When the asparagus fern turns yellow, it is time to tidy up the Asparagus bed. The asparagus fern should be left on the plant if it is still green, as it is still feeding the asparagus crowns.
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When the fern has turned yellowy-brown from the base upwards, it is time for it to go.
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- The ferns are cut down to the base
- Cart the cut stems away to the compost heap
- Clearing it all away will reduce the risk of carrying over disease to next year
- Apply a mulch of well-rotted manure to the cleared bed
Click this link to buy some spring planting asparagus crowns.
The mild autumn means that the annual tidy up of the asparagus bed will be later than normal.
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Babbington’s leeks (Latin name - Allium ampeloprasum babbingtonii ) are an interesting perennial vegetable.
The leek leaves grow from bulbs in January until the leaves die down in late summer. The bulbs multiply, causing the clump to spread. The bulbs come up year after year making this a perennial vegetable which needs a permanent site.
BulbsBabingtonLeeks
But the peculiarity of Babbington’s leeks is that when they push up a flower stalk in late summer, bulbils develop on the flower head. These bulbils drop off onto the ground and grow into bulbs.
BabingtonLeeks
The photo of the flower head shows the light green bulbils.
Babbington’s leeks are useful in the kitchen because the green leaves can be cut in January.
The leaves may be eaten:
- raw when young – in salads
- boiled (long & slow) when mature – as they become quite fibrous
The bulbs & bulbils:
- are eaten as a substitute for garlic
- may be eaten raw or cooked
- the bulbs are hotter
Kevin in Cornwall has kindly sent us both bulbs and bulbils of Babbington’s leeks. We have planted some out into well drained soil in a sunny spot. But have also planted some in pots and will plant these out when conditions allow in the spring.
He says “It may be a couple of seasons before the Babbington’s Leeks produce flower heads, when bulbs will be big enough for garlic, and bulbils to start again”.
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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
