Jeni - I chose not to plant asparagus, because you can't even eat it the first year or two. I don't know how much you are planning on planting, but i'd rather not let it occupy space in my garden - and not be able to get anything from it for 2-3 years. That's just my take on it.

EG

ok, if you BUY the 1 year plants, you have to let them go, then, mow them in the fall AFTER they die, then in the spring when they come up, then you can start harvesting, is what a lady told me, they actually have plants that you can harvest that year when they come up. i read. hmmm.... don't remember where, or maybe it was the lady from jackson's. LOL i thought about them BUT i spent to much money already!! i'm going for the one's in my neighbors feild next!! LOL he said i could!! LOL ya baby!!! i'm soooo there!! LOL ~Medo he harvested them that year!!
also on taters, him and his buddy they don't plant them in the ground, they cover them thickly with straw. now next year that's what i'm doing. no digging.!! i "plan" to do taters!! LOL but then again, there's that "key" word for me!! Hee Hee **big grinn**

Hmmmmm. Now I can't decide. We like asparagus, but I'm not sure HOW much I like asparagus.

I figured it out, between my 4 beds, I now am working with 110 sq. ft.!!!!!!! I was thinking about taking my one bed that is 1x10 and gets the least amount of sun (but still plenty) and letting asparagus have that bed.

This is why I start thinking about things now LOL because MAYBE by spring I will have it all figured out.

Jeni, I've had asparagus for many years. I actually took 35 year old plants from my dad's house. I got 7 or 8 good years out of them. They really HATE to be transplanted. So, should you decide to grow them....they are SOOOOO worth it.... make sure that where you put them is where you want them to stay...forever. Also, for location, keep in mind that once they are done for the season, in about May, you let them just grow without picking the new spears. And let them grow, and grow and grow and grow until fall. This replenishes them for the next growing season. The ferns (the spears grown to seed) can get up to 8 feet tall. They really can be cool to look at. I've tied them up when they start to shade out other parts of my garden. Once they start to die back you can cut them down. If you like "guts" you'll never get them better than straight from the garden. Good luck.

Oh, I almost forgot, An added bonus is all the glorious "greens" you get to use with your "brown" leaves on the compost bin in the Fall.

excellent info!!! i so needed that!! what kinda like shade and such do they need?? ~Medo