Planning for the Future

 

One of the more challenging aspects of planning a community farm share program is going from a farm that supports one family to a farm that supports ten in just a few seasons. We have spent the last few years learning what crops are especially suited to our soil here at Twin Creeks. Fortunately, one of the crops that seem to flourish here is asparagus. Besides being such a special crop because there is only a very short season for the delicate green spears, it is a wonderful addition to our farm share because it's a very reliable perennial. Once the beds are established and sprouting they'll do so for up to fifty years. A well supplied asparagus bed should have about 6 to 12 crowning plants per person. With that in mind we are greatly expanding our beds. Each adult plant sends forth tiny seedlings, some easily separated from the host plant- and others not so much. I have been forking loose these offshoots and placing them in paper containers where they'll grow to about six inches in height.
Once it is determined that the plant has successfully rooted, they'll go back into the garden in their permanent home. Then, like so much else with gardening, it's a game of patience. Over the summer the little plant will grow bright green fronds, berrying in the late summer to early fall, die back- and begin the process all over again next spring. Sometime a few years from now the crowns will be well formed and all these plants will provide the spears we just cannot get enough of beginning in early May. If those future years bring the right conditions, the asparagus are ready for cutting at the same time that the morel mushroom pop up literally over night. If you have not experienced a hand tossed pizza topped with asparagus and morels, you are going to be in for a real treat.