Hi engk, If I were you, I'd find a way to squeeze in 12 crowns in that limited space. I'd suggest 10-12 inch spacing between crowns, with 2 rows as far apart as you can tolerate...perhaps 3 feet apart. This is stretching the recommended guides, but should produce a very satisfactory bed. Twelve crowns of a productive variety such as Jersey Knights should provide your family with a nice supply of 'gus, but you might not be giving much away to friends. Just be sure to prepare your bed well, for this "extra work" pays huge dividends in terms of production and longevity. May I also suggest you call Jersey Asparagus Farms, and get their opinion on the best variety for the Trenton area, as well as when you should order for spring delivery. I don't have their number handy, but you can get it by Googling for it. Ask to speak with Scott Walker if he's available. BTW, their web site has great guides for the home gardener...preparation, planting, and harvesting. They won't agree with my spacing suggestions, but that's OK. Ya' gotta use what ya' got! :-) Best wishes for a happy 'gus experience! Hal in PA

Rex and I have circumnavigated the Compound already and I'm about set for a refill on the coffee. It really smells like spring out there. It's warm and there is the only the trickle of melt water to break the quiet. I've hauled out the muck shoes. I've just turned the clocks ahead. I don't understand what the big deal is about something as arbitrary as "daylight savings" (this is a standing joke with the fishermen, too). What fun to hear from Blabs. Always fun to hear from a long quiet voice. Life takes us down different paths periodically and it's always fun to get a shot of new news here in Idyll land. It's hard to believe AJ is getting ready to move into high school. Latin? sounds pretty cool, when you need someone to speak to a dead Centurian you'll be all set, won't you? ;) Does AJ presently study a foreign language? I had to chuckle about the divying up of household chores, too. Lately, I've been the standard bearer in that department and when I've "cracked the whip" the reaction has been predictably sluggish. I am yoked in matrimony to the king of fingerprints and his debris trail can be overwhelming at times. Stick to your guns, Nurse Ratchett. Interesting read about Annie's struggles, it certainly underscores the importance of mastery of basic skills for future success and also the necessity of parental involvement to see that mastery is achieved. It must be terribly frustrating for a teacher to be faced with a challenged student who get little support and encouragement on the home front, so I can only imagine what a lovely surprise it must have been for Annie's teachers to see a nuturing support system in place for her. And I'm quite certain her own self-confidence shines like a beacon as a result of all that hard work. Thing like that brighten my day. The arts... oh boy, where to start? I will never understand why they are the first things to be cut from a curriculum (personally think getting rid of some "administrators" would be more prudent). I believe everyone has a streak of creativity and fostering it brings out the best in people. And yet we put so little value on it. We cut it in curricula, we squelch it in the workplace, and assign it low priority. I recall how devastated I was in a new school when I was told the limited spaces in the art program were "for kids with real talent" (no one looked at my Jr. High portfolio, however). And there was no music for those of us who didn't play an instrument, either. The arts foster creative thinking that spills over into the "core curriculum". I laud those parents who foster a love for the arts in their kids. Good for you! Marian, Nolon's supply wagon cracked me right up. That is SO much like the helpmeet, BIL, and my late FIL. And it's one of the reasons I'm having such trouble getting culled items out to the kerb for trash day... seems everything to be tossed out could find life in another form, lol. I am very impressed by the scope of the yard clean up that's been keeping you and Nolon busy these past weeks. One of the things I found so satisfying last fall was how some carefully directed effort made such a big difference in how things appeared. And how I felt about taking on a task that seemed so huge and daunting at the time. Little bit by little bit... . Seems to me, though, that what Nolon really needs is a RECLINER on wheels (maybe motorized?) so he can flip it back and watch you work from a supine position. :) It's going to be probably a solid month before I hear Peepers around here, they usually pipe up just about the time the last of the ice melts in the pond, though often I hear them earlier in warmer parts of town. I love them, they are for me (along with Redwing Black birds) the real harbinger of spring. And nice to hear news from Martie, too. I'm glad things are looking up at Cornfield Park. I think of Rich whenever news of the housing downturn and its effect on construction makes the news. We received a mailing from a rather high end builder the other day. The focus of it was on remodelling and historically sympathetic renovation, with the "no job is too small" inclusion prominently displayed. Made me wonder about how that jackass electrician who jerked us around is faring these days... . I will be interested to hear what the outcome of the SAC's visit to the hospital is; you have been such a tireless advocate for your brother and all those who struggle with mental illness. It speaks to a deep understanding of how important it is to tend to their special needs, esp. in times of financial crisis. It's a lonely fight, I'm sure, and you should rightfully be proud of your commitment to their welfare and the welfare of the larger society. I smiled at round carrots... when the little weirdos decide they don't "like" the regular kind it's time to outfox 'em and throw 'em a round one, ain't it? :) Brenda, great shot of the newlyweds. But looking at SIL I kept thinking he reminded me of someone famous and funny... I struggled with it all evening and then it came to me. ANDY KAUFMAN! I grant you, Andy was one strange dude, but he was pretty funny. As long as SIL doesn't take up big time wrestling he'll be just fine, lol. OK, gotta get movin' to make up for the "lost" hour. Goal today is to remove the blue painter's tape from the mopboard out in the Salon. Talkatcha later!

Oh sure, silversword, you have to recommend Gardenias and then give me that post to read. Ha! Ha! I only made it as far as the August 3rd posts, but I intend to read a little more at each sitting. Boy is it funny/eye opening. I, being a Gemini, get bored easily and can't finish things so I just skimmed a little to see how far the thread went. I happened upon the reply from "Jim" who was giving his wife a Gardenia bush for Mother's Day and then he was printing out the entire thread and writing "sorry" on top of it and running. That was so funny! I guess I am pretty stupid because even after reading all that, I am going to have to get a Gardenia at some point. I was sold on the description of the scent. I am just not sure I will actually try to grow one. I would probably do better to just have one and toss it aside like the Freesia. For some reason anything I try to actually put love into and take care of, dies on me, whereas anything I just neglect thrives. Perhaps my plants are suicidal too. The title of the thread reminded me of something Jerry Seinfeld says in his book Seinlanguage and it makes me laugh every time I read it: "I have no plants in my house. They won't live for me. Some of them don't even wait to die, they commit suicide. I once came home found one hanging from a macrame noose, the pot kicked out from underneath. The note said, "I hate you and your albums." It's so funny to think of plants as human. I'm screwed though because I am definitely a sucker for a good-smelling plant. The house we bought has some kind of lilac that blooms in the spring and fall. It is pathetic looking (not like back home) but I never grow tired of smelling it and reminding me of home. And I love the Freesia because it smells like Froot Loops (which reminds me of my childhood). The roses that I dug up were sad looking and not very pretty plus the fragrance was not that great. The funny thing is that I have NEVER been a flower person. My husband likes to do romantic gestures like buy flowers for me, but he won't buy roses on Valentine's Day because they cost much more than any other day of the year. So he likes to surprise me with flowers some other day. I am fine with that because we have a cat who tries to eat ANYTHING that looks like plant matter. I can't even have Easter grass in baskets because the dummy will eat it. So roses cannot be enjoyed because they have to spend so much time behind closed doors and I am not really one of "those" women who requires candy and flowers on Valentine's Day or birthdays, etc. I might give that Little John some consideration somewhere around the house because I adore watching the hummingbirds. :-)

The crowns should only be about 2 inches deep in the soil. I don't add soil when they grow, and just plant to the proper depth in the beginning. If its a fragment of a crown, and its sending up a spear, leave it alone so it will grow to maturity. Crowns enlarge very slowly and can take several years to get to a foot in diameter. Asparagus loves sunlight. Just let it grow even if its near the eggplant. Once planted, 'gus plants should not be moved or relocated, unless they were just planted a few weeks ago. Even for that, if they have new spears already showing up, it may be too late to relocate them. The 'gus I have is all mixed. If you see round, green, pea sized pods, they hold a few black seeds inside. I pluck several off and let them sit indoors in a small dish to dry out some. The green skins turn red, and then start to shrink. This is when I split them open and remove the 2-4 black seeds inside. It appears that you have female plants due to the seeds you mentioned. I have a few that also have tiny yellow flowers. If you want big spears, a all male variety is a better choice. Cross pollination can only happen if there are flowers. If there are more than one type of 'gus and they are female and male mixes, its hard to know what will be the result. the single purple plant I have is a male with no seeds or flowers. Normally regular asparagus has a purple tinge when small. The pruple variety was originally 6 plants but the rest have never shown up. For white asparagus, you cover the plants with something to block any light. Then harvest. They are naturally very light white, and once exposed to sunlight they start to turn green. Young 'gus plants may just have foot tall ferns, but mature plants can get ferns up to 6 foot tall! Because your soil is a mix and mostly clay, it is a good idea to go down about a foot to add these ammendments. If you have weeds sprouting in there, use a stirrup weeder. I love those as you just drag the blade over the surface of the soil and it slices off any weeds from their roots. The addition of corn gluten twice per year also helps to not only reduce weeds, but also feeds the 'gus plants a very good source for nitrogen. Many write about puny, thin spears, but if they added nitrogen fertilizer or the gluten, the spears would soon become much bigger. Once in a while I see a very small spear sprouting nearby my bed, which is probably due to a few seeds getting planted. These don't seem to make it after their first year, because they are so young, and our winters are just too much for a very small 'gus plant. If you have small seedlings, you can leave them be, or relocate them to another area. Be sure to dig down deep, about 8 inches or so, so you get most of the fine roots. Once in a while I get spears that are twisted and gnarly, and these are OK, but were probably due to some bug in the soil, or my accidentially stepping on a crown. Never add the asparagus ferns to a compost pile. There is a beetle that can do damage to the 'gus plants, so removal of the dead ferns in late fall is when you put these someplace else, away from the bed or compost pile.