Alien Asparagus ???

[Mace Canute]

It almost looks like they got hit or had some drift from some broadleaf weed killer. Apply any 2-4D or similar anywhere in the vicinity?

I think that's quite likely. I remember seeing a Cirsium Arvense (Canada Thistle) that had been the recipient of a bit of 2-4-D, not enough to kill it though, and instead of growing a stem and standing tall, it became a ground hugging plant with lots of very healthy looking leaves that spread out to about a foot in diameter but only about 2 inches in thickness. Looked kind of nice in a way.

 

[melmark]

Looks like you have some with normal growth right next to those. I have seen some weird shapes as well, usually caused by hitting a stone or some really hard dirt as it grows. Is your soil nice and loose? Also....when you harvest the spears you should cut them slightly below the ground surface. I have had run-ins with asparagus beetles over the years and never had any affect the shape of the spears.

Mark

 

[forgeblast]

I get that too I see it happen when beetles and slugs start chomping on it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I second the 2-4D exposure. That can cause some weird reaction in plants that it doesn't kill. I have seen similar in okra pods that got exposed to a light concentration of 2-4D. Almost any plant that it doesn't kill will exhibit some form of weird growth pattern.

 

[farmer2009]

I second the 2-4D exposure. That can cause some weird reaction in plants that it doesn't kill. I have seen similar in okra pods that got exposed to a light concentration of 2-4D. Almost any plant that it doesn't kill will exhibit some form of weird growth pattern.

All this is because 2,4D is a Growth Regulator. It causes some cells to grow so rapidly that they bust the cell wall. While others stop growing. Why most plants sprayed with it develop a crook neck.

Although it looks more pinched and while 2,4D can cause some weird things to happen it doesn't look like 2,4D damage. Looks like it was damaged by drought or compaction during its growth. Without knowing the growing conditions and area spraying it's hard to say from a picture.

 

[randy41]

Looks like you have some with normal growth right next to those. I have seen some weird shapes as well, usually caused by hitting a stone or some really hard dirt as it grows. Is your soil nice and loose? Also....when you harvest the spears you should cut them slightly below the ground surface. I have had run-ins with asparagus beetles over the years and never had any affect the shape of the spears.

Mark

+1.

how long have you had those asparagus in that container?

 

[PRF]

Haven't sprayed anything so that's not it.. This is about the 4th or 5th year since I planted these crowns in the tires.. There were plenty of perfect looking ones growing next to it and in 3 other tires.. It has been very dry with no rain in about 3 weeks and I haven't been good about watering them, wonder if that's it?

 

[MossRoad]

I vote for below ground freeze damage before emergence.... or aliens.

 

[oosik]

Are you mixing a little "whacky tabacky" in the soil in that tire?

 

[farmer2009]

Haven't sprayed anything so that's not it.. This is about the 4th or 5th year since I planted these crowns in the tires.. There were plenty of perfect looking ones growing next to it and in 3 other tires.. It has been very dry with no rain in about 3 weeks and I haven't been good about watering them, wonder if that's it?

I think you may have just answered your own question. Lack of moisture. I don't raise asparagus so I don't know the moisture requirements, but I've seen droughts pinch ears of corn. While not looking as severe I've seen corn ears drop half their rows of kernels.