Asparagus

If you start looking, reading and talking about early spring fruits and vegetables, it doesn’t take long for someone to bring up asparagus. A few weeks ago, I noticed it was on sale in my local grocery store and looked fresher and better than ever.

With a little research I discovered that asparagus is not a fussy plant. It grows in most of the U.S. – including zone 7 were we are. It produces a fern like plant and grows wild in many areas. One source even recommended foraging for it. The closest I come to foraging to stopping by the local consignment store, so I smiled, nodded and moved on.

I started calling various local food sources. I started with the local farm cooperative and moved on the local farmers and larger managed farm projects. I even went so far as to call the county extension agent. While everyone seemed to think it was a reasonable question, no one had or knew anyone who has fresh asparagus. I think that’s very odd.

In fairness, it does take two to three years for an asparagus patch to begin production and several farms have it in their plans, but no one expects to have any this year. So, what’s girl to do? This girl grabbed a seed catalog and ordered 25 roots (1 year old) plants – shipping now. Where am I going to put them….hmmmm details, details….I’ll let you know when they get here – wish me luck!