It's Asparagus Time!
 |
| Spring asparagus bed |
In Sydney, we are now harvesting purple asparagus daily. The cooler regions of the country will be planting their asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) in spring: buy crowns, as the young plants are called, and plant about 1 metre apart, in well manured (they love mushroom compost), but well drained and raised beds, in a sunny spot. Or, you may have lovely spears appearing now. Don’t cut any spears that appear in the first season, but allow them to progress into fern-like foliage by late spring: these should be cut to the ground as they yellow in autumn. Next season, cut one or two spears per crown; the following year you can allow yourself more. After that, harvest the entire crop: cut with a clean, sharp knife, close to ground level.