The spear continues to grow. It branches into a fern.After some avid googling, you adopt the Ohio State University asparagus-growing fact sheet as your bible. It's the one that says you CAN harvest in the second year.
In the spring of the second year, another spear emerges.
After a slow start, it grows very, very quickly.Finally, you are both home on the same night. The spear gets harvested. In order to share it fairly, it is cut into pieces.
It is sautéed in some butter, then the tiniest spritz of lemon juice is added and shaken until the sauce emulsifies.
It is the most sweet, delicate finger-food imaginable. And we have a reasonable expectation of more.
That is a beautiful spear of asparagus!! I want to grow some so so SO badly! Maybe I'll go to the nursery today & get some crowns :) Butter and lemon shaken is my all time favorite asparagus topping as well, it perfectly compliments the flavors of this veg. Enjoy your bountiful harvest!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! There's nothing better than home grown, even in the tiniest quantities.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved into this house, someone had laid a path over an asparagus bed - for the first few years we had asparagus coming up in the cracks between the paving slabs.
Andrea - the lemon/butter combination can't be beaten, can it?
ReplyDeleteSuelle - it's good to know that once it starts it doesn't stop!
Congratulations on reaching year 2! I planted asparagus some time ago in our community garden and then moved away before the first actual harvest. If the first one is any indication, you have nice asparagus coming.
ReplyDeleteHa! It looks gorgeous. My hubby was asking if we could plant some this year...and when I told him yes, but we wouldn't be able to eat them, he pouted. I'll have to show him what we can expect next year ;)
ReplyDeleteI am an idiot and let my bed of three-year-old asparagus die in the drought.
ReplyDeleteI am an idiot.
Simona - I hope someone else has been enjoying the asparagus you planted.
ReplyDeleteHeather - you might as well do it this year: sooner you start, the sooner you can eat it!
Cranky - you aren't an idiot. There isn't a whole lot you can do about an Australian drought.
What beautiful asparagus babies! Here's to many more spears in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteGreat work! I don't think I could have that patience. But home-grown stuff really is pretty special.
ReplyDeleteRachel - thanks! We're looking forward to them!
ReplyDeleteLeafy - you just need to know you are going to be living in the same place for a couple of years.
It's always such a thrill to harvest asparagus from the garden. I love the anticipation you shared with us this morning. I'll wager the spear was delicious. It certainly is one of the best looking I've ever seen :-). Have a great day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteSo impressive--both that perfect spear and the fact that you waited and divided it quickly with each other. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAsparagus may be my favorite spring food.
ReplyDeleteI think I would have had a hard time sharing that one precious asparagus, but good for you two!
ReplyDeleteMary - I am very proud of that spear!
ReplyDeleteDeb - what can I say? Our marriage vows included the equitable division of vegetables.
Esi - me too!
Wild tomato - thanks!
Lucky lucky you!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Ah, the tribulations of the home gardener. It's always feast or famine, isn't it? Bushels of cudgel-sized zucchini that you're dropping on doorsteps or one singular, precious asparagus spear to fight over.
ReplyDeletethis is the kind of finger food for which i feel no shame when i lick my fingers clean. :)
ReplyDeleteKat - thanks!
ReplyDeleteHeather - my gardening tends to be more the one-spear variety, rather than the gluts!
Grace - it would be rude not to lick your fingers.
Oh I'm so excited I found your blog. I did laugh when I read : "After some avid googling, you adopt the Ohio State University asparagus-growing fact sheet as your bible. It's the one that says you CAN harvest in the second year."
ReplyDeleteJust before finding you I had come home with 2 plants and done exactly that! I note you have grown yours in the bags I use for potatoes, any tips on that as I don't want to plant them in the garden. Pat, Nottinghamshire
Pat - I use these bags for spuds too! They seem to be doing really well in them. Just make sure you water them! We rent, so when we eventually move on I didn't want to leave behind an established asparagus bed. When we buy a place of our own we'll plant them out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. Am worried about my potatoes in the bags at the moment as they shot up so fast and the 'lates' are about to flower! As for the Asparagus, I am going to do a couple of plants in a bag and we have decided to do a small raised bed in the garden so now I have to source a place to buy some good plants. What do you grow yours in compost wise?
ReplyDeletePat