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British asparagus on course for a bumper year
Warm weather and a predicted heatwave mean crops could be boosted by 20 per cent
Food lovers could be in for a treat, as the mild spring has ushered in what could be the best crop of outdoor grown British asparagus for nearly a decade.
The harvesting season traditionally starts on St George’s Day, April 23, and continues until the summer solstice on June 21.
Thanks to a predicted three month heatwave, this year’s crop could be boosted by up to 20 per cent. The Met Office is predicting that the UK is likely to enjoy above average temperatures between April and June.
David Bartle, asparagus buyer for the Morrisons supermarket chain, said: “Growing conditions look like they are going to be perfect. The good weather will not only affect the amount of asparagus grown but also the quality of the crop. We could have the most exceptional year since 2007.”
According to market research firm Kantar, farmers have been encouraged to plant more of the vegetable, as UK demand has soared by 540 per cent in the past 10 years. Last year, British shoppers spent £65 million buying nine million kilos of asparagus.
It’s not the only crop to enjoy a good start to the year. English strawberries, raspberries and home-grown tomatoes have all arrived earlier than usual in supermarkets thanks to the balmy weather.
Asparagus is said to have aphrodisiac properties. However, some people experience strange smelling urine after eating it due to sulphur-containing amino acids in the vegetable.