I've transplanted crowns several times BUT only tried it once with crowns that old and it was almost a total loss. The root systems are just too massive to withstand the trauma no matter how much care and TLC you use. Instead I would trim down the ferns in the existing bed to reduce/eliminate the shading. That late in the season you can trim their length by half with no harm to them. JMO Dave

Please, please, does anyone in the Ottawa area have any that they would like to trade, maybe for a brug, some strawberries, hostas, tomatoes??? I had four patches that I had grown from seed, this would have been year four, and I would have actually had a small harvest this year had they survived! But last summer I built some raised beds in my yard, and transplanted them into those beds. Duh!!! Of course they froze to death, mulching the top does not protect the box enough. I could kick myself. After 4 years of babying these things, now I don't have a single spear to eat!

Asparagus should only be transplanted when crowns are dormant or just coming out of dormancy...preferably in the late winter or very early spring. Since you have already dug them I would go ahead and plant them and keep them well watered and hope for the best. Do also feed them once or twice before winter. Since they have only had a few months in their current location you may get lucky and most survive. Good luck! Transplanting Asparagus crowns

I've no experience transplanting asparagus but it sounds like you did the best that you could do for them. It will just be wait and see. It might take them awhile to recover so you might want to forego any harvesting from those crowns in the spring if they do survive. Do keep them well watered and give them a round of balanced fertilizer this fall.