A New Bed
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| A.I. Generated |
Part of moving our gardening efforts from the farm to our house on the edge of town was having to start a new bed of asparagus. The one on the farm was some 25 years old and getting quite long in the tooth as far as growing asparagus goes but it was still producing enough for our needs. I tried digging some of the crowns up last fall but with the severe drought, the ground was so hard that all I did was bend the tines on my heavy duty potato fork. So we ordered some new crowns to be delivered from a national seed company.
Asparagus is supposed to be planted in the spring time 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date. Our average last frost date passed us by last week and we still haven't been shipped our asparagus crowns. I called the seed company this morning inquiring on their status and was told their ship date was still a month away. I followed up by asking if they would guarantee their product since by the time we would be getting them, they would be two months passed their ideal planting date. After some stalling, they finally agreed to put a rush on the order which I was told generally means we will get them in 3 to 5 days. If they can ship them now so that we can get them within 5 days, why couldn't they ship them back in early April when they said they were supposed to ship?
Crickets.
I have not had good luck with this company in the past when it comes to shipping living things. My wife ordered some strawberry starts from them a couple years ago and they arrived during the hot parts of late spring and were DOA. We received a credit for those which we used to buy some seeds instead.
I'm anxious to get the new bed started this year because then that means after waiting another year, we can harvest our first new spears sometime in the spring of 2026. If we get a bunch of dead crowns killed by shipping them through the mail when it is hot out and have to start again next spring, then it is 2027 for the first crop. Life is too short to go without eating asparagus in the springtime.
We've seldom ordered anything other than seeds, and haven't done that often. It's easier to get what little we want locally. I hope you get them in time for a successful planting this year. Even 2026 seems a long way off!
ReplyDeleteI think the asparagus should probably do okay as long as I keep it watered. It will probably bolt right away as soon as it comes up but we aren't planning on picking anything for two years anyway.
DeleteThat would be frustrating! Shipping (and even mailing) things can be very tricky these days.
ReplyDeleteThe most frustrating part is all the work required to plant them only to have them not survive because it was too hot and then having to do it again the following year.
DeleteI have a tendency to roll my eyes. Reading about companies like this is a trigger. Lol
ReplyDeleteHere's a great article about asparagus I recently bookmarked. https://laidbackgardener.blog/2024/04/22/asparagus-time-growing-tips/
I've read dozens of tips on planting asparagus and advice seems all over the map. If I had to average them out, I would say the one in your link is about in the middle of the pack for advice. They didn't get into the timing of the planting which average seems to say a week or two before the last average frost. I haven't found what will happen if I plant them much later than that but I guess I'll find out.
DeleteHope they show up soon! Hope you can get some from the farm:)
ReplyDeleteI tried digging some up from the farm last year but didn't have a tool strong enough to pry them out of the ground. Also, I've heard they are getting old at 20 years of age and the ones on the farm are probably closer to 25 years old.
DeleteTry using Stark Brothers. They always send a new plant, tree, bush, whatever, if the first doesn't grow.
ReplyDeleteThis company, Gurneys, has given us a refund every time but I would rather just have them ship things in a more timely manner.
DeleteMy life isn't long enough to eat asparagus. lol
ReplyDeleteI have found it to be a polarizing vegetable, much like morels are polarizing fungi.
DeleteAargh. How endlessly frustrating Ed. I am not sure if they ship items other than seeds, but I have had good luck with Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.
ReplyDeleteI have obtained seeds from Baker but have never tried living things.
DeleteYou and Donna! You live to torment me....
ReplyDeleteWhat? I thought it would make you happy to know I'm back to square one and no longer have a massive asparagus bed to fulfill my every asparagus desire!
DeleteI love fresh asparagus. My mom used to serve it to us when we were growing up from the can. It was not good. Really not good. What a surprise when I moved to Illinois and Art introduced me to fresh asparagus. You are so lucky to have your own supply.
ReplyDeleteI have never had any from a can, but the thought makes my tongue curl in not so good ways.
DeleteI bought some purple asparagus roots a few years ago. These are delicious!
ReplyDeleteOur old bed was a mixture of purple and green.
DeleteI need to try raising asparagus (along with horseradish and to once again grow rhubarb)
ReplyDeleteI'm the only one who eats somewhat spicy things in our family so the horseradish appeals to me but I'm not sure I would get growing support from the rest!
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