Your comments and tips

17 Feb 17, Dil (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Where can I purchase a Ming fern plant in Melbourne

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18 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Ming Fern (asparagus) seed is listed on ebay. It is fairly easy to grow from seed. If you search for it on the internet you will find nurseries that have it in Melbourne. It is listed as an environmental weed in NSW and can't be purchased in that state. Trust this helps

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11 Feb 17, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)

I have just bought a house in southeastern SA and it has a large raised asparagus bed. The ferns are over a metre tall and mostly still green, do I cut them back to ground level when they yellow or just leave them till they fall naturally, also, should I water them or not? I believe the asparagus is about 5 years old.

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13 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Do not cut the ferns back until they start to turn yellow. They are building up the crowns for next seasons crop. Add compost or wel rotted manure in late autumn or winter will also boost your yield.

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10 Feb 17, Lisa (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, This is my third asparagus year. My asparagus is growing in high raised garden beds. I have the most amazingly tall healthy ferns - they are so tall and prolific you can hardly get past them to the other raised beds. There aren't that many spears though. Will they come? Or am I destined to have a jungle of ferns? Does this happen? I did not pick many spears again this year, I left most to turn into my jungle.

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10 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

The 'fern' begins as the edible spear as it emerges from the ground. It is too late to harvest spears this year. Cut the 'ferns' off when they begin to yellow. The spears will emerge in the spring. They sre like 'buds' for the ferns. Cut them off with a knife below ground level. Clear a bit of soil so you don't damage any new tips still under the ground. Enjoy! Trust this helps.

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19 Jan 17, Karleena (Australia - temperate climate)

I am new to gardening - I got a small patch with asparagus growing - no asparagus but only ferns - can I cut it down or should I let it grow?

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03 Apr 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)

Let the asparagus grow until July, then cut it all off just under the ground level. Buy some horse/cow manure (two bags) and grass clippings and start mulching it now. Add some dirt to it and a handful of fertilizer. Wet it regularly and turn it over each two weeks - it will make compost in a couple of months. After you cut the fern down in July put the compost on the plants about 6" thick. When the new spears come out of the ground and grow to 8-10" cut them and enjoy. Give them a good watering each second day. The 3rd year after starting from seed you should be able to cut the spears from Aug to end of Nov. I put about a 1/2 a cup of all round fert in 9 L of water (leave it over night and give a good stir) and put this on the plants each month.

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23 Jan 17, Tom (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Asparagus needs time, lots of time. You will not get much for the first few years. Just let it die down in winter and cover with lots of compost.

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21 Dec 16, Pam Neasham (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Where can I buy asparagus crowns.. My late husband grew such large crops we used to give them away. I have down-sized since his death leaving my plants behind and would now like to grow some again.

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