WHEN SPEARS APPEAR
Asparagus is a delicacy that can be grown in the garden if you have dedication, lots of restraint and a bit of space. The edible part is the tender new shoot that appears like a green spear pointing out of the soil. It’s easy to miss the first shoots of fresh asparagus, so keep a close watch on the bed in late winter and early spring. Unharvested shoots quickly become woody and unpalatable. The ideal size is 10–20cm long.
The spears mature into tall, slender stems up to 1.5m high with ferny green leaves. In summer, they may produce yellow flowers followed by berries.
