Asparagus - The Manual of Seed Saving - page 33

be so long that they see daylight and turn green, thus reducing the product's market value (though by
no means harming the plant).
In the asparagus field: it is still impossible to tell whether the plant is male or female.
HARVEST Seeds are ready for harvest when the red berries that contain them begin to shrivel and
seeds have turned black. Rub berries on a grater, then soak for 24 hours and separate seed from fruit.
Next use a bucket of water to separate viable from nonviable seeds, as with onions. Dry immediately
thereafter.
The spherical fruits of a female asparagus plant
SELECTION CHARACTERISTICS Select desired plants when they have sent up edible shoots and mark
with a stick or pole. Do this with at least 10 asparagus plants, as half will likely be female (or better
yet, figure out which plants are male and female the previous year). Potential selection criteria:
• vigorous growth, powerful shoots
• no hollow shoots
• tightly closed heads of shoots