Timing Asparagus Q's

[WeasleyMum]

I want to start an asparagus patch eventually. According to my gardening bible, the time to plant the crowns here (zone 6 or 7) is late fall, or even winter. My plan was to build a lasagna garden this summer/ fall where I eventually want the 'spargus to go; plant potatoes, green beans and etc next spring, and when it all comes out next autumn, plant the asparagus crowns. Basically I want to give the space the benefit of being a garden for one extra season before creating a permanent bed there-- all the extra mulch, ground loosened up from the taters, fed by the legumes etc, IYKWIM.

My problem is that it seems like the crowns are only offered in the spring! I've checked several catalogues, but can't find any that offer asparagus for a fall planting. So, is it generally spring-planted, even here in the South?

Also, what about raspberries? Same book says that raspberry canes should be fall-planted in this zone. Are they available anywhere, bare-rooted, at this time of year?

[lmonter]

Yeah, I think it's generally spring planted. Unless you manage to buy a bunch in early spring, and manage to baby them along all summer until planting in the fall. I'm a spaz though, so I'd never be able to keep anything alive like that for such a long period of time.

I was planting asparagus crowns last year up until mid-June (takes a while to plant 125 asparagus crowns while 40-42 weeks pregnant and kids underfoot). Granted, I'm in a chilly zone 5 and our supposed last frost date is May 15, but still.

Just keep in mind how long it takes for the asparagus to become able to harvest. I wish it didn't take years, but oh well. You could always get your garden bed going now if you have the time, plant your legume cover crop and all that jazz this fall, and plant asparagus in the spring...
Fwiw, we just tilled up a section of our lawn, threw down some composted manure, a little peat moss to loosen things up, and planted the asparagus. If you've seen my blog, the asparagus have done decent so far. Some thick spears, some thin ones, just depends on the plant... I think I have a fair amount of female plants given the berries that I keep finding/seeing on top of the compost there.

I'm sure you can plant raspberry canes in the fall. Not sure if you'd be able to find any commercially, but maybe check craigslist or whatever in your area? Some folks around here I know thin out their strawberries and raspberries in the fall so they can mulch really well before the snow starts flying.