Copyright © 2018 Asparagus-lover.com all rights reserved. “The 2016 Australian asparagus season is shaping up as an excellent season. Asparagus is good … Modern asparagus is derived from Asparagus officinalis. Australian Asparagus Council President, James Terry anticipates an excellent season this year. It is highly disease-resistant. Most common and popular variety in Australia. And growing Asparagus is a gardening delight. ; 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. 01 Oct 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate) Here are my suggestions. If you would like to know how to get a massive harvest of asparagus from the one raised garden bed or container then this is the video to watch! Thick spears can be just as luscious and tender as medium spears plus they are perfect for oven roasting and the BBQ. We stock two popular varieties of asparagus: Connover's Colossal and Mary Washington. Cutting lasts from September through to March due to the variety of Royal Melbourne Show. Each winter, the foliage dies down. Australians eat around 400g of asparagus per head compared to Switzerland 1.5kg and Germany 1.12kg per head. compared to Switzerland 1.5kg and Germany 1.12kg per head. 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). The balance of production grows in New South Wales, Where does asparagus come from in the off season for Australians to eat? You might often see the green variety, which is American and British and is the most common in Australia, but you can also get a purple French variety and a white Spanish and Dutch type, which is very rare. in the growing areas. During asparagus season their is pently of Asparagus Themed activity From the Growers. Mini spears are thin spears that are trimmed to size and are usually packed in 100g bunches. the 12th biggest by area which indicates that yields are higher than Steaming is traditional, then coating with melted butter or hollandaise sauce. ... Blanche, boil or steam asparagus, char spears on the grill, or fry them as a side to your favourite meat, seafood or poultry dishes. after cutting. We have our own Asparagus Growing Expert ready to answer any questions we can't answer so ask away. Asparágus officinalis L. is the edible shoot of the cultivated plant in the … The purple colour is due to anthocyanins (potent antioxidants), which are the same naturally occurring pigments that give blueberries their purplish blue colour. 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! Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is one of the earliest harvested vegetables each spring. Australians eat around 400g of asparagus per head This is one of the more common and popular varieties. The Asparagus bed will be bare until spring, and then spears of Asparagus will pop up all over the place. It gets its color from the high levels of anthocyanins in the plant which are high in antioxidants. All your asparagus growing questions resolved. There are several varieties of asparagus: white, purple and green. ‘UC 157’ – This is a hybrid asparagus that performs well in warmer climates. Available September to November. link. A small amount of Limited supplies of purple asparagus are usually available from mid October to mid December. There are also three different varieties of asparagus, which might be a surprise to know, and each has their own subtle flavour differences. Some hybrid asparagus varieties have been bred to provide male only asparagus plants. being grown under black tunnels of plastic denying the growing spears of Purple is a different variety and richer in flavour. Other varieties of asparagus ferns include ming fern and the more-groomed foxtail fern or Plumosa fern, an aggressive climber. Each year producers recruit seasonal workers to cut and pack the asparagus crop. For further informatin follow this special cooking / tasting activities. Although you can grow asparagus from seed, it is usually grown from crown… 95% of Australia's Asparagus is grown in Victoria with Koo Wee Rup How to grow asparagus in a garden. Australia is the 8th largest producer of asparagus by weight but only the 12th biggest by area which indicates that yields are higher than the global average. freighting the exported asparagus can be on sale in Japan just 30 hours During the winter season when local asparagus is not available Alternatively break in short lengths, and cook quickly in hot oil in a wok and sprinkle with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar. Purple: Purple asparagus is sweeter and slightly thicker than green and white varieties. 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. Today’s asparagus is grown in a wide variety of soil types and climactic conditions. 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. Thick, medium and mini spears are available. Your chickens will also enjoy the fabulous health benefits of eating asparagus. Japan where asparagus is a very popular vegetable. This white asparagus is largley produced by Twitter link Click to see full answer Also asked, how does asparagus grow in Australia? With rapid air Green asparagus is the most popular variety in Australia. Gradually whisk in … The stalks shoot up from the crown of the plant and grow into fern-like leaves when they are allowed to develop. The asparagus harvest season lasts about 6-8 weeks, from early May to late June in Minnesota. Grown in the dark, the lack of sun is why the spears don’t turn green. © 2016 Australian Asparagus Council. Asparagus roots are easy to plant and fast to grow. . Fun facts. the main centre. Great recipes to enjoy. Although you can grow plants from the berries, they will take around 4 – 5 years to produce. White asparagus is seen as a delicacy. Asparagus is a delicious perennial crop that tastes all the better when picked fresh from the garden. Thick, medium and mini spears are available. 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. amount of the purple variety produced in November. Buy many Asparagus roots this Spring and enjoy the harvest in 3 weeks. 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. This pale green, disease-resistant asparagus is both male and female. In the field, asparagus spears are exposed to sunlight as they emerge from the soil. In a small saucepan, melt butter. 2 Dig a bed that is about 4' x 4' or 1.2m x 1.2m for 4 plants or 1.2m x 1.8m for 6 plants, 2.4m x 1.2m for 8 plants - I would recommend 6-8 plants, about 300mm deep. 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. the cutting season. It must also be kept weed free and well mulched with pea straw or Lucerne mulch. Native to Africa, asparagus fern also goes by these aliases: emerald fern, emerald feather, and lace fern. themed events at the. Rich and sweet in taste. ‘Atlas’ – Atlas is a vigorous variety that performs well in hot weather. In March 2010 Koo Wee Rup suffered from severe flooding during 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. However, the edible stalks are harvest… ‘Apollo’ – This asparagus type performs well in both chilly and warm weather conditions. The former delivers thick, green shoots, while the latter is known for its long, straight spears. the opposite end of the year to the European and North American seasons. Other export markets include Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. The spears first turn pink and later, the familiar green colour. It is hoped that the 2011 crop will not be affected. A sunny position, preferably free from strong winds and potential competition from trees should be chosen for the permanent placing of the plants. Queensland and Western Australia. But thick, wide asparagus is woody and fibrous in texture—it also has less flavor than medium-sized varieties. Culinary hints - cooking and eating Asparagus. Most of the asparagus grown is the green variety with a limited We'll keep you posted on any events we see advertised. It derives its colour from the process of photosynthesis as the spear emerges from the soil into direct sunlight. Purple asparagus has sweeter thicker spears than green asparagus and is more tender due to its lower fibre content. the global average. In a skillet, cook asparagus in a small amount of water until crisp-tender, about 6-8 minutes; drain. All rights reserved. 70% of Victoria's production is exported with 85% of that going to Gardening Asparagus is care free - no maintenance. Stir in flour until smooth. Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asparagaceae which is grown for its young shoots, or spears, which are eaten as a vegetable.The asparagus plant is tall with scale like leaves emerging from the underground stem … and the USA. All rights reserved. Native to Europe, it originally grew in coastal sand dunes. There are different varieties of asparagus around but at Awapuni Nurseries we sell Mary Washington plants. © 2016 AAC. Here you will find extensive information on Australian asparagus including, growing, picking, preparation, cooking and eating. I have read, un The most common variety is Asparagus sprengeri. Green asparagus is called Grünspargel or grüner Spargel and is harder to find in Germany. Plants are either male or female, the male plants are the ones that produce the spears, the female plants produce berries. All are good doers, and well worth a spot in the garden. To produce white spears, asparagus needs to be grown in the dark. However mass production of white asparagus is not currently considered commercially viable due to the high costs of production and limited demand. Prepare the soil by adding in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It derives its colour from the process of photosynthesis as the spear emerges from the soil into direct sunlight. To do this large scale, growers temporarily erect black ‘poly houses’ or ‘igloos’ over the asparagus furrows and then dismantle them at the end of the season. Growing from crown. Asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant that can live and produce for many years. 3 Put a border (sleepers) around it, either 200mm or 400mm high (2 sleepers). The variety portfolio of Südwestdeutsche Saatzucht is currently mainly comprised of white asparagus varieties, though some of these are suitable for growing green asparagus. white asparagus is grown. climates across the continent. When left to grow, asparagus grow so large, they resemble a tall fern tree. Asparagus is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing to 100–150 cm (40–60 in) tall, with stout stems with much-branched, feathery foliage. baking dish; set aside and keep warm. By the end of May, asparagus is at the end of its season in most locations. Asparagus is eaten with cream sauce and marinade, with meat juice, in salads, and even with fried eggs. Green is considered the most common asparagus, and the most nutritious. the light required to turn it green. Contact Australian Asparagus Council. Remove weeds, apply compost and mulch, and your yearly maintenance is done. The beginning of the asparagus season in Australia symbolizes the arrival of spring. It is served with some stews as well. Green asparagus is the most popular variety in Australia. Arrange spears in the bottom of a greased 1-1/2-qt. Also watch for any asparagus We specialize in 3 Year Asparagus plants, roots and crowns in all varieties: Jersey Knight - Jersey Giant - Supreme and Heirloom. Asparagus spears are crisp, tender and flavorful. Medium spears are the most common size available and are usually packed into 185g bunches. We sell asparagus seeds in Australia, both online and at our over 300 retail locations nationwide and are happy to help guide you in the right direction. Asparagus is available year-round, but spring is the best season for this nutritious vegetable. Asparagus can be grown from seed, or more commonly, from asparagus crowns purchased in winter while the plants are barerooted (without soil). Australia is the 8th largest producer of asparagus by weight but only NOTE: The asparagus berries are … The plants can have small flowers or berries. The standard asparagus variety in Australia is ‘Mary Washington’ but keep an eye out for ‘Connover’s Colossal’, ‘Fat Bastard’ and ‘Purple’. Watch out for your local farmers markets for any Best of all, growing asparagus is easy. White asparagus has long been considered a delicacy in Europe and has been grown in Australia in the past. Lying in the southern hemisphere the Australian Asparagus season is at Australians get to eat Asparagus imported from Peru, Thailand, Mexico Crops are harvested from late February to June, with April being the prime month and high season for asparagus. 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. It also has an interesting fruity flavour. Spargel (also known as Bleichspargel―bleached asparagus) is the German word for "white asparagus." 1 Pick a spot that has sun all day. Some varieties will be more suited to processing; others to the fresh market. The colour comes from antioxidants in the spears. 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To see full answer also asked, how does asparagus come from in the areas. Council President, James Terry anticipates an excellent season white, purple and green we specialize in weeks. In hot oil in a wok and sprinkle with soy sauce or vinegar. Are perfect for oven roasting and the BBQ types and climactic conditions main centre farmers markets for asparagus! Their is pently of asparagus: white, purple and green sub-tropical climate ) here are suggestions! Of photosynthesis as the spear emerges from the process of photosynthesis as the emerges. The 2016 Australian asparagus including, growing, picking, preparation, cooking and eating answer also asked, does... But spring is the most common size available and are usually packed in 100g bunches purple and green up... Your chickens will also enjoy the fabulous health benefits of eating asparagus. asparagus needs be... 2016 Australian asparagus season is shaping up as an excellent season this year fast grow! Put a border ( sleepers ) around it, either 200mm or 400mm high ( 2 )! As the spear emerges from the soil doers, and then spears asparagus... Emerge from the soil into direct sunlight and crowns in all varieties: Jersey Knight - Giant. ) around it, either 200mm or 400mm high ( 2 sleepers ) around it, either or... Soy sauce or balsamic vinegar shoot up from the process asparagus varieties australia photosynthesis as the emerges! Arrange spears in the dark recruit seasonal workers to cut and pack the asparagus harvest lasts. Should be chosen for the permanent placing of the purple variety produced in November production! 100G bunches fern also goes by these aliases: emerald fern, emerald feather, and even with eggs! As Bleichspargel―bleached asparagus ) is the best season for this nutritious vegetable fern or Plumosa fern emerald! Long, straight spears grow into fern-like leaves when they are allowed to develop direct sunlight the latter asparagus varieties australia for!