Did anyone else read the featured article about growing asparagus? I've been growing it for years and always get plenty, but found this statement in the article interesting:
"In spring, instead of harvesting all the spears as they emerge from the soil, let the first three large spears per crown grow to ferns. Then begin harvesting the other spears as they emerge. By leaving the first three spears, the crown is being constantly fed by these ferns, so you can harvest asparagus weeks longer than normal"
I've never heard/read that advice before and think I'll give it a try with at least part of my patch; I think it will make the following spears a bit more difficult to harvest, having to work around the tall stalks, but can see how this could be a good practice in terms of the health of the crown.
