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Post by 12540dumont on Mar 12, 2012 19:10:17 GMT -5
I was reading Ferdzy's blog about seasonal Ontario Food. I stumbled onto her recipes for asparagus. I was just planning plain old asparagus with hollandaise, until I saw the bacon, egg and asparagus salad..... I grow purple passion asparagus. It seems to be to come very very early and of course with our crazy weather, it's coming earlier every year. I have 3, 50' beds in, and would plant another 3 if I could find a later variety. Trouble is, I can't find one....at least in the catalogues they don't say early, late, main season, etc. anyone? So asparagus tips? This is a really easy plant to get going and a well taken care of bed can go for 20 years. Here's a crop to take to the early spring markets. As a kid in Minnesota, we would drive every spring to South Dakota, there was a vacant lot full of asparagus. We would pick bags of it and bring them home. I once tried to go back and find that lot as an adult, but boy, even South Dakota has changed in 20 years. I believe that someone built a house on top that asparagus....darn shame it was too. Attachments:
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Post by castanea on Mar 12, 2012 19:25:40 GMT -5
As a kid in Minnesota, we would drive every spring to South Dakota, there was a vacant lot full of asparagus. We would pick bags of it and bring them home. I once tried to go back and find that lot as an adult, but boy, even South Dakota has changed in 20 years. I believe that someone built a house on top that asparagus....darn shame it was too. I can't tell you how many times I have done something like that.... with the same results! |
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Post by Drahkk on Apr 21, 2012 15:42:44 GMT -5
I don't believe I've ever seen them listed as early or late either. However, as I understand it, asparagus starts sending up spears when the soil temperature gets above 50°F. That being the case, you could make them come earlier with some black plastic, or later by burying the crowns deeper so they stay colder longer.
Personally, I've only got one 3' x 8' bed of Jersey Knight. The crowns are only 6 inches deep, in a raised bed... which combined with our recent weather means I was cutting spears in early February (!?!), and now have a box thickly filled with 7 foot tall ferns. You can safely plant a lot deeper than that to make them come later, though. It's actually recommended to plant the older varieties like Mary Washington a foot deep, and I believe you could go 16 inches without hurting them.
Mike B
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Post by richardw on Apr 22, 2012 4:55:46 GMT -5
I don't believe I've ever seen them listed as early or late either. However, as I understand it, asparagus starts sending up spears when the soil temperature gets above 50°F. That being the case, you could make them come earlier with some black plastic, or later by burying the crowns deeper so they stay colder longer. charlotte hornets yes i agree,its all about how warm the soil is as to when it comes away in spring,i normally put a hopphouse over one of my pacific Purple asparagus beds in late winter to start warming the soil to give us a few early spears which is handy at that time of year, boy it works well too,last winter there was a big snowfall forcasted so i took the clear plastic off before it arrived so the snow wouldn't flatten it,ended up the snow never ever settled on that bed because of how warm it was. |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 22, 2012 7:29:29 GMT -5
|If you are looking for recipes...
Cream soup
In a small to medium, heavy bottomed saucepot saute
asparagus, washed & broken into small pieces
onion, small dice
50/50 butter / olive oil
thyme or herb Provence
In separate pot bring to a boil enough water OR chicken broth to make the amount of soup you want. If using water (like I do) flavor with chicken bullion and a bit of white wine won't hurt either.
BEFORE veg browns, pour in the broth. Simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. When soft, run it through a blender or food processor. Return to the pot and bring back to a simmer. Add a shot of heavy cream. I go a bit light with the cream, maybe a 1/4 c. to 4 c. broth. Serve.
Asparagus is also great in ratatouille.
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Post by bunkie on Apr 22, 2012 9:39:39 GMT -5
great recipe there jo, and holly, i love ferdy's with bacon, eggs and mushroom salad.
our purple asparagus still hasn't come up yet this year...course, we've been the coldest of the country all winter! that hoop idea sounds good richard!
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 22, 2012 17:25:20 GMT -5
Thanks for that. I have a million little asparagus seedlings coming up in the path. I think we'll move them to a bed and let them grow and then transplant them deep.
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Post by richardw on Apr 23, 2012 14:42:39 GMT -5
that hoop idea sounds good richard! Yes it works really well,the same plastic gets used in Autumn for extending the season for Oca then again late winter/early spring for asparagus |
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Post by richardw on Apr 23, 2012 14:48:50 GMT -5
Thanks for that. I have a million little asparagus seedlings coming up in the path. I think we'll move them to a bed and let them grow and then transplant them deep. Talking of self sown asparagus seedlings,i remember as a kid there was a wild plant on the side of the road not far from where we lived,used to see it every year till about three years ago when i noticed that it finally must have died,would have been just over 40 years |
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Post by bunkie on Apr 23, 2012 15:56:34 GMT -5
spotted our first asparagus stem today!
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 23, 2012 17:27:26 GMT -5
We've had crazy weather this year so some first asparagus shoots came up and were hit by heavy frost, some more is probably up and I"ll have to harvest them before another potential killing frost this weekend. Talk about a roller coaster.
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Post by steev on Apr 24, 2012 20:39:35 GMT -5
Given that one sometimes finds a couple stalks in an unexpected place, I'm glad I like asparagus as a raw munchie. Once found it sprouting in the yard of a house I was renting in Guatemala, a welcome surprise; having grown up in Stockton, California, asparagus center of the US, I do like asparagus. Wokked with beef and oyster sauce, yummers!
Right now, the Mary Washington I seeded is sprouted and I need to pot it up.
I ordered 10 or so varieties from GRIN to trial, but that's just another request they seem to have blown off. For all I know, they can't send seed to California; they haven't said. Too bad, though, not to have gotten it rolling, since it's a multi-year project from seed.
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 24, 2012 22:34:21 GMT -5
Okay, the asparagus is tucked in for the season, I'll water it and give it one fertilizing with fish emulsion and mow it late winter. Steev, when I see you, I'll bring along a pot of asparagus to get you going. We're thinking Memorial Day in Greenville to pick the rhubarb. Attachments:
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Post by steev on Apr 25, 2012 11:57:14 GMT -5
We'll trade asparagus for kiwais some day, but I'll be in Baja while you're pulling rhubarb. Truth be told, I'd nearly sooner add a sickle bar and rotary plow to my BCS order than go on vacation. I may have lost the habit of taking time off. Oh, well; it's a family-time deal.
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 26, 2012 1:12:43 GMT -5
Well, good for you. I love Baja. I used to go every year, before I had a farm  Now, I'm lucky if I can get to town for salt, lard & bullets. We'll catch up with you someday. |
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Now, I'm lucky if I can get to town for salt, lard & bullets. We'll catch up with you someday.