Thanks warren. I still have the old Mary Washingtons so may replant them into some really good compost and keep the manure up. Interesting that it took four years - may have to wait and see how they go with some TLC.

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28 Feb 10, Teresa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

We planted our asparagus crown in an old tyre will this make a difference to how it grows?

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06 Apr 10, bec (Australia - temperate climate)

Does anyone grow asparagus around Toowoomba QLD area, I'd like to know where I can buy crowns, I know they grow asparagus down around Warwick? Will horse manure work.

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31 May 13, karen (Australia - temperate climate)

have you had a reply to your question?? as I also would like to buy some crowns, and could do with some tips on growing them down the range.

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22 Apr 10, Chris (Australia - tropical climate)

bec, horse manure is notorious for containing lots of seeds which will sprout and grow if used in a garden. It's a great way to introduce weeds - I write from bitter experience! It needs to be thoroughly composted so the heat destroys the seeds before applying.

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03 May 10, Selina (Australia - tropical climate)

Yes agree also. I had a similar terrible experience with horse manure myself and still paying for it. Is cow manure better? I've heard that you don't get the weeds because they have more than one stomach.

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09 Oct 10, pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

i use horse manure without problems, however having said that i get it from a trotting stable where the trainer only feeds his horses on rice based horse feed. If you collect it from a paddock it will contain weed and grass seeds. as for cow manure - its much better because they have two stomacs and regurgitate and chew their cud breaking down the food much better than a horse can.

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