In late September of 2022, Desiree and I gathered seeds from some wild asparagus growing along the slow-rolling Musselshell River at the edge of Roundup, Montana. A few weeks later, we planted the seeds in a small plot we prepared along the fence on the east side of our house. A handful of plants sprouted last spring and pushed on (in rather spindly fashion) through the growing season. This spring, a host of skinny spears appeared, and we have been tending to them ever since.
Asparagus, a perennial vegetable, is a member of the lily family and is related to other spring crops like garlic, leeks, and onions. Though native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, it has escaped domestication and thrives in the wild here in Montana. Asparagus spears can shoot up as much as 6 inches in a single day. When starting asparagus from seed, as we did, it usually takes about three years for the patch to become fully productive for harvest. If the spears are not harvested, the tips unfurl into a fern that can reach almost 5 feet. Female plants will also produce small red berries that attract songbirds, which then distribute the seeds through their droppings, explaining why asparagus often appears under fences.
Asparagus is known for its diuretic properties, but I
simply like eating it for the flavor, especially freshly emerged spears. I am
hoping we will manage to harvest a spear or two next spring. Today, I am
sharing two photographs taken at our personal asparagus patch.
—Mitchell
Hegman
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