"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Sue da Nimm
.? writes
I've just had my wrist slapped for cutting asparagus spears with
secateurs.
My neighbour says I should pull the spears to avoid leaving a stump.
But Marshalls catalogue offers an asparagus knife to cut the spears below
the surface.
What is the right way?

The Marshalls way. I don't think you could pull them without doing
damage. If you don't have an asparagus knife you can take a sharp
kitchen knife, slide it gently down the side of the spear (this is to
avoid nicking any still-buried spears on the way down) then tilt it and
cut about 2 inches underground.

I'm not quite sure why you cut underground since the white (underground)
bit is usually too tough, and I can't see any logical reason why cutting
at the soil surface would be a problem. But whatever you do, don't just
tug! ;-)

I remember reading somewhere ages ago that leaving a visible above ground
stump can let in disease, which can then propagate through to the roots. So
it's best to cut below the soil, then the wound is covered I guess.
Duncan

p.s. It always amazes me how many crowns people say you need. I have five
crowns in a bed about 7foot long by 18inches wide, and it provides my wife
and myself with a lovely starter, maybe 7 or 8 spears about a dozen times
before mid-June.

I guess if I wanted 20 spears each, or wanted it twice a week, or ate the
spears when they were "baby" and almost tasteless then I'd need more. I do
find though that spears that are almost at the point of opening have the
very best flavour and are still tender enough to really enjoy. These baby
things in supermarkets are just so bland.


Could your neighbour have got confused with rhubarb?

Oh, and also ... I always leave the first spear to grow and then pick the
subsequent spears until the end of May.
So, already, the first spears are a metre tall. Is this the right way, or
should I pick so that the spears stay short until the end of the season
and
then let 'em grow?

It's usually done that way round - cut everything that appears until
about mid June, thenafter leave everything. If you're stopping picking
at the end of may then there's certainly no reason why you shouldn't
just pick everything.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm