Author Topic: When asparagus goes mad and grow tall... (Read 2806 times)

flossie · « **on:** May 05, 2006, 23:37:46 »

...is it best to leave the tall shoots to continue growing and cut the shorter shoots to eat or should I cut the long ones too? ??? ??? ??? ???

Any good cooking ideas? Mostly do it on the griddle or in risotto? :P

tim · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2006, 05:31:43 »

How old is it?

How did the shoots get tall?

How tall?

Hollandaise!

artichoke · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2006, 11:18:52 »

Like Tim, we need to know how old the plants are? If new, let it fern up and don't eat any of it - if mature (three or four years onwards) eat the tall ones quickly to encourage others to grow.

tim · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2006, 11:39:41 »

A couple of nice ones to pass the time - just love the cook's one!

http://www.harvestfields.ca/CookBooks/001/07bkc/01/020.htm

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1603.html

artichoke · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2006, 13:06:20 »

Yes, thanks for this, Tim:

"There is no need to cut asparagus below the soil with a knife. This may injure other buds on the crown that will send up new spears. The small stub that is left in the soil after snapping, dries up and disintegrates. A new spear does not come up at the same spot, but comes up from another bud that enlarges on another part of the crown."

A manic Frenchman ran amok on my asparagus beds last year, calling for a knife and tunneling right down to the crown for each spear including my babies, only just nudging the soil up. He insisted that ANY stub left behind would rot and damage the whole plant. When I tried to explain that the English tradition was different, he shut me up with an account of his life as a child, slaving on his grandfather's asparagus farm from dawn to dusk, and HE KNEW how to do it.

tim · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2006, 13:40:08 »

I still do it - to give an unbending 'handle' to hold the spear by.

artichoke · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2006, 14:25:09 »

Really right down to the crown? Or perhaps you mean just under the surface of the soil?

saddad · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2006, 14:55:29 »

Just noticed we have half a dozen 5" shoots, there was nothing there th other day!
:)

tim · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2006, 15:41:45 »

Sorry - repeating myself here, but a couple of inches under. And with a thin serrated knife.

flossie · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2006, 18:56:20 »

Hello all

Thanks for the links, picture and advice.

The plants and 4-5 years old and are getting as tall as a foot or more as I don't get down to the plot as regularly as I should.

~I take it that I need to cut them down to encourage more growth.

Have tried cutting them below ground level but often cut off other tips.

caroline7758 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2006, 13:01:09 »

We cut some about 10" high yesterday- just as yummy as the smaller ones! Don't know how I'm going to make myself stop cutting in a few weeks' time! :(

Meg · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2006, 17:41:42 »

Oh Tim thrown me in a quandry now with all that info!! I have just come back from cutting my asparagus. I know I have planted them far too close together but I did put some manure on which was good. Third year so am waiting my bumper crop. There was a piece on country file this morning so ma n pa (why don't they repeat that at a better time) are looking for their tips as they now know how expensive it is.

luckystar · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2006, 20:14:32 »

Hi. I planted some last year and today... we have our first (hopefully not solitary) spear! Last year was the first time in my life I ever planted anything edible so I am very proud of this beautiful spear. We are a family of five so we will have to draw lots for it (we could divide it into 5 of course).

Can I share a simple traditional Italian way to serve asparagus that we really love:

1Steam asparagus. 2Fry sunny-side up eggs (or poach). 3Grate fresh parmesan.

Butter the asparagus. Place the eggs on top of the asparagus and sprinkle freshly grated parmesan.

It probably sounds odd, but it is delicious. I hope you will try it.

flossie · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2006, 21:41:49 »

Sounds great - thank you - I have put it on the list for the "catering manager"

dlmartin1972 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2006, 12:40:17 »

made a soup with the woody ends the other day, it was yummy, and uses the bits that would normally go on the heap......

saddad · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2006, 21:12:01 »

That reminds me I have another 6-8 spears ready yesterday, I hate to think how tall they will be by the time I get in tomorrow if it is as nice a day as today!
;D
Well reminded me and that beer are just on our way to cut some....
;D

grotbag · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2006, 21:47:07 »

lucky star you dont say how old your asparagus is,but you should only pick a little in its 3rd year,you can start picking what u like in 4th year

luckystar · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2006, 16:23:20 »

Hi grotbag,

I planted them in last year, left them untouched.

I haven't actually 'harvested' the lonely asparagus spear yet which is getting pretty tall now because I'm still undecided...I read a study on the internet that says cutting now should encourage sprouting. I don't know what to do.

I also have that first year strawberry greed dilemma.

??? ::) :)

flossie · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2006, 21:31:20 »

Quote from: dlmartin1972 on May 10, 2006, 12:40:17

made a soup with the woody ends the other day, it was yummy, and uses the bits that would normally go on the heap......

hi Dlm - sounds good

What else went into your soup?

dlmartin1972 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2006, 08:32:26 »

Fried off some onion (about half a small one), celery (small handful) and garlic (one clove) in a little olive oil and butter. Chopped up the woody ends of the asparagus and added these, fried for a few minutes…

Then half a pint of chicken/veg stock, simmer a few minutes. Wizz with a hand blender, and add some black pepper.

Really nice, fresh soup and with the asparagus that would have ended up on the heap!!!

Regards,

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Author Topic: When asparagus goes mad and grow tall... (Read 2806 times)