Hi Rebecca, this was a great read. I first planted asparagus roots last summer. I also was weary due to all of the folks that told me how difficult this great vegetable is. But despite the concerns I planted 6 roots last summer. All of them came up from the ground but they were very skinny shoots. I trimmed to the soil line after they got about 8" tall. The second time they came up they were a bit thicker. This year it looks like 5 of the 6 lasted through the winter. They are a bit thicker than last year and are coming up in more shoots. I think the longer you let them go the thicker and better the plant will become. Cheers to a decade of fresh asparagus yields and more!