Asparagus

[Tigger]

I can only assume us keen growers have had our early tastes?

We had a few steamed spears earlier this week and a dozen griddled on the barbecue tonight.

Gorgeous.

[Jenny Green]

I'm picking between one and two pounds a day at the moment from a bed of twenty plants. It's the hot weather - they seem to grow as you're watching them.

[Colin_M]

It's great isn't it?

Sadly I don't have room for any asparagus
However the farm shop down the road has 2 large fields of it (completely unfenced & open to the public - I'm amazed they don't lose more to poachers)

Here are some of the early birds from last week:



Colin

ps - Jenny, if you ever get tired of it, I'm happy to help you out!!

[Jenny Green]

Sorry, you'll have a long wait!

[Tigger]

Another 26 spears tonight. Yum......

[Johnboy]

Hi Tigger,
I had 8 spears tonight and there is plenty coming and I will end up as usual giving it to friends.
After the eight I was stuffed and couldn't eat anything else but now I feel hungry which for me is amazing so tomorrow Ill have some for lunch and feel hungry for dinner!
JB.

[Malk]

I'm so jealous. half of mine I planted in the autumn and the other half I planted last year, so I won't really get any this year. But supposedly there's a nearby plot that doesn't harvest his and he gets a great crop, so I may 'borrow' a meal's worth.

[Multiveg]

Yes - harvested some at the weekend, and yet, the big greedy profit making supermarket was stocking asparagus from Peru. Surely if an allotment which has asparagus patch not mulched with straw and open to the elements can produce tasty asparagus this early in the year, commercial producers are too?

[madasafish]

Last year my new asparagus (grown prior year from seed), was late coming through- end May)..

This year I have 5 spears so far .. and counting...

Pity about the lack of rain...

[Barry]

I originally posted on another thread the fact that I attempted to move about 12 10-year-old asparagus crowns from my old to my new plot. I did this in November-December, trying to get as much of the crown out as possible, but having to chop some of the more extended roots. The rescued crowns were planted in a very deep raised bed edged with inter-locking roof tiles. About a month ago, some spears began to emerge, but stopped after they were about one to two inches high. However, growth has started again and I have just eaten the first eight spears. Interestingly, the spears are thinner than would have been the case at the old plot and not quite so numerous, but the plants are clearly game! Significantly, the largest and kept most intact crown I moved over has begun to crop last. I shall note its progress with interest.
Last night, I went back to the old plot, where I couldn't find a single spear! Usually, those crowns start cropping mid-April and, by the end of the month, we are all sick to death of asparagus!!!
I shall try and keep you posted vis-a-vis the transplanted crowns, since the last thing you are supposed to do with asparagus is move it.
One question: what is the best way to freeze crowns? I usually lay them on a tray in the freezer and then bag them when fully frozen. Blanching is no longer considered necessary given the efficiency of modern freezers. However, I just unfroze a batch and roasted them only to discover they tasted disgusting, which isn't usually the case. Any suggestions?

[Tigger]

More again tonight! I haven't watered ours yet, and the hot weather does appear to be bringing it through more quickly than usual.

I love this time of year. Asparagus heralds the summer.

I don't pick any thin spears, as I was always told that they were the indicators for future years' production.

As for freezing - I wouldn't bother. This is one of those crops that you eat in season and then go without. If you're awash with spears, make soup or sauces to freeze, or try putting asparagus into risottos or quiches.

[Johnboy]

Hi Barry,
I do not think you should have picked any of those you transplanted this year.
JB.

[peter]

Yes - harvested some at the weekend, and yet, the big greedy profit making supermarket was stocking asparagus from Peru. Surely if an allotment which has asparagus patch not mulched with straw and open to the elements can produce tasty asparagus this early in the year, commercial producers are too?

Yes, but I bet despite the air-freight charge Peruvian is lowercost for the supermarket buyer.

Food miles, grrrrrr.