Americans just do not get white asparagus

[digitS']

I feel left-out by having so few perennials of anything, including asparagus.

Still, that's the way it is with Gardening On Other People's Property (GOOP). One shouldn't risk outstaying his or her welcome, or his or her plants' welcome.

I have read that because of the nature of asparagus growth, fields of the crop receive very high rates of herbicides to suppress weeds. There are organic approaches. One that I came across recently was the planting of oats in the fall. Oat plants winter-kill and so will not compete with the asparagus but form a mulch instead.

Here is another idea: White asparagus kept under black plastic until they are harvested. When the required number of spears have been taken, the plastic is pulled off and the plants are allowed to grow. No weeds up until that time.

Here are some pictures and a little story in the NYTimes on harvesting and preparing asparagus in France: White Asparagus, Frances Spring Treat (link).

Steve

 

[lesa]

I always feel like white asparagus doesn't have the same nutritional components of green. I have no science to back that up- just green seems healthier. For the home garden, I do not find asparagus to be any trouble at all. I grow mine in a couple of raised beds, that the asparagus shares with cilantro and oregano. I do minimal weeding- and find asparagus to be the most delicious veggie we grow...and it is super early. I will be picking my first batch tomorrow! If you have a tiny space to try it, Steve, I would highly recommend it.

 

[baymule]

White asparagus........never seen any. It would be cool to stick white asparagus in a glass of water with food coloring added to see if it would change colors like celery does. Blue asparagus would be pretty.

 

[seedcorn]

To me, white means enemic. May be sweeter but give me green.

 

[MontyJ]

Maybe it's the French that don't get green asparagus. I like the nutty flavor my asparagus has. If I want sweet, I'll eat a strawberry. I owuld like to try the blue asparagus thing though.

 

[digitS']

I'd imagine that the white is less nutritious. It seems to be true when broccoli and cauliflower are compared.

If weeds are a big problem sans herbicides, and that certainly seems to be the case for the asparagus farmers, maybe covering the growing area with black plastic for several months would help.

If weeds are not a problem . . .

Steve

 

[Carol Dee]

Most of our asparagus grows in the fence lie along with grass and weeds. No Problem. Makes hunting for it kind a like a treasure hunt.

 

[vfem]

I wonder how asparagus would do if you kind of lasagna gardened with it. Each year, layer mulched leaves and compost and just keep building it up to fight the weeds? The need all that nutrition anyways!

I think I'm going to try to plant some more asparagus. I put in at least 8 plants this year, and I am sure 2 didn't make it, and 2 are questionable. 4-6 plants will never produce much for us. I want to get as many as I can into a 2'x12' raised bed.

 

[bj taylor]

my asparagus growing is quite limited. I have two whiskey barrel halves. so that's not much weeding.

 

[ninnymary]

bjtaylor, you answered my question, whether it can be grown in a container. How much do those 2 barrels produce? Enough for 2 people? I love asparagus but was wondering if one barrel would be worth the effort.

Mary