In the garden this week: Gardens of the future, plus asparagus crowns

Look to the future This month brings a chance to hear speakers on the future of gardens at the Sustaining Urban Green Spaces conference. Nigel Dunnett will talk about "future proofing" gardens against climate change, Nik Green about Incredible Edible Todmorden, where every public flower bed is planted with edible plants, and John Little about his work bringing meadow flowers to Clapton Park housing estate; Saturday 20 March, Norris Bank primary school, Stockport, tickets £10. Crown jewels Now is the time to plant asparagus crowns. If you didn't start in autumn, put extra effort into getting every last scrap of perennial weed root out before planting. Improve with compost or well-rotted manure. Dig out a trench, ridge up its centre and arrange the crowns over the ridges so they rise above any potential waterlogging. And remember: asparagus beds are for life, so don't rush it.