Green manure for chalky soils

[Andre]

Hi

I have just bought a house and the vegetable patch turns out to be a heavy chalky soil. I was planning on putting some asparagus in and wondered if there was an easier alternative to adding lots of manure and sand. Which green manure would be best do you think?

Thanks

[Ted]

As Asparagus are a long term crop, I would not be concerned with green manuring prior to planting the crowns.
Preparation of the ground is essential to successful crops.
Double dig, remove any perennial weed roots and apply plenty of compost or well rotted manure to supply nutrients.
If your ground does not drain well you can add course grit or sharp sand to assist drainage as the crowns will rot in constantly wet soil
Use well made compost as surface mulch to deter weeds and to maintain soil moisture and nutients.