Sparrow grass???

[gruesome]

My son bless his heart! bought me some asparagus seed (Marte F1) Have never grown Asparagus, is it too late this season to start them off. Any tips? thanks all. :)

[gruesome]

[tim]

I would have thought that the Spring was the best time?

[gruesome]

Thanks Tim i'll save them for next year. Do you know anything about  Fennel or Salsify? would appreciate any advice. Thanks Mark.

[asbean]

Hi Gruesome - Definitely sow sparrowgrass seed in the spring.  Also salsify is spring sown, bit like parsnip, but the leaves look grassy.  If you have florence fennel, you can sow that any time now.  I usually sow direct, because that's what the experts say, but about a month ago I sowed some in those peat pods, and they have almost caught up with the ones I sowed direct in April!

[gruesome]

Yes asbean it's Florence Fennel (Chiarino). So as soon as it stops raining :) thanks

regards Mark

[Jeannine]

My salsify went in at the beginning of June and is growing like crazy.The packet said till mid June.

[gruesome]

Is it nice to eat Jeannine?

[soozie]

I've grown salsify before and liked it. It's supposed to some, to taste like oysters however personally I don't really think so. It's a bit difficult to describe (like kohl rabi!) and apparently you should dig it and cook straight away, parboil, take the skins off and fry in a bit of butter. Good luck!

Soozie

:)

[asbean]

At the farmers' market this morning I couldn't resist it - 6 asparagus plants (from seed this year) for 60p each.   They are a bit potbound, so will repot them and keep them safe till the ferns die down and they can be dormant for the winter.  Then I've got time to prepare the bed (which has cabbage in it at the mo) and get them in in the spring.

The variety is Millenium F1, and it's a late one, apparently.   :) :) :) :) :)

[gruesome]

I've read somewhere I think ? they're better after a frost. Is that correct Soozie? Does buying the plants save you a years wait Asbean?

[asbean]

Gruesome - Buying 1st year crowns saves a year, yes, and is better than buying 2-3 year old crowns that you see around.  Once established asparagus don't like being moved, and they spread their roots round a lot.  So the ones I bought will be 1 year old next spring.  We can't start cutting till the year after, then only a few.  :) :)

[soozie]

Gruesome. Apparently they are better after a frost but mine didn't stay in the ground that long!
:) :)