in

Asparagus Time: When The Local Asparagus Season Begins – And When It Ends

For asparagus lovers, these are weeks of happiness: We explain when the local asparagus season will start – and when the asparagus season will end again. Also: How to recognize good white asparagus.

Germany is an asparagus country – almost 20 percent of the vegetable cultivation area in this country is reserved for white vegetable asparagus. If you just look at what the supermarkets have to offer, you might think that the local asparagus season begins as early as March. On the first days of spring, the delicious noble vegetables are already tempting.

On the one hand, this is due to the fact that asparagus can be harvested earlier in warmer EU countries such as Greece, Italy or Spain – sometimes as early as February. On the other hand, German farmers cover their fields with foils (which unfortunately contribute to the plastic problem) or even heat the earth with warm water through a pipe system. Both ensure that the poles also grow faster in this country and can be pricked two to three weeks earlier.

This so-called early asparagus, which can also come from overseas, is not only often more expensive than real seasonal asparagus, but also often has a questionable environmental balance. Incidentally, the “early asparagus” should not be confused with the “winter asparagus”, which is just another name for the black salsify, a local winter vegetable.

The real asparagus season starts later

Actually, the local asparagus season does not start in March, but a little later. As a rule, you can assume that the first unheated asparagus from the region will be available for purchase in mid-April. However, the local asparagus season does not include a fixed period of time, because the asparagus harvest depends on the soil conditions in the respective region as well as the temperature and weather development. So the stalks start to sprout earlier here and there.

The asparagus season traditionally ends on June 24th, the so-called “Asparagus New Year’s Eve”. After that, of course, asparagus can also be harvested, but this can have an unfavorable effect on the harvest in the following year. The reason: If an asparagus plant is pricked too often, it no longer develops shoots and can no longer grow through towards the end of the asparagus season. This means that the harvest in the following year falls flat. If the start of the asparagus season is delayed due to bad weather, the farmers can delay the harvest until the beginning of July.

The consequences of climate change are already causing the harvest and flowering times of many plants to be pushed back worldwide. It can therefore be assumed that the asparagus season will start earlier rather than later in the coming years.

When does the 2022 asparagus season start?

The 2022 asparagus season has already started in Germany.

The mild winter and lots of sun in March ensured that the asparagus season started rather early this year: the first asparagus were already available at the end of March.

Asparagus farmers like Joachim Huber from Iffezheim (Rastatt district) are very satisfied with the quality. Like other farmers, he is worried about higher energy costs and rising prices for fertilizer and film. “We will only be able to pass on these costs to a very limited extent,” said Huber. However, part of this is likely to affect consumers.

Asparagus season: why it’s worth the wait

If you are patient and wait for the first unheated asparagus from Germany, you are making a good decision. Because: Imported asparagus has a bad ecological balance due to the transport and due to its high water consumption ensures that cultivation areas in the country of origin that are already dry are devastated even more.

Even domestic asparagus from covered fields is not unproblematic because huge amounts of plastic film are produced for it. And because animals such as insects, small mammals and birds that breed on the ground suffer from the plastic sealing of the surface.

Heated fields, which are less common, also entail high energy consumption, which is only used to be able to dig the first spears of asparagus two to three weeks earlier than the competition.

This is how you recognize good and fresh asparagus

  • Asparagus comes in different grades based on the diameter of the spears, the shape, and any visible asparagus rust. The three commercial classes are “Extra” (most expensive), “Class I” and “Class II” (cheapest).
  • However, good asparagus is not primarily decided on the commercial class, but on the freshness.
  • You can recognize freshly cut asparagus because it has a moist, smooth cut. If you squeeze the incision, some liquid should come out that doesn’t smell sour, but aromatic.
  • The heads of the asparagus spears should be closed.
  • Asparagus is particularly fresh when the stalks are firm to the touch, break easily, squeak when rubbed together, and can easily be nicked with a fingernail.
  • Asparagus has a rather low pesticide load compared to other vegetables. If you want to be on the safe side, you should use organic asparagus.

Tip: Wrap the asparagus in a damp cloth so it stays fresh for up to three days in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator.

Avatar photo

Written by Paul Keller

With over 16 years of professional experience in the Hospitality Industry and a deep understanding of Nutrition, I am able to create and design recipes to suit all clients needs. Having worked with food developers and supply chain/technical professionals, I can analyze food and drink offerings by highlight where opportunities exist for improvement and have the potential to bring nutrition to supermarket shelves and restaurant menus.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How Many Eggs Are Really Healthy?

Is Cauliflower Pasta Good for You?