Asparagus??

[purr]

Question for you DU gardeners..

Is it true you have to wait 5 years after planting for an edible crop to come in? Someones arguing with me about it and I dont think shes right.

I LOOOOVE this stuff.. especially put in a hot oven with salt and olive oil and baked.. mmmmmm.....

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I love asparagus drizzled with apple cider vinegar...but I have

no answer to the question. :hi:

[purr]

2. ooooo.....

do you cook them first?

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Yes. I steam them and then put the vinegar over them.

:hi:

[Goathead]

6. I don't have a taste for asparagus

But I think I should like to try that.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I did not like asparagus until I tried them this way.

I love asparagus now. :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I have always heard 3 years.

But maybe there are different varieties.

[TexasProgresive]

4. It might not take 5 years

but it is a perennial that takes some time to mature.

Here's an informative site:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1603.html

[morningglory]

5. They say do not break the spears off for the first 3 years.

A lot of roots say "3-yr-old roots". We planted some 3 years ago and every spring these pitiful little ferns popped up. This year a nice bush popped up. I guess if we start looking for the little spears we could eat them this year.

[madaboutharry]

7. I make asparagus roasted

with olive oil, sea salt, and ground pepper along with shallots and a little fresh garlic. It is so good.

[Kali]

8. 2 to 3

but don't harvest too heavily the first years. Need lots of good soil - organic matter. YUM.

[purr]

12. Like cow poo?

or compost?

I got damn good soil here.. its even black. So I know its good.. makes one hell of a tomato :)

[Kali]

13. yep, here

a good page from a quick googling:

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/asparagus1.html

[purr]

15. I know to search :)

just wanted some opinions from someone who did it personally :)

[amazona]

9. I bought 2 year olds and waited another 2 years

So that is 4 years. It might depend on your climate or the variety planted. I did start some from seeds years ago and moved away before they ever grew to be anything but ferns. Start with the plants unless you're really patient.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[leftofthedial]

14. I don't know how to ask this delicately

Why does asparagus make your pee smell funny?

[purr]

16. eww

I've never noticed it...

[amazona]

17. chemical called mercaptan

There's more information about it here:

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/43/1671_51089

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72