I am hoping to have my very first asparagus from my own garden this summer. They are coming up on time though look rather spindly. Don't know if they will fatten up or not as they grow. Suspect maybe not, in which case they will just be let to mature til next year.

We planted a few plants two years ago, and a few more plants last year. We harvested lightly last week. Yummy! Looking forward to many years of tasty asparagus.

Karen

Asparagus might be my favorite vegetable and I love it prepared in the same way you mention, Leon! I also like it pickled when I can find it; I never have enough extra to pickle it myself.

Thanks for spotlighting this great veggie!

Luck with yours Mary Stella, I hope they outgrow their spindly-ness.

So what determines whether the spears are fat or skinny? I like fat ones (more to eat...) and most of ours are pretty fat this year. But some are skinny?

Karen

Mary Stella & Sharon, I am so glad to have company in the favor of asparagus. It has always been a favorite, but I don't like it steamed & mushy. My old black cast iron skillet is a favorite method of preparation. Karen, I like to scatter handfuls of 12-12-12 fertilizer over the beds in March then allow the snow and rain do their work. This helps make thicker, larger spears. I also like to work in some rotted cow manure when available. We now have some chickens so that will aid our fertilizer supply down the road. Those spindly spears will disappear in time. It takes a couple years for them to establish.

I like asparagus, but don't know how well it would do, here. And I am just now dipping toe tips in vegetable growing, so I'd probably kill them off quickly at this point.

My attempts to grow asparagus didn't go so well the first time around but I should consider trying again. I will have to try them as you cook them, sounds tasty. I just fry fresh spears in butter and wish they were morels. They're close, far better than the canned stuff from the supermarket.

But I buy and eat those too.

Thanks, Leon.

I usually use a little olive oil and pepper on them, then broil or grill. I love them that way. But my favorite way is just raw and crisp.

Karen

Enjoyed the article and it made me hungry! That dish looks so good

I don't get fresh asparagus very often, but I know it is very delicious! I've seen it grow wild on the ditches around here, so I guess someone planted it on purpose, maybe.

Vickie, We see asparagus along the back roads up here too. I think either the wind blows the seeds or birds carry them and nature does the rest. If I find a "wild" patch I never let it go to waste. Tastes just as good as home-grown.

BTW Happy Mothers' Day to all the Moms out there!

We prefer the smaller (in diameter) asparagus and just steam it with a bit of salt. Al dente!! I will eat canned asparagus out of the can but DH doesn't like them 'soft and mushy'. I just love the flavor.

Oh, dear. Now see what you've done? I didn't know they'd grow here! Fine. Now I have to find a place to plant some! Hmmm, can I stick them in between the flowers?

Of course you can, woofie. Put it in back where the tall, airy foliage of the asparagus will complement the shorter flowers in front--just make sure to leave a 'reachway' to get at the asparagus.

Anyone grow these from seed?

Surely you jest. I have tried for three years just go grow from starts and finally succeeded two years ago. I am thrilled to have them anyway I can get them.

So, you're saying, just ignore those websites that claim, "you'll get much hardier plants if you start them from seeds?" Heh.

Oh, I never saw those ads for asparagus. I just assumed (and you know what that makes me) that they would be very difficult to germinate and get to a nice seedling condition. Just kept doing the same stupid thing over and over with almost the same result. Hmmmmm. There is a name for that.

I bought the roots. Easy Seemed like since it takes years to get a harvest even from roots, I might not live long enough to taste them from seeds.

Woofie, they do need space. And if you're going to plant with flowers, be aware that the asparagus ferns will get about 5 feet tall.

Karen

Hmmmm. Very good point. I suppose I may have considered that also. Plus I wasn't all that convinced they would really grow and thrive here.

I filled another bit pot with aforementioned mixture and put some spinach and Red Salad Bowl Lettuce starts in it. Hoping the soil will be warmer up higher from the ground and protected from the slugs. Guess the dahlias will just have to look out for themselves and go into the ground. Vegies come first.

I was wondering about that, Karen. I'm assuming they spread underground? I have a LOT of fence line where they could happily grow tall at the back. Might be fun to at least try a few.