How to grow asparagus – and why it takes so long

THERE is much debate about the merits of eating fruit and vegetables that are available seasonally and grown locally, to reduce your carbon footprint. From a taste point of view, I would argue that there are at least two crops where locally grown produce has a real edge. These are strawberries, which have better taste and texture if you can get them fresh, and asparagus – in my humble opinion, the king of vegetables, but also known among growers as the most quickly perishable after harvesting.

For these reasons, it is well worth buying asparagus only during the brief period …