Asparagus Ferns

I planted asparagus last year. I knew about asparagus spears, because I bought them at the grocery store. I had read about asparagus ferns, but didn't know if they were separate from the spears or if the spears turned into ferns, or what. I am now a little bit smarter in the ways of asparagus than I used to be. As asparagus grows, the tip opens up just a bit, as shown in the photo above.


In no time at all, each one of those little buds or clumps or whatever they are shoots out on a long stalk. This happens seemingly overnight. Don't blink, you'll miss it.

Then the long stems begin to get all leafy. The ferns will get fluffier and bushier than this, but this is where my ferns were at when I took these pics. They also get tiny little flowers on them.

You have to leave some asparagus to "fern out" because the tubers down in the ground need the energy provided by the ferns' photosynthesis to stay healthy and grow. Asparagus is an oddity in the garden because you get to harvest the plant first, then feed it and nurture it. How well you care for it this year will be reflected in next year's harvest.