Figure 2.

Asparagus officinalis (white) from seed to harvested product. (A) asparagus seeds, primed in water in order to help germination when sown. (B) asparagus root crown, one-year old, ready to be planted in the field. (C) new asparagus field with two-year old plants. (D) asparagus field in harvesting season with plastic covers to raise soil temperature. The black plastic covers the plants during the whole harvesting period to eliminate light exposure to the spears. (E) white asparagus shoots emerging from 40 cm deep in the soil. (F) harvested white asparagus spears. All pictures taken in Limburg, The Netherlands (spring 2019).