Asparagus berries

[Millymollymandy]

I was given some yesterday at a plant/seed swap and was amazed, I knew asparagus grew into a big fern but had no idea it had pretty red berries on it! They look like they'd make lovely Xmas decorations although I imagine they wouldn't last that long!

The guy who gave them to me said just to pop the whole berries into a seed tray now, leave out (in cold frame) and they should start to grow. Has anyone grown asparagus from seed before? He reckoned only a few years before they would be edible.

I've ummed and ahhed about asparagus for years so it seems I am about to try.

[Millymollymandy]

Well I was sceptical but he reckoned his that he initially planted were cropping in just a couple of years .... well we'll see, I have no idea where to site an asaparagus bed which is why I haven't ever got round to it.... bit like I need a new raspberry bed NOW but where? At least I have time to think about where the asparagus bed will go.

[oldjerry]

MMM,sparragrass will grow from seed,but much of whats grown today is F1 so maybe a bit dubious.(don't know if it's the same dans la belle france).I'd buy 2yr old crowns dont cut in 1st year(may),so this way you WOULD be harvesting in the 2nd year.You probably know'but grow it on a raised bed,and spend acouple of days making sure you've removed all the perreniel weeds.(then go back and do it again)The bed will be there for years,and there aint much else to eat in May ........and it's really nice.

[Green Aura]

We grew our some of ourConnovers Colossal from seed - not a huge germination rate - I think we only got one or two plants. It took a while to get on a par with the crowns we bought but after that there was no difference - although that might be because they all got dug up

Never seen any berries though - I did wonder where the seeds came from

[Millymollymandy]

Thanks for the info everyone - I will give the seeds a go but if nothing much happens I can try to get some crowns. Maybe all I'll end up with are some nice fluffy little ferns in a flower bed but I'd be happy with that too.

[Mrs Moustoir]

Apparently asparagus ferns are either male or female - with only the females producing berries. Most gardening books suggest cutting the ferns down and discarding them before they drop the berries and the plant selfseeds. I think that would be in an established bed though.

I think the red berries look pretty too and as my spruegrass bed is overgrown with weeds, don't think it would make much difference whether the plants self seeded or not - I'm just grateful for every spear!

[oldjerry]

As you suggest,dont cut the ferns in the first year or so,then subsequently cut them in november this is traditionally to protect against overwintering asparagus beetle.If you can cut them still green and decent, a florist will pay good money for them.