Spring has Sprung!

Yes I know it's only August, but spring has arrived. The plum trees down the road have flowered and more importantly I have harvested the first asparagus spears for the year! I went out to the garden this morning to get some leeks to make potato & leek soup. While I was doing this I looked and saw I had 5 asparagus spears. So went inside and got a knife and soon they were sitting on my cupboard.

Looking at them I realized that I had the makings of a perfect breakfast in my kitchen. I scrambled up 4 eggs from my chickens, added the asparagus then served on fresh sourdough. Everything except the bread came from my yard. You can't get more local than that! Breanna tried the asparagus but handed it back to me...oh well at least she tried it.

I never used to like asparagus. That's not true, I had never tried asparagus. I just assumed that I didn't like it. Then one night I was eating out and there was some on my plate so I tried it. So glad I did because it ROCKS!! I had grown some previously but once I found out I liked it I grew it in earnest. I planted out a small bed with crowns. The thing is you can't harvest them the first year, you need to let them grow, flower and die back. The second year you can harvest, but you always need to let a couple grow and flower. The beauty of asparagus is you can have plants that last 20 plus years.

The season might be short but there really is nothing tastier then fresh asparagus. The stuff in supermarkets just doesn't compare. Another way I like eating it is sautee asparagus, leek & snow peas in garlic & olive oil. Add some black pepper & parmesan and pour over pasta. Beautiful!

So now my morning ritual will include checking the asparagus bed. When you harvest the spears you store them in a glass of water, just like flowers.

In my garden at the moment:

Asparagus
Rhubarb (again can last 20 plus years)
Artichokes
2 types of peas
2 types loose leaf lettuce
Rainbow chard
Kale
Broccoli
Beetroot (seedlings)
Garlic
Parsley
Chives
Dill
Potatoes (musnt have gotten them all out the last time)
Leek
Lemongrass
Sage
Rosemary
Oregano
Mint

Then the fruit trees.

Need to Plant:

Cabbage
Corn
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Pumpkin
Zuchinni
Melons