GROWING ASPARAGUS
Asparagus was once considered a royal vegetable, reserved for feasts to welcome noble guests. In some old kitchens, it was believed that planting crowns under the light of the full moon would bring luck and abundant harvests. Letting the ferns grow tall through summer was said to honor the spirits of the field, ensuring their blessing on next year’s crop.
HOW TO
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If you’re planning a bed of asparagus, choose a sunny, sheltered spot with deeply dug, well-worked soil. In autumn, prepare the bed by removing all stones and weeds, then mix in plenty of well-rotted compost or manure—enough to make the earth soft and welcoming for the young crowns to rest through winter.
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Late winter or early spring is the time to plant tender crowns—or ‘roots of promise’—in trenches about 15 cm (6 in) deep, spaced roughly 30 cm (12 in) apart.
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Cover them gently with soil, pat it down with care, and water them in. As spring unfolds, fill in the trench gradually, mounding the soil over the emerging spears until the bed is level.
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Patience is the magic word. Resist the temptation to harvest in the first year; instead let the plants grow quietly and establish strong roots. The following year, you may harvest lightly—just a few spears per plant—continuing to feed regularly with compost and occasional potash-rich feed to build energy underground.
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By the third year, your asparagus bed should be strong and generous. Harvest the spears when they reach the height of a pencil and before the tips unfurl; snip them gently rather than pull, to keep the crowns safe. Once the spear-tips begin to open, let the ferns grow—they work all summer, gathering strength for next year’s feast.
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In autumn, leave the ferns until they turn golden, then cut them down and mulch the bed with leaf mould or well-rotted compost, to protect the crowns through winter’s hush.