I live south of Madison and I've been picking for 3+ weeks. I did have 1 crown die and have since replanted, but I have not had any vole problems. Depending how far north you are the ground may not have warmed up enough yet. I guess I would lightly fertilize and hope for the best.

Several possible causes including your mice, moles and beetles, insufficient water over the winter, crown rot, etc. But it happens to all of us now and then. All you can do is replace them come fall.

Dave

I am near Marshfield. Thank you for your suggestion. This is our second week picking and enjoying. We may or may not spray the beetles, maybe taking away the straw/mulch will help.

Some of my crowns did not come back, for the first year we were allowed a real harvest.... :(

Amazingly - also had a large mint bed disappear....3x4 foot area filled with mint that was originally transplanted from a 3" pot 8 years ago.....have never heard of such a thing....supposedly - you can't get rid of mint even when you want to....

I think it was too dry and too frequently above freezing for some of these perennials....

I'm just south of you in Chicago, and my asparagus crowns planted last year all seem to have rotted over the winter. Very frustrating after building the bed and nursing them through the drought.

I am hoping it was a fluke of the weather.