Asparagus

I have a packet of asparagus seeds from the Diggers Club. Now I need to work out how and where to plant them. Here's what I've found so far:

They need a sunny spot with moderate water. In winter, the ground is bare but the shoots pop up in spring. In Autumn it goes yellow and you cut it back to the bare ground again. If you water it well and harvest often (once mature), you get a better crop. => I need a sunny spot that I don't care is bare through winter.

Gardening Australia has some info on their website (http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1669960.htm)

"An economical way to grow Asparagus is by seed, or with seedlings. If you do grow them that way then after planting leave for about two or three years for a strong root system to develop. Don't pick any of the crop, just let it grow naturally. "

"there are few pests and diseases that trouble this plant. When Asparagus is about four years old the fronds will have produced good, thick, strong roots and a good plant. They will then go yellow in autumn and that's the time to cut them back to ground level. The Asparagus bed will be bare until spring, and then spears of Asparagus will pop up all over the place."

The Heynes website (http://www.heyne.com.au/gardencentre/factsheets/factsheet.php/Asparagus.htm) suggests row spacing for the crowns. I wonder if I need to plant the seeds apart.

"The between-row spacing is 80 to 90cm (2 1/2 to 3 ft), with an in-row spacing of 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in)."

I also wonder if this is for an asparagus feast in a short 2 week period with enough to preserve for the rest of the year or just for eating when they're fresh.

"Ten asparagus plants should be sufficient to supply an average family, and well-cared-for plants will go on producing for at least twenty years." (also from the Heynes site)

I think I'll plant some seeds now and keep the rest for next year. It's already a long way into Spring and they suggest you plant them in "early spring" so I might be a bit late for this year.