need help sexing asparagus

[veggiecanner]

I have a bed of martha washington asparagus, do the flowers on some of them turn into berries? I want to cull the females while I am moving the bed.

The plants are all different ages or this would be alot easier.

[Tom C]

Both male and female asparagus make flowers. Only females set berrys.

[Amei]

Tom,

Can the crowns have both male and female ferns?

[Tom C]

Nope, but you won't be the first person who has two (or more) crowns growing on top of each other.

I never bothered to cull females after about 1975 or so...

[Drew Dubious]

So wait, whats the dif between male and females as far as eating?

[nedwina]

Originally Posted by Drew Dubious

So wait, whats the dif between male and females as far as eating?

None. But females make for weedy asparagus babies in the existing crowns- a real PITA to deal with.

Also there are two kinds of asparagus beetles, one of which overwinters in fallen berries- so if you cull the females, you'll only have the other kind to combat.

I've found that the females just don't thrive as well as the males- especially when conditions are less than ideal. Maybe the extra energy used to grow the berries taps them out. (Or maybe it's that my Martha Washingtons just aren't a good as those Jersey Kings. )

Every year I think about culling the females. But they may just die off on their own.

[Tom C]

Originally Posted by Drew Dubious

So wait, whats the dif between male and females as far as eating?

Nothing. Spears taste the same.