Water? Regular watering is needed - especially in the early spring. How much, how and how often, rainfall, etc. have you done/had?

Dave

I've been reading up on asparagus too in the hopes of growing my own from seed. One article I read said not to cut back in the fall - wait until spring to do so.

You build a box, then put the roots into this box ?

Those roots of an Asparagus are "somewhat" sensitive to the freezing and thawing temps, and this is the first time I have hear of someone trying to grow them in a box instead of the ground. The temps in a box would get much colder and freeze completely and thaw out on warm days if left outside in a box during the winter. Maybe I do not completely understand how they were planted.

You may want to do some research on the viability of this method. I just GOOGLED this method and did not find any useful info.,

IMHO

Cindy..does it get cold where you are? Not sure, but I think it needs a chill for awhile in it's dormant season. It does well here and is one of the first crops of spring. Dig in the dirt a bit and see if you can find the crowns, how do they look? Also, they like it deep, I don't know if they will grow in a box.

Some very good questions raised.

Last spring I built two redwood boxes, filled them with soil and compost, and planted 20 asparagus roots.

I assumed by that you meant you had built a raised bed "box" and it was of substantial size since you planted 20 crowns in it - say 3 feet by 12 feet or so - and on the ground. If so, that would work. Many grow asparagus in raised beds.

But if indeed you are talking about just a small box, like a planter box with a bottom and all and sitting on a deck or similar structure - as the other posters pointed out - and if it had 20 plants in it and if it was filled with soil not potting mix then that won't work at all and your crowns will most likely be dead. Dig one up and see.

More details please. ;)

Dave

my FIL grows them for years in SE Kansas in raised bed, so when we tried ours first time last year, I relied on his experience, - he tells me not to cut the brown ferns until early spring, fertilize and water. they came out slowly and not too many, but this is a second year (first year to harvest). We stopped cutting now and the ferns are growing again. I added Nitrogen high fertilizer and hope they get more productive next year.

Could it be too hot for them where you are?

Bell Peppers in Raised Beds
The generally recommended spacing for bell peppers is 18-24 inches. I grow most of my veggies in 4 X 8 raised beds. Has anyone had experience with closer spacing of peppers in raised beds?
Victor

1 per 12 inches if you keep it contained. but why would you want them closer when you can plant them amongst the radishes and lettuces?

Each redwood box is 2.5 x 12 feet, filled with a mix of soil and compost. I planted 10 roots in each, purchased by mail order. They were supposed to be male Jersey hybrids but 50% produced berries so I suspect they were Mary Washington. The company refunded my $$$ when I complained - so at least this failure didn't cost me anything but water and time.

They were watered on a drip until October when the rain started, and its rained since (raining today) with some warmer days starting in March. We had a few days of frost but no hard frost this winter.

Our local Master Gardener Organization grows them in raised boxes and this is recommended in our area because our clay soil can get quite hard packed and the shoots have trouble breaking through.

This weekend I'll dig through the box and look for roots. The spot is part shade but the ferns grew wonderfully so I figured they were happy. Perhaps the rotted with all the rain we've had?

I'll replant next Spring.

Thanks for the details. ;) As described, assuming the bottom of the box had adequate drain holes, should work. If the box didn't or couldn't drain well then the crowns will have rotted.

Dave

i planted aspargus seeds in march inside the house in burbee seed pods.. they came up and look like fishing line about 6 inch long and layind down.. how long before i move them outside? any input appreciated..

Okay ....I'm working on a new theory. Last week I noticed that someone had been digging the in the beds and I removed a large amount of cat poop. I cut a wire mesh and placed it over the beds (too small for the cat to get through).

Monday I checked the beds. Looked undisturbed - but nothing breaking through. Last night (Tues. evening) I checked again and ....a stalk! Very thin - thinner than a pencil...and it came up in one day!?

BUT ....there were holes throughout the bed. Something is getting in there. Could be a squirrel or rat. I wonder if a critter is eating the roots or shoots? Seems unlikely they'd eat each one but leave the thin one undisturbed. Weird.

I really must get out there when I have more time and dig around.