Growing ASPARAGUS

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus heralds the change in flavour from winter’s earthiness to spring’s verdant freshness. The first sight of it never fails to excite and it is so synonymous with Spring. With the shortest season of all veg and an unmistakable, delicate flavour, the commitment required to grow it, in my opinion, is totally worth it. A good asparagus bed can be with you for 20 years or more. And as one of the only perennial vegetable crops, committing your precious space for that length of time is the first thing to consider. Asparagus is usually purchased as one year old crowns and requires a further two years of growth before picking can commence. This time is essential, as it allows the crowns to fully establish before you start harvesting the spears. If you happen to ‘accidentally’ snap a couple off during this two year period, then it doesn’t hurt to give it a taste test!

If you have clay or wet soil it is worth planting in raised beds, due to the fact that asparagus requires free draining conditions for good growth. Sandy soil is preferable, as they really don’t like getting their feet wet. To plant, dig a trench 30cm wide and 20cm deep. Work some well-rotted manure into the bottom of the trench. Make a 10cm-high ridge of soil down the centre of each trench. Place the crowns on top of this ridge, spacing them 40cm apart within the row. Spread the roots evenly and replace the rest of the soil, leaving the bud tips just visible. Allow 50cm between rows and stagger the plants between adjacent rows. Water in and mulch with good quality compost.

After your patient two-year wait, check the asparagus bed every morning for new growth from about mid-April – it may seem like an obsession, but the spears can put on six inches of growth overnight and are best if eaten straight away. If they have been left too long, the spears can become woody. Cut the spears just below the soil surface allowing room for the next round. Give yourself a rough eight week picking period and stick to it. Keep an eye out for asparagus beetle and pick off, if present. Maintenance is laborious; they have shallow delicate roots meaning they cannot be hoed, so regular hand weeding is required. Allow the asparagus to grow its fennel-like fronds during the latter part of the summer so it can photosynthesise and then allow the foliage to die right back before each cutting down to soil level in the Autumn.