With the asparagus season, a real enthusiasm for the aromatic vegetable spreads through the German-speaking countries. This will also be the case in 2022, because the asparagus season is short-lived. If Asparagus officinalis stems are harvested at the right time, you can enjoy intensely flavorful ones that don't stay in the ground too long or too short.
Beginning of the asparagus season 2022
One of the most important factors in asparagus harvesting is the right time to start the period. It is not possible to determine the actual start in general, as this depends on several factors. Typically, the start of harvest can be on Mid-April laid, since the stalks are well mature and particularly fresh. Nevertheless, the appointment can be delayed or even arrive earlier due to a variety of different influences. These can be:
- weather
- region
- late harvest in the previous year
Above all, the weather plays a decisive role in the vitality of the plants and thus the possible yields. In cooler years, you often have to reckon with a later date than desired. But since this year is already set to be one of the warmer ones, you can expect the asparagus season to start around mid-April, maybe even a little earlier. But there is also the region, because in certain federal states the spears ready for harvest appear much earlier. This includes:
- Bavaria
- Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
In these it is already pleasantly warm in April, which also has a positive effect on the asparagus plants. You should follow the weather report regularly in these federal states in particular, because this way you can limit the possible time period even better. You can tell the perfect period by harvesting a few stalks while paying attention to the following points:
- Squeaking noise when two rods are rubbed together
- tips are closed
- solid poles
- glittering
The later you harvest, the woodier the Asparagus officinalis can taste. Therefore, for the greatest enjoyment, an early appointment is recommended, as long as you can.
tip: If you find fresh asparagus in the supermarket or organic market at the beginning of March or a little earlier than usual, it is either imported or grown under foil. Compared to the regional or non-prepared asparagus plants, these are usually significantly worse in terms of their environmental balance, since longer transport routes have to be accepted.
End of the asparagus season in 2022
Unfortunately, the beloved asparagus season comes to an end every year. When this is is determined by a specific date that is known to all asparagus connoisseurs. It's June 24th, the last "deadline" so to speak for the popular poles. This date was set by the asparagus farmers, since asparagus can actually be harvested until July. But there are two serious consequences for a harvest after June 24th:
- lower harvest amounts in the following year
- faint flavor of the bars
Many buyers and even some of the farmers can overlook the weaker taste. However, stressing the soil from a late harvest can result in a significantly lower harvest the following season. Therefore, June 24th has established itself as the end of the asparagus harvest in Germany. If you grow Asparagus officinalis yourself, you can try a longer harvest. To do this, however, you must provide the soil with sufficient nutrients immediately after harvest to support growth for the following year. The following points will help you:
- Incorporate horn meal
- Refresh mulch layer
This subsequent work can be excellently implemented in the home garden, which extends your personal period for the harvest by a few weeks. In a few exceptions, either the regional or nationwide date for the end of the asparagus harvest is pushed back. The reason for this is low temperatures, which herald the start of the season much later and sometimes even make a harvest possible until July.
tip: An asparagus plant produces a spear seven times. This actually serves to form the bush-shaped asparagus herb. This protects the plant over the winter and gathers new strength to train asparagus again next year. You should therefore harvest each asparagus plant no more than six times. You should then let the seventh spear grow so that you can harvest fresh asparagus again next year.