How to... grow asparagus

It makes sense to grow things that are expensive to buy in the shops. Asparagus has a reputation for taking up lots of space, but 10 plants will deliver about 100 spears over a season, and once established, the plants will grow for years.

■ Choose a sunny sheltered, well-drained site. Dig over with well-rotted organic matter and some slow-release fertiliser. A few plants can be planted into individual holes, but for a permanent bed of asparagus, dig a trench 20cm deep and 30cm long, and add a 10cm mound of soil down the length of the trench.

■ Spread the roots of each asparagus crown over the surface, 30cm apart. Cover with 5cm fine, sifted soil.

■ As the plants grow, fill your trench with soil until there is a mound of good soil over the top - it should be completely full by autumn.

■ Then wait. Harvesting too early will prevent asparagus from growing well long-term. Don't cut the first spears - leave these to flourish into fern-like stems.

■ Harvest in the second year when spears are 10cm to 13cm long. Use a serrated knife to cut 5cm below ground. Start cutting in April, but stop early to mid June to allow spears to develop for next year. You can expect asparagus to go on cropping for up to 20 years.

Recommended types: All-male varieties such as ‘Gijnlim' are prolific. ‘Dariana' is a high-yielding F1 hybrid with high-quality spears of superb flavour.

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