When I go to water my precious plants, I still have a spring in my step and I haven't been burned out by all the hard work a garden takes. I just love to see God's creation come to life, as well as feed my family from the work of our own hands.
(Now check back around mid July when we're in the middle of a drought and it's 95 degrees outside. I guarantee I won't be quite so chipper...hee hee).
I know I said I was going to finish this gardening post....but it will have to come in bits and pieces throughout the summer.
I had such an amazing surprise this year. Three years ago I planted asparagus. Being the "Master Gardener" that I am, I didn't research the fact that asparagus takes three years before one ever see its first fruit. THREE YEARS! Yes, you must be a patient gardener and really plan ahead. Quite frankly, I had completely forgotten about them until my son and I were watering the garden and we noticed that we had stepped on something.
Yep, my very first asparagus we had annihilated with our shoes. I was disappointed for a moment, but it quickly passed because I was so thrilled! We love asparagus and it's so fun to have our own.
Look at how they grow. Isn't God creative? They are so uniquely beautiful. I never thought I would describe an asparagus like that, but they are. That is also why we didn't see them. They pop right out of the dirt...one little stem. Isn't that something? I had no idea.
This is what happens to asparagus when you go away for the weekend and no one picks them or weeds around them. Isn't that so funny! It's as tall as the Eifle Tower. Just to give you some perspective on how very huge these grew...
My son is holding two grocery store size asparagus and then the monster asparagus. They are best picked at about 12 inches or the stems get very tough. Hmm...considering my son is almost 6 feet, I think these were a bit taller than 12 inches. We ate them though...they are so good for you.
I love to learn and gardening surely gives me a platform to be a self learner. What lesson did I learn about asparagus? When you have a family of seven, make sure you plant at least twenty plants. Since I only put five in the ground, we each will get one asparagus...A WEEK! ;)
It's alright though, I'll just plant some more and WAIT FOR THREE MORE YEARS.
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Posted for Kimba's Garden Party...it's not blooming flowers, but it's quite literally...my garden.
It's alright though, I'll just plant some more and WAIT FOR THREE MORE YEARS.
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Posted for Kimba's Garden Party...it's not blooming flowers, but it's quite literally...my garden.
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40 comments:
OMG those are HUGE... that is awesome, I didn't know they could grow that big. Wow!!!
I had no idea they would get so tall or take so long to grow! We've been picking our beans, about 10-12 at a time. They get divided and we have a few each. We are planting some more because I would love to have a regular amount to eat. I think we would right now if my son could wait, but he insists on picking them before something happens to them. We had a squirrel eat 5 tomatoes we were watching grow. Farmers have it hard, that's all I know.
~Kim
Funny! I have yet to plant asparagus- I did know that take so long. Since I keep changing my garden around I though it'd be difficult to find a place for them (and then to leave them alone!). Perhaps I'll get around to planting some this year- along with peonies.
We've been picking radishes, spinach& lettuce out of our garden. The strawberries are ripening (better got spray deterrent on them otherwise I won't get a thing!) and the peas are blooming. Out of a mostly entire seed packet planted of beets I've got 3 beet seedlings! Oh well.
:)
That's awesome! I have a small container garden and have enjoyed a few strawberries and some lettuce that I grew all on my own. It is pretty amazing to see.
Now THAT'S a diet plan....one asparagus a week, have to wait three years to eat it.....hmmmm....it is much HUGER than the kind we see at the store. So how do you cook it? Just steam it?
Suzanne
I had no idea asparagus takes 3 years to grow! Wonder if I should give it a shot?? I submitted a really yummy asparagus recipe to your Tasty Tuesday party a few weeks ago. :)
Wow! I just got such a gardening lesson and learned so many things I didn't know. I had no idea asparagus could get that big or you have to wait three years!
I have square foot gardens and I love working in them too. So far, we've harvested several cucumbers, basil, yellow squash, and zucchini. I also planted tomtatoes, assorted peppers, chives, maize, and just recently threw in some corn seeds. It's so much fun to watch things grow and produce, especially since I was a brown thumb most of my life.
God teaches me so much through my garden! Glad you enjoy it as well.
Did you plant yours from seed? I knew it took about 3 years for them to grow, but I guess that I still thought that they would germinate and I would see something.
That is a huge asparagus! I had no idea they got that big. Too cool!
We've done basically our entire garden from seed this year, and it has been so rewarding to see everything sprout, grow, bloom , and begin to produce us food. God is utterly AMAZING. :)
So cool! I never knew how asparagus grew...don't think I ever even pondered it.
I planted some from seed years ago.the first year they were tiny little 1" asparagus plants. You can buy one year roots. Gurney's has a good deal on them!! B12G12. But they need so much room in the garden! If you put them in the right place they make a pretty (and edible) addition to a perennial border. :)
I had no idea asparagus grew so big! I bet they were yummy, too.
Well Jen, you've got a head start on me. I haven't planted any yet. I just got my raised beds in this year for vegetables!
Hi Jen! Yay for asparagus. We have a small amount - and it's so funny how it grows. But tastes soooo good. Happy Thursday! xo
I think you put your garden on steroids...or maybe just miracle grow!
The asparagus looks great! I've never seen it in its natural state before (haha)! :)
So while this would totally defeat the point of asparagus being healthy for you, it makes for some amazing tempura!!
http://honeydinnersready.blogspot.com/2008/04/asparagus-tempura.html - that is the recipe I have done (for asparagus and other veggies) and it is SO good!
We love asparagus! I had no idea they took so long to grow, though!! We all got a kick out of seeing them shoot out of the ground at the Biltmore's kitchen garden this spring. Something we just never thought of before, how they grew! Hope you enjoy your little harvest :)!
Stacey
You crack me up! I can picture all of you sitting at your table with nothing on your plates but that one lone asparagus spear!
My in-laws grow asparagus, so I knew it took a long time, but I didn't realize it was 3 years!
We tried a regular garden last year and the weeds had more fun than the veggies - this year it is Square Foot Gardening and we are LOVING it so far. Do you use tin pans to scare the birds away?
The kids are wanting to be little farmers (we may have to work on the "work-ethic" behind what it takes...) We may try to get chickens next year - any advice?
Love this! And I love asparagus!! I dream of having a garden... one day... Blessings!
a. I never knew that it took so long for asparagus to grow;
b. I nearly splurted my coffee through my nose when I saw the side by side comparison!
3 years?! I had no idea! Now I see why asparagus costs so much at the grocery!
My squash is finally coming in! And my bell and poblano peppers and going crazy. My tomatoes...eh, not so much.
Wow, that is a really huge asparagus. I didn't know that they took that long to grow.
LOL Hilarous! Now I want to plant some...
Donna
Those are HUGE! Wow! One would make a serving for me. Were they good?
Love it! I'm glad you gave us the perspective - those are crazy big! Hilarious!
This was sooo funny. Asparagus is one of the very few vegetables I just won't eat. Not that it tastes bad, I can't stand the way my pee smells after. Yuck. Now you know too much about me.
WOW those are HUGE! LOL you know I've never seen asparagus growing- and it wasn't until a month or so ago that I actually cooked asparagus and now I LOVE them!! - my mom didn't like them, so she never made them, so I think that's why - I just never had them.
~TidyMom
Oh my goodness - that's the coolest thing ever! I don't know anything about asparagus (let alone how to spell it). The comparison pic made me giggle - did you use Miracle Grow? The ones from the store are so puny. You've inspired me to try some gardening.
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
Now those are some crazy asparagus!
Awesome! I love asparagus and that's one of the things we didn't plant. Those are huge! Great job!
Oh goodness! That is too funny!
WOW! I didn't know they would grow so big! Were they tough? I also didn't know it took three years, either. I've learned a lot from you today!
That is amazing asparagus!
I did not know that about asparagus. But now I do. And those are some huge asparagus!!!
Karrie has an old farm house and she finds some asparagus growing every year in spots of her back yard. Quite the amazing veggie!
Karla & Karrie
I've never seen an asparagus growing. That's too funny!
I love it! They're beautiful...in giant asparagus-y sort of way.
My dad grew asparagus years ago. At some point, he lost interest and we ended up with many giant stalks.
Too funny!
Kimba
I've never grown ASPARAGUS BUT I think I might try it after reading this post. Fresh asparagus is so good! Come on over to my gardening giveaway.
Wow! What a long asparagus!!!
My daughter had asparagus growing in her backyard years ago in one of the houses she lived in and it was so vigorous and healthy. It was an older home and had been growing for many years.
Yum! Fresh asparagus is so good.
Thanks for this fun post!
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
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