Word has gotten around that cutting asparagus is tedious work. Even in commercial cultivation, harvesting has to be done by hand. Green asparagus is simply cut off above the ground, white asparagus is harvested by so-called piercing.
How do I prick asparagus correctly?
When cutting asparagus, white asparagus is cut low and green asparagus is cut just above the ground. Harvest white asparagus before the head breaks through the wall and pierce twice daily, early in the morning and in the afternoon. Use a sharp asparagus knife, asparagus trowel, gloves and a harvest basket with a cover.
Tool for piercing asparagus
If you have only planted a small amount of asparagus in your home garden, it is hardly worth buying the right tools for harvesting the asparagus. A sharp knife and a trowel will do the trick too.
If you grow asparagus on a larger scale, the right tools will serve you well. You need:
- A curved, sharp asparagus knife
- Asparagus ladle
- Gloves
- Harvest basket with cover
How is asparagus cut?
As soon as cracks appear on the top of the wall, there is an asparagus spear ready to be harvested underneath. With your fingers spread, go as far down the bar as possible and carefully expose it.
Cut the rod far down, place it in the basket and cover it.
Using the asparagus trowel, the resulting hole is immediately filled with soil again and tapped into place. Only on a smooth surface can you tell when a new rod is maturing.
The best time to cut asparagus
Asparagus sprouts quickly in warm temperatures. Therefore, prick twice a day, preferably in the morning and in the afternoon.
Harvest white asparagus in good time before the head has pushed through the wall, otherwise it will discolor. If it is not cut, it forms above-ground stems that bear flowers in summer.
Harvesting green asparagus
Green asparagus does not need to be pricked. It is cut off just above the ground with a sharp knife.
When is asparagus season?
The asparagus season usually begins in the second half of April. After very mild winters, most asparagus varieties are ready to harvest earlier. They begin their growth when the soil temperature has risen to twelve degrees.
The season traditionally ends on June 24th, St. John's Day. After this date, the asparagus may no longer be harvested to allow the plant to recover.
Tips & Tricks
So that you can pierce your asparagus earlier, cover the earth walls with dark foil. It stores the sun's heat and thereby warms the ground. The asparagus will then grow faster.