Asparagus bed -should I just give up?

[Annpan]

Having just planted my first ever asparagus I really have no idea... but....

Do you leave it to flower? - the instructions with mine says to allow it to flower...
Have you tried one year to not pick the spears? - as I know you should for the first year at least...
Do you treat it with a top dressing of seaweed? - I think it is the John Seymore book that says the asparagus likes the saltyness and the nutrients, I think it supposed to be a seaside plant.

[pelmetman]

We grow asparagus and don't really know why you aren't having much success Susie but it does need to be in a sunny, sheltered and free draining soil and it helps if you keep it well weeded. If space isn't at a premium I would give it another year.

As to the folliage you need to keep them on until they turn yellow in Autumn then cut them down. The books say not to pick any until then but I like to pick the foliage for flower arranging and it doesn't seem to do any harm. You should also remove the berries.

My parents had a fantastic asparagus bed, the garden bordered the beach and they used to get barrow loads of seaweed so yes I think it must have helped.

Sue