Asparagus

[Chuck52]

Thanks, Jim. Yep, usually some of the smaller ones get by me, or some of the ones the beetles have damaged enough so I don't want to eat them. I've usually picked them, but I'll let them go now and see what happens. I've got two 25-30 foot beds, one about 5 years old and the other about 3. Both are producing well this year and I'm getting more than the beetles so far. I think I'll buy some of the rotenone/pyrethrin concentrate and make up a mix of that with the insecticidal soap. That should be generally useful for many of the garden veggies, although for some the soap isn't recommended. That should be friendlier than the Sevin I have resorted to in the past.

We're getting enough asparagus that we're cooking it several ways. As said by many, it's hard to beat just grilled or sauteed with some garlic butter or olive oil. The wife also makes a killer quiche with asparagus, bacon and swiss cheese. We may even try some home made cream of asparagus soup....gotta be better than the canned stuff.

Chuck

 

[RobertN]

well the whole asparagus thing is new to me....

This thread is interesting; we have an asparagus bed, and get really good stuff locally too.

In regards to it being new to some, I find it interesting how many folks have not had Artichokes.... Yummy stuff that seems to be regional.

 

[RobertN]

Some recipes from the local TV station. Lots of asparagus grownnear the Sacramento area. Stockton also has it's asparagus festival(this weekend actually)

grilled asparagus
fried asparagus
asparagus soup

The Asparagus festival.
Stockton Aparagus Festival

 

[MarkV]

I've had a few spears get past me sometimes, due to rain or whatever, and go to ferns. Should I pluck them anyway (and discard) so the spear production continues? I mean, is asparagus like some vegetables, that if you don't harvest them, quit producing?

Chuck

Chuck, leave the spears that go to ferns that is how the plant feeds. Most garden sites will recommend that you let the whole bed go to ferns after it stops producing spears larger than 3/8’s of an inch. That way it will continue to feed and grow the root stock for next years crop. When the ferns brown out in the fall we just mow then down.

MarkV