I have always wanted to grow asparagus – but it is a long term deal. It is fairly expensive to start (if you buy 2 year old crowns rather than seed) and you need a permanent bed. These were factors which put me off initially. But I got sucked in by an article in Subtropical Gardening (see sidebar) which says asparagus is easy to grow and suited to our climate. When the Green Harvest catalogue arrived with asparagus crowns for sale (note: for sale not on sale!) I could not resist. I accidentally clicked on a few other things on the oh-so-easy to use online shopping site. So I am eagerly awaiting the postal delivery of:
- Asparagus (25 two year old crowns – $75. Gulp – I hope they don’t all die)
- Yacon (rhizomes)
- comfrey (5 root sets)
- Jerusalem artichokes (tubers)
- cherry/strawberry guava (seed)
- Jicama/climbing bean
- rosella (edible hibiscus, not bird)
- cucumber Mid East prolific
- luffa/vegetable sponge
Today I am ripping out spent plants, harvesting the cabbages and other brassicas that are about to bolt now the weather is warming up. I will be haunting the acreage gates looking for cheap horse poo (horse owners seem to have caught on and want an absolute fortune for the shit J ). I hope to have the new asparagus bed ready by dinner time. Will I get it done? All bets are off.
If you want to be inspired to turn your lawn into a food forest check out Happy Earth. I am vacillating between inspired and insanely jealous.
Well, you could always get your own horse so you’d have your own supply. :) I planted asparagus this spring. No sign of it at the moment, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come back. I think I’m going to try from seed next spring.
Comment by Deb G — August 18, 2009 @ 11:58 am
I hope it grows well, fresh asparagus is soooo delicious
Comment by Jane — August 18, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
Wish you were here so I could guarantee you a supply of manure for the girls’ riding stable. My mother grew asparagus in our backyard when I was growing up, although I don’t ever remember eating it – I probably didn’t like it at the time. I do remember it being moist back there, so I imagine you will need to water your crop.
I forgot to mention on your last post that I have had lots of strange looks over the use of the word thongs here in the US – in Canada we use it the same way you do. In fact some days, I wonder if I am speaking the same language as the people around me.
Comment by Margaret Henderson — August 20, 2009 @ 7:57 am
[...] course I picked the start of the winter heat wave to plant the 25 asparagus plants, start trays of seeds of summer veg (snake beans, zucchini, okra, eggplant, corn [...]
Pingback by Spring « Creating A (Food) Forest — September 6, 2009 @ 8:17 am