One of the highlights of the UK growing calendar is the English Asparagus season.

Each spear is carefully harvested by hand, before going back to the packhouse for washing and an incredibly detailed sizing and grading process.

It is head and shoulders above imported asparagus in terms of flavour and aside from its unique taste, it is incredibly versatile and healthy. It promotes healthy bacteria in the intestine and contains vitamin K to help the blood. It is also packed full of vitamin C to help the immune system and can also help detoxify the body.

Although many ‘snap’ the  asparagus spears, the left-over bottoms can still be used, so there is also zero waste with asparagus.

The downside is that the season is only around 9-10 weeks long, so we need to make the most of it while it is here!

Thankfully it is available now, which is a little earlier than the official start of the season, which generally starts on St. George’s Day through to ‘last cut’ around Midsummer’s Day (24^th June). Naturally, the UK weather can have an effect on the start/end dates, but we should eat with the seasons and enjoy whilst here.

The asparagus from Portwood Farm in Norfolk is excellent quality. The farm is run by Andy Allen, whose family at Portwood have proudly farmed the area for over 5 generations.

Excellent Norfolk soil and growing conditions, combined with many years of experience and incredible passion and husbandry, has helped make the Portwood brand famous for its high quality. It takes time before you can see the benefits of hard labour and growers need to wait 3 years before any spears can be harvested, so patience and longer-term planning is the key.

The plants are protected by poly-tunnels during April and with decent weather, the outdoor crop generally starts around the first week of May.

During peak season, and with the right weather conditions, asparagus spears can grow up to a huge 10cm in just one day!

With St George’s Day coming up on Tuesday 23^rd April, there is plenty of English grown produce around, despite the changeable weather.

Last month’s headline, Wild Garlic continues to remain popular, foraged in the forests of Norfolk.  Jersey Royals  are coming through in greater numbers now, but remain pricey during the early part of the season. Please see below some English grown produce: -

From Italy – including, Trevise, Puntarella (below), Castelfranco, Tardivo, Cimi di Rapa, Rainbow Chard, Round (Sicilian) Aubergines, Peas, Broad Beans.

From France – Red Chicory, Grelot Onions, Breakfast Radish, Rainbow Radish, Pumpkins, Pissenlit Blanc, Mizuna, Raf Bleu Tomatoes, Gariguettes, Sandy Carrots, Crosnes, Nasturtium Root, White Asparagus.

From Spain – including, Runner Beans, Purple/Yellow Cauliflowers, Peas, Romanesque.

Strawberries have now switched to Dutch (500g) and from further afield – Rambutan, Mangosteen, Prickly Pears, Formosa Papaya, Thai Mangoes, Rose Apples & Kent Mangoes. All Melons are still from Costa Rica/Honduras.