Page 5 - Book-TradiAliCulture-Belgium

Control of the tillage

 The second year, fill the trench with the earth remaining on the edges.
 During the first three years:
o Harrow and weed regularly to hold the edges free from weeds.
o Tie the frail stems to the tutors.
 As from the third year, in spring:
o Assemble a hillock of ground from 30 to 50 cm (this operation is useless for green
asparagus or crimsons) and bring a natural fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potash.
o After harvesting, put mulching, attach the stems to their tutor.
o At the end of the autumn, cut the dried stems. Level the hillocks and put compost on the
ground.

Harvest from April to June (in open ground)

 In the third year, it is possible to collect only 1
or 2 “turions” or “asparagus spears”.
 From the fourth year a normal harvest is
possible. Only 60% of the “turions” are
harvested; it is indeed necessary to let the
others develop and make leaves which will
regenerate the foot and will be harvested the
following year (leave at least 3 or 4 stems per
tuft).
 Do not collect them too young, “turions” must
measure at least 1 cm thick.
 The white asparagus is collected as soon as it rises above the ground, the violet when it
emerges from a few cm, the green one is gathered when it measures about fifteen cm.

Harvest Technique

 Cut the white ones at their base
using a gouge, by carrying out a
lever movement.
 Cut the green ones or crimsons
by hand, by carrying out a twist
moveme.

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