Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Harvesting asparagus plants couldn't be any easier. Stalks that are thicker than your pinky finger
can be snapped off at soil level, rinsed, and then cooked in whatever way you most enjoy. Stalks
that are smaller than your pinky finger should be allowed to grow into leafy fronds to help the
plant gather energy and nutrients. They will be larger the following year and your harvest will
increase. Usually your home-grown spears will be 6 to 10 inches long. Gardeners should watch
their asparagus closely in the spring, and harvest spears before the tips begin to open.
These asparagus spears can be grown year after year for very little time or money investment. A bundle like
this purchased from the grocery store is not cheap.
(Photo courtesy of Rachel Matthews)
Asparagus is such a long-lasting plant, a few dozen roots will provide produce for a family for many
years. The taste of the home-grown spears versus store-bought spears is incomparable, and the sav-
ings of growing your own is significant.
Elderberries (
Sambucus canadensis
)
Elderberry is a wild shrub in our area and grows almost anywhere along the unmowed roadsides in
the summer. We dug up a few starts from a friend's house that were taking over their fence line and
transplanted them to the ranch.
Elderberries are not typically eaten fresh, but more often used in jams, wine, and tarts. We also use
elderberry syrup for its therapeutic benefits to help minimize flu and respiratory illness symptoms.
The shrubby growth tends to be pretty loose and open. Elderberry is hardy in zones 4 through 7
depending on the cultivar, and when grown in favorable conditions it becomes a large, sprawling
bush.
