The "leaves" are in fact needle-like cladodes (modified stems) in the axils of scale leaves; they are 6–32 mm (1 ⁄ 4 – 1 1 ⁄ 4 in) long and 1 mm (1 ⁄ 32 in) broad, and clustered four to 15 together, in a rose-like shape. And growing Asparagus is a gardening delight. Royal Melbourne Show. Asparagus can be served both raw and cooked - try it fresh in salads and salsas as well as in an endless variety of cooked dishes. NOTE: The asparagus berries are … Arrange spears in the bottom of a greased 1-1/2-qt. Asparagus is eaten with cream sauce and marinade, with meat juice, in salads, and even with fried eggs. compared to Switzerland 1.5kg and Germany 1.12kg per head. Asparágus officinalis L. is the edible shoot of the cultivated plant in the … Most common and popular variety in Australia. With rapid air It is hoped that the 2011 crop will not be affected. 3 Put a border (sleepers) around it, either 200mm or 400mm high (2 sleepers). In a small saucepan, melt butter. It is served with some stews as well. Spargel (also known as Bleichspargel―bleached asparagus) is the German word for "white asparagus." Asparagus spears are crisp, tender and flavorful. It gets its color from the high levels of anthocyanins in the plant which are high in antioxidants. Purple asparagus has sweeter thicker spears than green asparagus and is more tender due to its lower fibre content. Gradually whisk in … Cutting lasts from September through to March due to the variety of the global average. I have read, un Green asparagus is the most popular variety in Australia. ‘Atlas’ – Atlas is a vigorous variety that performs well in hot weather. Green asparagus is the most popular variety in Australia. Gardening Asparagus is care free - no maintenance. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is one of the earliest harvested vegetables each spring. The beginning of the asparagus season in Australia symbolizes the arrival of spring. 70% of Victoria's production is exported with 85% of that going to Rich and sweet in taste. Watch out for your local farmers markets for any freighting the exported asparagus can be on sale in Japan just 30 hours Prepare the soil by adding in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Medium spears are the most common size available and are usually packed into 185g bunches. During asparagus season their is pently of Asparagus Themed activity Asparagus is a delicious perennial crop that tastes all the better when picked fresh from the garden. amount of the purple variety produced in November. The standard asparagus variety in Australia is ‘Mary Washington’ but keep an eye out for ‘Connover’s Colossal’, ‘Fat Bastard’ and ‘Purple’. However, the edible stalks are harvest… But thick, wide asparagus is woody and fibrous in texture—it also has less flavor than medium-sized varieties. © 2016 Australian Asparagus Council. 01 Oct 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate) Here are my suggestions. . climates across the continent. This is one of the more common and popular varieties. Alternatively break in short lengths, and cook quickly in hot oil in a wok and sprinkle with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar. white asparagus is grown. The balance of production grows in New South Wales, the light required to turn it green. In a skillet, cook asparagus in a small amount of water until crisp-tender, about 6-8 minutes; drain. The colour comes from antioxidants in the spears. For further informatin follow this ; Dig a planting trench that goes almost to the bottom of your pre-prepared asparagus bed (15cm-20cm) and space the crowns along the base 30cm-50cm apart. the main centre. We'll keep you posted on any events we see advertised. Asparagus is available year-round, but spring is the best season for this nutritious vegetable. in the growing areas. Thick, medium and mini spears are available. Available September to November. When left to grow, asparagus grow so large, they resemble a tall fern tree. 1 Pick a spot that has sun all day. Asparagus are grown from crowns and as such one of the major care factors is to keep the area around them weed free, they do not like competition. the cutting season. Other varieties of asparagus ferns include ming fern and the more-groomed foxtail fern or Plumosa fern, an aggressive climber. All are good doers, and well worth a spot in the garden. White asparagus is seen as a delicacy. Grown in the dark, the lack of sun is why the spears don’t turn green. Culinary hints - cooking and eating Asparagus. link. Modern asparagus is derived from Asparagus officinalis. Although you can grow plants from the berries, they will take around 4 – 5 years to produce. A sunny position, preferably free from strong winds and potential competition from trees should be chosen for the permanent placing of the plants. To produce white spears, asparagus needs to be grown in the dark. Although you can grow asparagus from seed, it is usually grown from crown… In March 2010 Koo Wee Rup suffered from severe flooding during Asparagus is quite easily grown and when established, will continue to produce for 15-20 years, so it is important to allocate it its own bed, where it will not be disturbed by the comings and goings of short lived annual crops. Fun facts. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this website is correct and up to date, no representation is made or warranty given (either express or implied) as to the completeness, accuracy or currency of the information that it contains. baking dish; set aside and keep warm. A small amount of VARIETY SELECTION Potential growers will need to source an asparagus variety that has market acceptability, is suited to your local climate and, ideally, is raised organically (this is a requirement of the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce). In the field, asparagus spears are exposed to sunlight as they emerge from the soil. The spears first turn pink and later, the familiar green colour. From the Growers. Australians eat around 400g of asparagus per head after cutting. Australia is the 8th largest producer of asparagus by weight but only Purple: Purple asparagus is sweeter and slightly thicker than green and white varieties. This pale green, disease-resistant asparagus is both male and female. Remove weeds, apply compost and mulch, and your yearly maintenance is done. It's an heirloom plant and great for the garden because it's extremely hardy and produces tender, thick and straight spears - and lots of them! being grown under black tunnels of plastic denying the growing spears of Your chickens will also enjoy the fabulous health benefits of eating asparagus. Here you will find extensive information on Australian asparagus including, growing, picking, preparation, cooking and eating. The Asparagus bed will be bare until spring, and then spears of Asparagus will pop up all over the place. The plants can have small flowers or berries. We have our own Asparagus Growing Expert ready to answer any questions we can't answer so ask away. Australian Asparagus Council President, James Terry anticipates an excellent season this year. Buy many Asparagus roots this Spring and enjoy the harvest in 3 weeks. Plants are either male or female, the male plants are the ones that produce the spears, the female plants produce berries. All rights reserved. It must also be kept weed free and well mulched with pea straw or Lucerne mulch. White asparagus has long been considered a delicacy in Europe and has been grown in Australia in the past. Most of the asparagus grown is the green variety with a limited Also watch for any asparagus Twitter link Click to see full answer Also asked, how does asparagus grow in Australia? ‘UC 157’ – This is a hybrid asparagus that performs well in warmer climates. Some varieties will be more suited to processing; others to the fresh market. There are several varieties of asparagus: white, purple and green. It also has an interesting fruity flavour. This white asparagus is largley produced by All your asparagus growing questions resolved. Thick, medium and mini spears are available. Other export markets include Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. Japan where asparagus is a very popular vegetable. 95% of Australia's Asparagus is grown in Victoria with Koo Wee Rup Thick spears can be just as luscious and tender as medium spears plus they are perfect for oven roasting and the BBQ. The official website of The Australian Asparagus Council. Great recipes to enjoy. In practice these hybrids do produce about 7% female plants but the predominance of high yielding male plants is what marks them out.Examples include Guelph Millenium and Mondeo. How to grow asparagus in a garden. The former delivers thick, green shoots, while the latter is known for its long, straight spears. special cooking / tasting activities. Australians eat around 400g of asparagus per head compared to Switzerland 1.5kg and Germany 1.12kg per head. ... Blanche, boil or steam asparagus, char spears on the grill, or fry them as a side to your favourite meat, seafood or poultry dishes. By the end of May, asparagus is at the end of its season in most locations. It derives its colour from the process of photosynthesis as the spear emerges from the soil into direct sunlight. Asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant that can live and produce for many years. Steaming is traditional, then coating with melted butter or hollandaise sauce.