The Asparagus Cycle

The asparagus year starts in June when the old ferns are cut off and fed to the sheep, they love it. The beds are then given a heavy fertilising before they are topped with fresh compost. We then wait for the spears to start emerging in August. 
Harvest is a daily event but when it warms up in October we need to harvest twice a day as the spears can grow 150mm in 24 hours.
During harvest the beds get a fortnightly application of Potassium and Nitrogen to boost production.
​The beds are drip irrigated through summer and by March the ferns are starting to die off ready to start the cycle again.

Our philosophy of growing as much fresh food as possible is our recreation! - we have two or three vegetable gardens, depending on the season, a large covered citrus and stone fruit orchard and other fruit trees including Mangoes, Avocados, Figs, Mulberry, Quince and Pomegranate all planted since our arrival in 2011. The property is blessed with an ample water supply for us to sustain our entire garden whilst our household needs are supplied with rainwater.