Asparagus and Comfrey

cmiddleton · Asparagus and Comfrey

Perennials... the future, well part of it!

Sunchokes seem to crop quite well for the small effort in growing them. Rhubarb, currents and berries I have no problem with. Asparagus and comfrey are new to me. Maybe someone can kindly advise:

Asparagus - last year was 2nd year I attempted to grow asparagus from seed. They grow fine 1st year, but never emerge 2nd year. Last year they were flooded a bit. This year, there is still no sign of them, should I be worried yet?

Comfrey - have harvested laots of roots from 4 existing plants (now replanted). Harvested roots are on average 4 inches / 8cm long, no sign of budding yet, normal? I don't know?javascript:emoticon('

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Smooth Hound

the comfrey will be back, asparagus though maybe not, a similar thing happened to mine

i shall be trying it again next year though, if you want any more comfrey, youll have to dig it up yourself, but ive plenty to spare, too much really

cmiddleton

Smooth Hound

Thank you for the offer of comfrey, will commit that to memory in case I end up short next year. Might take a few asparagus out the plant paks to see if any signs of life. keep you posted. What happened to yours?

Diana

Asparagus - I've grown this from seed with success [crosses fingers and hopes it comes up this year], but it does need to be quite dry (your flooding will have been the end of it). Try planting on a ridge - higher than the books suggest it you're prone to floods.

Comfrey - as Smooth said, that should be back (though mine's up already, so keep your fingers crossed). It's very tough, so can take quite a bit of abuse (multiple harvests, chook attack, dividing etc).

Hope that helps.

Maria

I agree - perennials are important!!

Grew Comfrey from seed last year and it's back - looking quite healthy. I planted it next to the compost heap so I can grab a handful of leaves and throw them in while I'm passing.

Asparagus - don't have any yet. Must do...am I too late to try and raise some from seed?

Rhubarb - coming up well. Got 3 glaskin from seed last year doing quite well - plus a crown from Forget-me-not which is huge already.

Sunchokes - oooh what are these?

Does anyone have globe artichokes? I'm trying to raise some from seed this year...4 out of the 6 sowed are peeping through. Have other artichoke (can't remember name doh) from Smoothhound.

Smooth Hound

jeruslem

Sassinak

I think that Sunchoke is another name for Jerusalem Artichokes

Smooth Hound

i wondered that, with the plant being the same as a sunflower , but no flower

Sassinak

It gets a flower just on a smaller scale, but I don't know if the flower gets seeds so that you could make it a duel purpose plant

nina

We planted jerusalem artichokes on the plot at Pitfour they grew well but we didn't get chance to harvest them before the estate was sold.The new owners have asked my OH to help them with the plot and share the harvest so it willbe interesting to see how many grow this year.

Every time I see asparagus mentioned I smile and think of my american sister-in-law who calls it asparagrass.Heard it called that a few times in the USA.

Forget-me-Not · Comfrey

Smooth Hound could I possibly dig up a wee bit of Comfrey please to start some off when I come for the cuppa. I've wanted some a while.

Beth

Diana

Maria - sow asparagus seed now (in modules) then when you get a chance over the spring, thoroughly prepare your bed (remember they're going to be there for 20 years or so - so it's worth doing well) - NO perenial weed roots if pos.

Then you can plant them out in summer and do nothing (except weed them really well, cut the ferns down in autumn and maybe mulch) for 2 years. Cropping starts in the 3rd year.

Smooth Hound

and if you could stick a few extra in for me and andy please

cmiddleton

Yes, Sunchoke are the translated indian name for jerusalem artichoke, they are a relative of the sunflower (sunchoke/sunflower) and the name jerusalem comes from a bad translation of their continental name, nothing to do with Jerusalem, so I'm led to believe.

I have looked at the Asparagus sown into plant paks last year. there are live roots still in them, just no stems yet. the seeds were good value, chase organic www.organiccatalog.co.uk I think. I like the term asparagrass! an acurate description.

Diana

Shoots should appear later this month. Best to get them out the modules and in the ground once you have shoots - they do like to stretch out.

Maria

Thanks Diana - picked up some Asparagus today - Dutchy. Will be planting tomorrow. I've not looked at the moon chart, wonder if my timings out again.

NO perennial weeds - oh no - does that mean perma curse 'digging' not mulching! I was just getting used to the idea that I didn't have to dig anymore....just hand weed occasionally

SH/Andy 50 seeds in the packet and I'm going to sow the lot, so with luck there'll be plenty to share.

The globe artichokes are are coming up nicely too.

I believe these can be a bit tricky to keep alive over the winter

anyone know how I can perma my way out of that one with least input?

Nina - sounds great - let us know how many sunchokes you get. (I've hardly got used to artichokes as a name....love sunchoke and asparagrass....much easier to remember. Can you tell I'm a newbie gardener and as bad at veg names as I am people)

Smooth Hound

you could build a wooden frame and cover iy in plastic

Forget-me-Not · Globe Artichokes

Maria did you see the Globe Artichokes used on Growing Drugs last night, they were used with Hawthorn berries to make chewable strips which when eaten one a day or added to (Muesli by one woman in the programme) help reduce cholestrol.

Beth

Diana

Sassinak

[quote="Diana
Dig em out properly and you'll only have to do it once

[/quote]

Nope, I'm still digging them out constantly. They can creep in from all sides much faster than I can remove them. If you had a small garden and could patrol the boundary with a shotgun maybe

The veg beg that I am digging at the moment is a huge tangle of nettle, ground elder and couch grass roots. Each forkful is like spaghetti lol

Smooth Hound · Re: Comfrey

wildgarlic

Yes please. Is it purple flowered?

Smooth Hound

yup, just come round, but youll have to dig all the root out,

Maria

Might be able to pick a clump out for WG & FMN when I come help you and Andy with plot. Unless it happens to be the same time FMN can come and help out?

Smooth Hound

great

wildgarlic

That would be fab - I'll find something for you as a swap.

Smooth Hound

what sort of thing,,,, oh and if anyone else wants more osier, say so, ive loads, and ill be cutting it down as soon as i can, you could still plant them, but will need to water them in dry times this year, other than that ill be keeping it for baskets and hurdles and deep beds,

wildgarlic

No idea - but seeds/seedlings/cake or something. Sure to find something.

Forget-me-Not · Smooth Hounds Stuff

Really pleased re Comfrey!

Thanks! When I come up, I'll email first to see what I've got growing, that you'd like Smooth. I've quite a bit and it will be bigger and ready to move by then. (Plus cake.) If noone else wants Ossier (forgotton spelling) I'd love some. I'd like to start something growing in the allotment. Have managed to get some wood and wire and bits and pieces from a neighbour for it too.

Beth

(Just checking in quickly.)

Smooth Hound

help yourself

animalcrackers

i think there are other artichokes called globe artichokes i dont even know if they are edible

cmiddleton

globe artichokes are no relation of jerusalem artichokes, but you eat the flower heads. I found them a bit fussy and not hardy enough to grow outside up here. Anyone have more luck?

Smooth Hound

i have one on my allotment, its never been any good really

Asparagus and Comfrey

Comfrey

Globe Artichokes

Re: Comfrey

Smooth Hounds Stuff