ASPARAGUS UNCOVERED

Martin Fish shares his expertise with growing one of those plants that just keep on giving, year on year, while wife Jill serves up a savoury dish just bursting with flavour

- Martin Fish

Asparagus is one of a handful of perennial vegetables that come back year after year and once established will produce delicious spears for up to 20 years. Often seen as a delicacy, asparagus is not difficult to grow given the correct growing conditions but bear in mind it takes two years from planting to harvesting, so you need to be patient. It is one of our favourite vegetables and homegrown, fresh asparagus tastes delicious and should be savoured for the two months it is in season. For that reason, Jill and I never buy imported asparagus.

SOIL CONDITIONS 

For the fleshy, vigorous roots to develop, asparagus needs a sandy, well-drained soil. If you have wet, sticky clay, the plants will struggle and be weak. Although drainage is needed, the plants also need moisture in summer to maintain healthy growth. To improve the water-holding capacity of sandy soil, work in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost when you are preparing the ground. Likewise on clay soil, work in organic matter to help open up the soil and improve drainage. On clay soils you can also form wide ridges to plant into to aid drainage and prevent the crowns sitting in water.

SOWING AND PLANTING 

If you look through seed catalogues you often find asparagus seed. This is a cost-effective way to raise new plants, but it adds on another year or two to the establishing time. If you decide to try some seed, sow in April-May in deep cells or rows in the garden. Cell-grown seedlings can be planted into their permanent position in summer and those in rows can be carefully lifted and transplanted the following spring.