Asparagus not up yet - should I worry?

Thankthecat

Having never grown asparagus before I planted 20 crowns last spring, bed prepared as per advice on GW. There was some spindly top growth last year which I cut back to ground level in the autumn before mulching with a couple of inches of garden compost mixed with rotted manure. The bed has been kept totally weed free throughout. I don't know when asparagus usually starts showing above ground but so far this season there's zero sign of any life. I had a poke about in the soil yesterday and found what I think is the top of a crown but nothing green coming out of it. Should I be worried? 

Dovefromabove

Oooh no, don't start worrying yet  .............. the beginning of the English asparagus season is traditionally 23rd April (St George's Day) and after such a rotten winter and slow spring homegrown asparagus is likely to be late this year.  It grows very quickly once the soil starts warming up.

I'm sure you know not to harvest any in it's first year, and just a little in the second and third years. 

Thankthecat

Thanks Dove, that's put my mind at rest. I'm not known for my patience and gardening really tests it at times!

Lizzie27

Thanks for that Dove, mine's not yet up either and I was a little worried. As you say, we'll just have to wait.

Newgardeninggirl

I noticed last night mine had just popped up through the soil! 2 year crowns went in last year.  I’m down Cornwall so relatively warm here! 

Thankthecat

Oh bless, aren't they tiny when they're babies!