Asparagus is a vegetable that’s popular to grow since they need little care and attention once they’re planted. This makes them an ideal crop for novice gardeners. If you’ve grown or planning to grow asparagus in your garden, you’ll probably wonder when can you harvest asparagus.
Asparagus is ready to harvest when the spears are 6-8 inches tall. You can tell if asparagus is ready by gently bending a spear. If it bends, it is ready for harvest. The best time to harvest asparagus is early in the morning before the sun gets too hot, which will cause the spear’s sugar content to diminish and make it taste bitter.
When Is The Best Month To Harvest Asparagus?
The best time to harvest asparagus is in the spring when the plant is young and tender. This means asparagus is usually harvested between April and June, depending on where you live.
As the summer wears on, though, the plants will get larger and more mature—and their flavor will become stronger. Fall is also a good time to harvest asparagus (unless you live in a very warm climate) because it’s still producing but has a smaller yield than in spring or summer.
Because there are so many factors that affect how good your crop is going to be, you’ll want to watch for signs that the season has ended before pulling everything up from your garden beds. For example: if you notice more browning than usual on your spears or if they aren’t growing as quickly anymore (signs of over-maturity), it might be time to start preparing for next year!
How Long Can Asparagus Stay In The Ground?
The asparagus plant has a growing season that lasts from spring until fall. During this time, new spears grow from the crowns each year until they reach their maximum height in early summer. After this point, the plant will stop producing new spears and become dormant until spring arrives again.
Asparagus can remain in the ground for up to five years if you maintain it properly during each growing season. This means watering regularly, fertilizing every three months, and cutting back old shoots as necessary throughout the summer months.
Once your plants have reached their maximum height and stopped producing new shoots, it is time to harvest them before they begin to fade away for good!
Can You Harvest Asparagus Too Early?
If you harvest asparagus too early, its flavor will be poor and it won’t have reached its full size yet. When harvested at the right time, however, asparagus can be delicious raw or cooked by steaming or stir-frying it with olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.
How to Harvest Asparagus
Here are some ways to harvest asparagus:
Cutting: Once your asparagus has reached 6 inches tall, cut individual spears from their tips with a sharp knife or scissors. You can eat them raw or add them to salads and other dishes for flavor.
Picking: Pick individual spears by hand once they reach 6 inches tall — but don’t wait too long! They’ll become tough if left on the plant too long after they begin to open up into ferns at their base.
Harvesting: Harvest asparagus by hand once they’re mature enough to snap off easily at ground level; just bend each stalk gently until it snaps off cleanly where it joins its root system.
Storing Asparagus After Harvesting
Asparagus is a vegetable that should be stored properly after harvest. It is best to store asparagus in the refrigerator, but you can also freeze it for later use.
Refrigerator Storage
Asparagus will last for about two weeks when stored in the refrigerator. To store asparagus in the refrigerator, trim off about 1 inch from the bottom of each spear. Place them upright in a shallow container and place them in your refrigerator so all of the spears are standing up straight. Do not cover them with anything because they need air circulation to stay fresh.
Freezing Asparagus
If you have too much asparagus to use right away, freezing it will keep it fresh until you need it. To freeze asparagus, wash it thoroughly and then trim off about 1 inch from the bottom of each spear. Slice it into pieces that are about 2 inches long or cut it into pieces that are about 1 inch thick before freezing them. Place these pieces in freezer bags or containers with as much air removed as possible before freezing them in your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below for up to 9 months without losing their quality.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you the confidence to start harvesting asparagus from your garden! As with any plant, there are always certain conditions that will affect when it is best to harvest and how long it can stay in the ground. You should always check on your plants regularly so that you can watch for signs of health problems and know when it’s time to harvest them before they become too large and woody.
