Key information

Colour: Green (although in some countries white varieties grown 'blind' underground are common).

In season: 23 April – 21 June

Power to perform: Asparagus contains a high amount of folate. This vitamin helps us generate energy to survive by making red blood cells that carry oxygen around our body.

Grow me: Asparagus grows best in a cool, crisp environment – not too wet and not too dry. British asparagus is famous for having a very short harvesting season of just six to eight weeks. During this time farmers and gardeners must pick each asparagus spear (or stalk) by hand!

Did you know?

• The ancient Romans thought that asparagus could cure toothache and prevent bee stings!
• Traditionally, the start of the British asparagus season is St George’s Day, the 23rd April. The seasons ends on the summer solstice (or longest day) on the 21st June.
• We all know that food can taste sweet, sour, bitter and salty, but did you know that there is a ‘fifth taste’? Professor Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University named asparagus as one of the foods (like tomatoes, cheese and meat) to have this fifth taste, which he named umami.*

Ideas garden
Remember to ask an adult's permission before experimenting with any asparagus ideas!

Get creative

As the asparagus season is so short, people all over the world like to party when it is ready to eat! In Britain and Germany, for example, an Asparagus Festival (or ‘Spargelfest’ in German) is held each year in June. In the USA, California celebrates its early harvest in April, while the northern state of Michigan also has a festival in June.

We at Get Set to Eat Fresh love celebrating all kinds of food! How about using asparagus in a celebration of food at home or school? Try out new recipes, hold a green colour run, or get active with some traditional folk dancing!

Get cooking

Like oysters or truffles, asparagus is a favourite delicacy of many chefs and food lovers. It can be boiled, steamed, grilled, sautéed, stir-fried, roasted, or even added to a BBQ (perhaps with some halloumi for these veggie kebabs)! How about creamy asparagus soup for a tasty starter or lunch? Or cook up a summery pasta with this recipe for prawn and asparagus tagliatelle? 

Get started by watching the Aldi Taste Kitchen's Four Ways with Asparagus for more recipes ideas, and start experimenting!    

*(Learn more about taste and flavour with our Tastes of Success resources.)