My brother has a fabulous spring asparagus recipe. It's really simple, but fresh picked asparagus doesn't need a complicated recipe to taste delicious. One night, I left the asparagus under the broiler a minute too long. The result was a slightly charred, crunchy, nutty-flavored asparagus dish. I don't think I'll serve it to company, but my family does like blackened asparagus!
My brother's asparagus recipe (Thanks, Greg):
Wash and pat dry pencil thin (or thinner) spears. Lay them in a single layer on a broiler pan that has been greased with olive oil.
Drizzle the spears with a teaspoon of olive oil.
Squeeze half a fresh lemon over the spears
Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until spears are just beginning to soften.
Sprinkle fresh parmesan-reggiano cheese shavings over the top and serve.
For the most delicate flavor and texture, you will need to grow your own asparagus or raid a neighbor's garden. Growing asparagus in Florida and other parts of the southeast, however, is only a task I recommend for strong-willed gardeners. Asparagus requires a period of stress -- cold weather or drought -- to enter dormancy. Since a dormant period is necessary for a hardy asparagus crop, you can understand why a Florida asparagus crop might not be worth the effort you put into growing this perennial. North and Central Florida gardeners will have better luck growing asparagus than south Florida gardeners.
Remember, asparagus is a perennial so prepare a rich soil in a place you will not be plowing for the next four to five years. A deep bed of compost mixed with manure works well for asparagus. Select a sunny spot, preferably in an area where you can control moisture levels. The ferns get quite tall and should not be cut back the first year so select an area where your asparagus won't shade out smaller plants.
Be sure to cultivate the soil well and remove all weeds before planting. Asparagus does not tolerate competition with weeds.
To grow asparagus in the southeast, plant one to two year old crowns in the spring. Plant them in 6 inch deep furrows about 12 inches apart. Cover with two inches of soil. Add more soil to the plants throughout the growing season as they grow taller.
If it doesn't rain, water the plants thoroughly once weekly until June. Then water the plants just once every other week (If it is raining, don't water them at all.) Hopefully, your plants will not be deluged with rain and you will have simulated drought conditions for your asparagus. If your plants did not experience a summer drought, pray for a cold winter. In July, return to watering the plants thoroughly once weekly.
After year one, you can cut the ferns back in late winter after they have died. The ferns are infamous for harboring asparagus beetle so its better to burn them than to place them in a compost pile.
In year two, harvest a few of the larger spears, but allow most of the asparagus to continue growing.
In year three, enjoy your first productive season. It is better to snap the 6 inch spears than to cut them.
I'm growing Jersey Supreme. It is a mostly male asparagus cultivar and is heat tolerant to zone 9.
My brother's asparagus recipe (Thanks, Greg):
Wash and pat dry pencil thin (or thinner) spears. Lay them in a single layer on a broiler pan that has been greased with olive oil.
Drizzle the spears with a teaspoon of olive oil.
Squeeze half a fresh lemon over the spears
Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until spears are just beginning to soften.
Sprinkle fresh parmesan-reggiano cheese shavings over the top and serve.
For the most delicate flavor and texture, you will need to grow your own asparagus or raid a neighbor's garden. Growing asparagus in Florida and other parts of the southeast, however, is only a task I recommend for strong-willed gardeners. Asparagus requires a period of stress -- cold weather or drought -- to enter dormancy. Since a dormant period is necessary for a hardy asparagus crop, you can understand why a Florida asparagus crop might not be worth the effort you put into growing this perennial. North and Central Florida gardeners will have better luck growing asparagus than south Florida gardeners.
Remember, asparagus is a perennial so prepare a rich soil in a place you will not be plowing for the next four to five years. A deep bed of compost mixed with manure works well for asparagus. Select a sunny spot, preferably in an area where you can control moisture levels. The ferns get quite tall and should not be cut back the first year so select an area where your asparagus won't shade out smaller plants.
Be sure to cultivate the soil well and remove all weeds before planting. Asparagus does not tolerate competition with weeds.
To grow asparagus in the southeast, plant one to two year old crowns in the spring. Plant them in 6 inch deep furrows about 12 inches apart. Cover with two inches of soil. Add more soil to the plants throughout the growing season as they grow taller.
If it doesn't rain, water the plants thoroughly once weekly until June. Then water the plants just once every other week (If it is raining, don't water them at all.) Hopefully, your plants will not be deluged with rain and you will have simulated drought conditions for your asparagus. If your plants did not experience a summer drought, pray for a cold winter. In July, return to watering the plants thoroughly once weekly.
After year one, you can cut the ferns back in late winter after they have died. The ferns are infamous for harboring asparagus beetle so its better to burn them than to place them in a compost pile.
In year two, harvest a few of the larger spears, but allow most of the asparagus to continue growing.
In year three, enjoy your first productive season. It is better to snap the 6 inch spears than to cut them.
I'm growing Jersey Supreme. It is a mostly male asparagus cultivar and is heat tolerant to zone 9.
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