On Fri, 18 May 2012 17:31:28 +0200, "ViLco" > wrote:

>spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
>> Asparagus stalks are thick and not woody if
>>
>> 1. They're the first shoots of the year
>> 2. They come from older plants
>> 3. They come from male plants.
>
>I discovered only very recently that asparagus plants can live up to 10
>years. I always believed thay got re-planted each year...
>

i think I planted 2-3yr crowns. and it was 2-3 more before I got any
decent asparagus.

I'll vouch for 'live more than 20 years.' The original rows in my
garden are less defined than they were a decade or so ago-- but some
of those plants are originals. I usually get a volunteer or two
each year and I let them grow. We don't get a lot of asparagus
anymore-- but what we get is tasty.

Jim