Asparagus harvest tips

Asparagus is a wonderful, long-term addition to your patch. Usually planted in the winter from two-year-old crowns, asparagus can be planted anytime throughout the year from seed or potted plants. A long-lived perennial, asparagus plants can live for up to 20 years, with harvests improving each year as the crowns age. Asparagus grown from seed or seedlings are slower to reach harvest, as it takes time for these plants to develop their “fruiting” crown.  

Asparagus should be harvested below the soil to maintain freshness. Bearing their crop from September through October, use a sharp knife or long-handled asparagus knife to cut spears around 3-4cm below the soil surface, cutting on a 45 degree angle through the white woody stem, which helps to maintain freshness.  

Harvest spears when they are are around 15cm long. Check daily as spears will be ready on different days, and when picked and cooked fresh in the morning, their freshness and flavour will take your breakfast eggs to a whole new level.