How to grow it:
Now is the time to get asparagus crowns planted. The crowns look a little more like leggy, white starfish and they're available for only a select period in July in garden centres.
Asparagus beds should be a long-term proposition.
Preparation is key - these plants prefer sandy soil, well manured, with a little seaweed.
In the first year, don't harvest any asparagus spears. The following year harvest 30-50 per cent and thereafter 80 per cent, allowing the remaining shoots to grow their fern-like leaves to maturity.
