Did you know?
Asparagus has
a reputation as an
aphrodisiac. The 17th century
herbalist Nicholas Culpeper
prescribed it boiled in wine
and eaten in the morning.
But before you start eating
asparagus for breakfast in
bed, it must be said that
this claim has never
been proven.How to grow
Asparagus (Asparagus ocinalis) is
a perennial vegetable and takes time
to reach maturity, so it needs a
permanent bed of its own where it
won’t be disturbed.
Asparagus may be grown from seed
sown in spring but is easier to grow
from two-year-old crowns, available
during winter.
◆ CLIMATE Asparagus grows best in
temperate and cold climates. Frost is
not a problem as the foliage dies down
over winter.
◆ VARIETIES ‘Mary Washington’ is
the most common variety, but there
are other good varieties such as Hybrid
UC157 which has a high yield and long
spears, and ‘Purple Paciic’ which,
unsurprisingly, has purple spears.
◆ POSITION Asparagus thrives in
a sunny, sheltered position.
◆ SOIL A rich, well-drained, light soil
makes it easy for the asparagus spears
to push through and is essential for the
roots, which will rot if drainage is not
suicient. If your soil is heav y, grow
asparagus in raised beds.
Asparagus is a heav y feeder, so dig
lots of compost or well-rotted animal
manure into the soil to at least a spade’s
depth. If your soil is acidic, add dolomite
or liquid lime to balance it.T
he name asparagus comes
from the Persian word
‘asparag’ meaning sprout.
his vegetable is a native of Europe,
north-west Africa and Iran, and is found
growing naturally on limestone clifs,
dry meadows and volcanic hillsides.
Asparagus is particularly rich in
vitamins and minerals. It also contains
a type of acid that gives some people’s
urine a distinctive smell.
Temperate and cool climate
gardeners can establish asparagus
quite easily in their vegetable gardens.
A very good reason to do this is that an
asparagus bed is a long-term investment- once established, asparagus will keep
producing for 20 years or more.
136 JULY 2018 Australian Handyman
PICTURESGETTY IMAGES(BOTTOM LEFT)CHERYL MADDOCKS