Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Just put in an order for 100 asparagus plants for $35 plus shipping. So that's what about $.40 per plant. They'll be delivered in March. Unless, of course TSH totally HTF by then.

I got 50 thornless blackberries from them last year for 60.00 or about .65 per plant

s

http://www.simmonsplantfarm.com/

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Sounds like a awesome deal. I'll have to check them out--we love asparagus. I'll opt for the raspberries though--my young 'un loves them best.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

They've got those too. They are a family run wholesale nursery down in Arkansas. If you don't have your orders in by February they wont have anything left. But I've always had good luck with them.

I had blackberries this summer that were as big as, no actually bigger than golf balls.

s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Nice link..... Thanks! Did you ask them if they could send them early? I found one web site that said they would send them ASAP. But then I dont know if they would keep until spring. I thought it would be better to have them and not chance the Jan 22 big surprise that we are suppose to support "the one" on. http://www.noursefarms.com/ I have not ordered yet! Need to do that soon.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Nice site. Thanks for the link! You've just given me a case of spring fever on this cold dreary night. :36_1_63: :4_8_4v:

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

man you made my day...I've been looking for a good place to buy berry plants.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Thanks SB, the thornless blackberrys look good .....which variety did you choose.

Now I need to find out if shipping to Californy from them would be to costly.
My BIN farms asparagus, I need to ask him if my soil condition is conducive for asparagus growth.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Ya know, that was a big question mark in the back of my mind when I finished the order on the phone. I think they will ship them any time you want. What I don't know is when they start digging. They might already have many things dug and warehoused. I'll try to find out.

I don't know if they can ship to CA. Don't you guys have some agricultural import bans on plants and trees?

Nub, I'm in Northern Illinois where it gets kinda cold for the thornless B-berries. However, I have had good luck with Chester and Apache. The Apache had a two stage production this year. The old growth cane had berries earlier. Maybe early August. Then the new growth went ahead and had berries up until late September. My Chesters were planted this year so they didn't do anything but I had them at my last place and they were good too.


s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Looks like AZ. Ca. OR. and WA. all have shipping regulation.........I tried calling them this morning to verify but no answer.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Yeah, they are hard to get ahold of but they will return your call. I really think it's just a small family farm run operation. They are the staff and the labor and marketing etc,etc. What I have gotten from them in the past though has been good healthy plants.

s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Do not expect your asparagus bed to produce anything significant for approximately 7 years.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Yeah it does take a while. 7 years is a bit long though. In my last bed I really dug it deep (12") and added ample triple phosphate which really stimulates the root growth. Of course the plants I got were huge and that makes quite a difference too. Also here in the midwest we have good black soil so I have lots of factors in my favor. I don't think it's unrealistic to expect descent crops the third year if the bed is taken care of.

s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Ima, yes, they can ship them early. I got mine changed to 12 Jan. I will be layering them out in a shady place in the yard under leaves or straw(which is under lots of snow right now). I have rhubard roots layered the same way.

s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

We planted 50 and didn't eat any for the first three years. From 5 years on we've been picking like mad. They can benefit from a lot of compost/manure, full sun of course, and plenty of lime if your pH is acid like here.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Please post if you hear back on whether shipping to CA is OK.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Thanks Squirrel bait. I was comparing prices with the site I had found, and the site you found and your site was almost half the cost. I think I will be ordering from your guys! I want all kinds of berry plants to go in my orchard. Thanks for checking on the ship time. I had called them and left a message and they called me back and left a message! Tag....your it! Hopefully they have a fax number and I can get an order in.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

3rd year is usually the charm here. This will be year 4 for the first 10 plants. and year 2 for the purple asparagus.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Does anybody here have a favorite variety. I'm familiar with Mary W and like it. I do not like Jersy giant, not enough flavor. Whats the Purple stuff like and is anybody familiar with the HYBRID F2 OF UC157.

s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Squirrel Bait, did you get your plants yet? I ordered mine but they have not arrived yet. Thanks for posting the simmons farms. The price was half of the place I found.
What are you going to do with the plants until its time to plant? I bought some bagged soil/manuer and was thinking of putting the plants in buckets with tthe soil and left in the 40 degrees garage until it warms up enough to plant. Your thoughts?

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

:15_1_70v:
Yeah, they came on the 15th, they were shipped out the 12th. They're in nice condition. just keep them in the plastic for now in a cool place.

Right now now, I've got mine sitting right by the door in the basement that leads out side. It's about 40 F there. When it gets a little warmer I'll take them outside, remove the plastic and cover them with pine needles and straw in my woods. That will keep them cool, moist and dormant until spring. I'd like to plant in April up here in N.Illinois. Well see.

s

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

I placed an order today, she said no problem .....we'll see.
Prices and the shipping are fantastic !!
Thanks SB :adore:

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Um, you haven't been smoking the asparagus, have you? :tongue_ma:


All funnies aside, those are some good prices.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Squirrel, what are your recommendations for northern IL in terms of hardiness and productivity? Any plants or fruit tree varieties that really stand out?

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

We have the "purple passion" variety. It is our favorite taste-wise (even good raw) although it doesn't produce as much as the all-male varieties.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Any erect blackberries that stick out production wise? I was not really interested in setting up a trellis.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

btw, can anyone recommend a fruit tree nursery.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

http://www.starkbros.com/

I recommend all of their products. I have never dealt with them personally, as I bought their trees through a middleman, but the product is top notch. My trees are so covered with fruit that I have to pick half of it early to keep it from breaking the trees in half. Most (plums, peaches, pears) produced the first season I planted them.

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Sorry to take so long in answer. I really haven't lived in N. ILL long enough to know. Some have told me that pears don't do very well here, but I haven't noticed it. All the apples seem to do well except Granny Smiths. My favorite is Golden Delicious and Gala. I know the major orchards seem to have lots of those

As for erect Blkberries. I have grown Chester before and they stood up very well. I've got some Apache now and they don't seem to do as well, but they are young still. Both were excellent producers although the apache did get some cold damage last winter so the earlier production was minimal but the secondary production produced huge berries, big as an egg, sweet too. Just not as many as I would have liked.

Starks , Millers has a better apple selection

sb

Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

Update: The berry plants and strawberries I got from Simmons are doing wonderful! I have them in my shop where it is about 60 degrees and they are coming alive!
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Re: Asparagus/Blackberries
 

It's too hot here for asparagus to prosper, though I tried a bed and made it nice. The few I harvested were incredibly delicious. None made it to be cooked. We just grazed. YUM!

Though slow to start, asparagus is forever if you take modest care of it. Most of the work is start up. I made a 2 foot deep manure, peat moss and topsoil bed 30 feet by 4 feet, along a fence.

I will likely put something else in that great soil soon. Maybe grapes or a kiwi trellis.