Asparagus

[littleminnie]

I planted 50 I think last year. Jersey Knight I believe. There are a few bare spots. I weeded and added compost today. I was going to mulch to prevent weeds but started wondering about growing a living mulch. Normally I am against those but I was thinking about seeding crimson clover which dies here in winter and then next year it makes a dead mulch. Other option is to just add mulch as planned and stick a few Napa cabbage or something on the end under the mulberry tree where most of the aspar died.

[ferdzy]

My impression is that asparagus does not like to compete with tree roots AT ALL. We struggle a bit with ours as one end of the bed is too close to the tree line.

I've tried strawberries planted under asparagus, and while they both do okay that way, the strawberries do not suppress weeds and it takes just as long to weed as if they were not there.

We should consider trying crimson clover. It sounds like a good idea. I actually really like the idea of a living mulch as our soil is so poor and sandy; it really loses quality fast if nothing is growing in it.

[richardw]

Clover does work well, i know an organic grower who has done her beds in it,my problem would be stopping grass from getting established,so you would have to keep it weeded

[littleminnie]

Ok. I only like the idea of a clover that is not going to take over. I might do that with the new raspberry bed too. Or they both may just be mulched. I can always use nitrogen and have the Crimson clover anyway.