ASPARAGUS is a perennial veg that is often referred to as ‘gourmet’ and ‘luxury’ thanks to its specific season and time from starting off to cropping – but everyone can afford a patch of asparagus on their plot! Let’s look at less costly growing methods, plus some growing techniques that guarantee luxury for all.
Time is on your side
Don’t let the time needed to wait before your first cut put you off: just get on with it! Once started, a well-tended bed can last for 20 years. You’ve got two propagation options: open-pollinated or more modern all-male F1 varieties (see page 20). Open-pollinated seed (less vigorous than F1 hybrids, so cheaper) sown direct needs at least three years to bulk up; one-year old crowns two years; and F1 hybrid modular plants somewhere in between. The additional benefit of all-male plants is these beds often have more longevity.
