Wild Asparagus???

[Debbie-cat]

I need some help from my friends....

Does anyone know anything about wild asparagus? Can you eat it or move the bed?

My hubby just informed me that there is a huge wild asparagus bed on our property (I didn't even know!).

I would like to make use of it and was wondering if anyone else had experience with wild asparagus?

Thanks!

[nvmommyx6]

My Mom does asparagus, her beds too close to 5 years to start producing, I've read they take 3-5 years to settle in and start producing, you plant them ONLY where you want them because they do not transfer well and if they live through it it takes them that long again to start producing again!!
You might look here http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobota.../asparagus.php

Let us know how it goes!

[Debbie-cat]

Thanks for the link C.J.! I am going to have to head out to where the plant is supposedly located and take a look at it myself.

[my4littlebuffaloes]

I have heard that you have to check asparagus every day because it grows so fast that if you miss a day it will be too tall and not like asparagus at all. Sounds yummy!

[Debbie-cat]

Jennifer, do you mean then that you can't eat it or it just won't look like asparagus?

[redhead68]

You might check the library for Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. She writes quite a bit about her experience growing & harvesting asparagus.

[Debbie-cat]

Thanks redhead! I will definitely do that.

[Spirit Deer]

We always harvested asparagus from the roadside ditches when I was a kid. Wash it and eat it! You'll develop a 'feel' for where to cut it because you want to cut it just above where it's woody. So you sort of put the blade of the knife along the stalk till you feel that it's in the tender section and cut it there.

If you let it go too long, it gets all ferny and goes to seed, so you can't eat it. It's probably not poisonous or anything, but it's not a stalk anymore. No harm done if it goes to seed, it'll be fine next year.

[Debbie-cat]

Thanks very much Spirit Deer! Since we live relatively in the same location, I appreciate your input.

[thehughughes]

I love wild asparagus we use to ride in the back of dad's pick-up as he would slowly drive down the back country, us kids would watch for it, jump out cut it and jump right back in. You do have to pick it at just the right time in the spring.
Now planting I've had no luck at all.
Good Luck and Enjoy.

[HisDaisy]

I love wild asparagus. It tastes so good. I used to go out and pick it with my great uncle.
I don't know much about it, so I can't help you much.
But your post reminded me of some happy memories.

[my4littlebuffaloes]

From what I have read, it grows very fast, feet in a day fast. So if you don't get it at the right time, yeah, you can't eat it.

[Debbie-cat]

From what I have read, it grows very fast, feet in a day fast. So if you don't get it at the right time, yeah, you can't eat it.

Believe me....I will be watching it very closely.

[StaceyS]

Leave it where it's at! If it's on your property, that's your best bet. If you move it, and it survives, like CJ said, it will take 3 to 5 years to establish again. Wild asparagus is a blessing! I wish I had something like that! It takes SO long to start, but will grow forever!

[redeme]

We picked it along the canal banks as a kid. My grandma use to have a car full of us kids with brown paper grocery bags and a sharp knife each. Out we'd go and walk along and fill up the bags, we'd go every day while it was in season. She use to make dill pickled asparagus, it was really good.