The First True Leaves are growing on the Asparagus Peas.
The two large cotyledon leaves are still bright green, but the first true leaves are now developing – 29 days after planting the asparagus pea seeds.
Germination has been about 33% – disappointing , but only to be expected after the 2007 Which report.
The asparagus pea seedlings were transplanted into ‘root trainers’ and placed in the poly-tunnel. Something has eaten one cotyledon (the seed leaf), so a close watch will have to be taken for pests from now on.
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asparagus-fern
Stop cutting asparagus before the longest day in June, so that the spears can develop into fern. The fern will produce food for the root crowns,which acts as a food reserve for next year’s crop.
* remove weeds by hand to keep the asparagus bed clean
* provide support for the stems if necessary
* water during dry weather
* remove berries before they fall off the asparagus fern onto the ground
* cut down the asparagus fern in the autumn when it turns yellow
The asparagus peas have grown vigorously in the last week and they are
now flowering.
flower-asparagus-pea
flowering-asparagus-pea
The brick red pea-like flowers make them a very attractive part of the
vegetable garden.
asparagus-peas-flowering
The asparagus peas were sown on 10th April. TopVeg has not grown the asparagus pea before and is our entry for the Growing Challenge
Harvest should not be too far away now that the asparagus peas are
flowering.
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fresh-picked-asparagus
A basket of fresh picked asparagus is a real luxury. These spears are a
Dutch hybrid variety called Gjinlim. This is their third year, so they
are just coming into their prime.
Asparagus should not be cut in the first two years, to allow the roots
to build up in the bed.
Click on these photos to enlarge them:
asparagus-spears2
asparagus-spears
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