It is a perenial plant, meaning that it will come back every year. It takes about 2-3 years before we were able to harvest a crop from our fields but a single asparagus plant can provide a harvest for up to 20 years!
Asparagus is planted from crowns or 1-2 year old plants.
We know the asparagus is ready to harvest when the diameter is thicker than a #2 pencil.
Asparagus season for New Jersey begins in late May and ends in mid-late June.
The thickness of the spear does NOT dictate the woodyness of the plant. The closer wrapped the tops of the asparagus are the more tender the plant will be.
At the end of last season, when the spears become the diameter of a #2 pencil, we allow the plants to go to seed so they could come back next year.
The following spring we will then mow off the asparagus that has gone to seed. In its place new asparagus will then grow next year.
The best way to keep asparagus is to give the bottoms of the spears a fresh cut and place them in a glass with water and put them in the fridge.
Use within 4-5 days for maximum tenderness.
Check out our next blog entry for a tasty recipe using our fresh asparagus!
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