Home > Lifestyle > Eats & Drinks > What’s in Season: Asparagus

What’s in Season: Asparagus

On May 23, 2018May 18, 2020 by Hannah Patterson to Eats & Drinks, Food For Thought, Lifestyle

asparagus production Yet another controversial vegetable, asparagus draws a clear line between its lovers and haters. The fibrous and faintly bitter green is either a delicacy or the sworn enemy of those who have obviously never tried it wrapped in bacon.

Health Benefits

The unlikely relative of the lily, asparagus is chock-full of nutrition and low in calories and fat. Some other benefits include:

High folic acid content
Vitamins B6, A and C
Vitamin K, which has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s disease
No fat or no cholesterol
Low sodium content
Only 20 calories in one ½-cup serving
Contains 2.1 grams of fiber per serving
Has been used to treat dropsy and irritable bowel syndrome
Good source of antioxidants, which protect the body from various forms of cancer

See more: Fun Facts About Asparagus

Growing Asparagus

Planting asparagus is like getting into a long-term relationship. You have to lay the foundation for a healthy future and wait to enjoy the products of your hard work.
Here are some tips for cultivating your own asparagus.

Plant asparagus in early spring, usually February or March.
Space plants 15 to 18 inches apart with 3 to 4 feet between the rows.
You can plant asparagus from seeds or crowns. Crowns will give you a year’s head-start for maturation.
Peak asparagus season takes place from April to June.
Wait to harvest asparagus until a year or two after planting.
An asparagus plant can produce for 15 years without replanting.
Asparagus can grow all over the country. However, it doesn’t do well in certain regions of Florida and the Gulf Coast.

See more: What’s in Season: Broccoli

Ever wonder what asparagus looks like while it’s growing? Here is a time-lapse video from CarrotPCdude showing how much asparagus grows in just one day!