“ Olive oil … asparagus … if your mother was n’t so fancy we could shop at the gas station like normal people . ” — Homer Simpson
I , like Marge Simpson , have always been a buff of asparagus . Even as a youngster , I sleep together it . Yet for some intellect , I ’ve never attempted to produce it … until now .
in the main , the deterrent was lack of secured space . I do n’t really have elbow room in the Fortress Garden for a layer of the size I would want to establish an appropriate supply , but now that we have put up a fair good circumference fence , I am preparing to venture outside of the Fortress Garden to progress the mega - bed that will contain enough asparagus plants to flow my asparagus - lovin’ crew , and hopefully , render enough spear carrier so I can make and freeze asparagus soup , quiche and the like .
The smart people on the cosmopolitan webway seem to concur on the calculations for set : one plant life per square substructure , 10 plants per mortal . Because the son one is away at college and the girl one just stares at me blankly when I hint she deplete dinner at home , I ’m last to go for 30 plants : 10 for me , 10 for Danny and 10 for extras . This means I need a 30 - square - foot bed .
Fortunately , I still have a lot of timber go forth over from my first-rate - thrifty purchase onCraigslistof 100 redwood fence boards for only $ 3 each . I used a band to build the beds for the Fortress Garden , but I still have plenty left to work up a big ol’ asparagus bed . I shall call it “ The Bed of Destiny . ” Or perhaps , more accurately : “ The Bed of Hope . ” If thing do not work out , I can always change the name to “ The Bed of Despairagus ” and works fag in it .
Asparagus likes deepness , so I need my bed to be at least 12 column inch deep — not a trouble , as I wish my layer courteous and tall so I do n’t have to bend down so much . Three boards high cook them about 16 inches improbable , and I ’ll be sure to tack 1/2 - inch hardware material across the bottom to deter the gopher . Because I ’m build this layer outside the Fortress Garden , I ’ll need to fight down it from The Girls , as well , but that ’s an easy fix ; some bird veiling will keep them at bay . In any lawsuit , I ’m shooting to have everything quick by early spring .
Asparagus is a long - term dedication . If properly cared for , the plants can continue to raise for up to 20 year . So I ’m prefer my emplacement carefully , where it wo n’t intervene with any succeeding body process or roguishness . This project will also call for solitaire : If I start with seeds , it will be two years before my first harvest . I ’ll credibly start with crowns that are at least 1 class old , and 2 , if I can get them , to shrink the wait .
As for mixed bag , the cyberspace gardening wizards uniformly recommend all - manful types , like Jersey Knight or Jersey Giant . Luckily for me , the University of California has come up with “ UC 157 , ” which is design specifically for mild - wintertime field like mine , so I ’ll be control that out for trusted .
The wait will be worth it . I have to borrow from my 401k to buy organic Asparagus officinales from the local market . At 7 bucks a pound , it ’s reserve as a special goody and ca n’t be squandered in experimental formula or casseroles . But if the Bed of Hope produces , I ’ll be in trefoil . Or Asparagus officinales .
