Monday, February 02, 2009

Asparagus planting


'D' examining the new Asparagus bed and harvested carrots in foreground

Well, after a very long break in the blog I'm back! Sorry to anyone who has been waiting for a post (especially the Suffolk contingency!!)

So, when we first took on the plot I didn't think we knew that it would last for as long as it has. Part of me wondered if it would be a flash in the pan but no, here we are in our 3rd year. One of the veg that I LOVE is asparagus but one downside of growing your own is the time needed for the plant to mature to the point of being harvestable (is that a word?) I've taken the plunge now and decided that if we're now in our 3rd year that we may well still have the plot in a couple of years so I went and bought some asparagus plants.

I'm really excited at the prospect of cutting our own fresh asparagus, steamed and smothered in butter and grated parmesan....yuuuummmmmmmm!!!!!!

I say I went and bought some plants when in reality I sat by our roaring log fire and perused a brilliant website for a nursery in Kent and ordered them. The nursery is called ''Victoriana Nursery Gardens" and is owned by the Shirley family. I first used the nursery a couple of years ago when I was on the search for a 'Brown Turkey' Fig tree, I was so impressed by their service then that when deciding to buy the asparagus, a crop that will be in the ground for many years, I decided they would be the place to get them from.

I have to say that once again I'm really pleased by the service I received, a cardboard box arrived with my plants well packaged and masses of literature to read about them and other things. I couldn't resist buying some cauliflower plants from them at the same time as I'm normally rubbish at growing them so I thought I'd start off with some good plants.




Planting the Asparagus 'plugs'


We went up to our rather soggy plot and dug over a spare bed and then 'D' planted the asparagus plants (well big plugs with roots!) whilst I put the cauliflowers in. Fingers crossed, I can smell the melted butter and parmesan now!!!!

6 comments:

LeatherneckJoe said...

I would also suggest Garden Harvest Supply as a good online resource for asparagus plants, http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/category/buy-asparagus-plants-and-crowns

Simon said...

Good luck with the asparagus, I'm eagerly awaiting a delivery of plants myself too.

glosterwomble said...

Thanks Simon, I'm just worried now that this cold snap will finish them off!! Oh well!

Paul and Melanie said...

Hellooooo again! :)
Your asparagus is looking good, so good in fact you've convinced me to put some in this year so I've got that site bookmarked for when pay day come round next week. Like the look of the 10 crowns pack that comes with the special knife...

Sorry to read about the vandels by the way, thats horrible. Have you complained directly to the council?

Paul

glosterwomble said...

Hey hello again, I thought you 2 had moved!! Good to hear from you, hope all is well, have you still got the plot?

This Wednesday's citizen newspaper has apparently has something about our allotments in it, the fact that the council won't help us!

Anonymous said...

Great stuff, do you think i'm too late to put the cauliflowers in now? I never managed to get the seeds in last year...i never do!