Asparagus has long been considered the ultimate gourmet vegetable, thanks to its delicious taste and delicate texture. However, shop-bought spears are expensive, so why not try growing your own by planting ready-grown crowns in April? Here's how.
Growing asparagus
What to do
Choose a sheltered, sunny spot and ensure the soil is free-draining
Prepare beds for planting in the autumn, by removing weeds and digging in plenty of well-rotted manure. A week before planting in the spring, fork in some general fertiliser granules.
To plant, dig a trench 20cm deep by 30cm wide, and add a 10cm mound of soil running down the length of the trench.
Place crowns, 30cm apart, on top of the mound and spread roots out either side. Cover crowns with 5cm of fine soil, which has been sifted through a riddle or sieve to remove clods. As stems grow, gradually fill the trench with soil - it should be completely full by autumn.
Avoid harvesting spears for two years after planting and allow ferny stems to develop. Cut these to 5cm above the ground in autumn.
To harvest, cut spears when they are 12cm long, removing them with a serrated knife, 7cms beneath the soil.
