Shabbat Shalom from the fertile fields of Growing in Torah in beautiful Orosi, California! It has been a few weeks since we have posted because we have been recovering from the large Sukkot we host here on the farm. So, let’s get to it with the Shabbat Veggie of the Week! AHHHHHSPARAGUS!

Asparagus is a young tender stem vegetable, erupting from an underground root-system. One of the oldest recorded vegetables, it thought to have originated along the coastal regions of eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor regions. It’s flavorful spears were well recognized since ancient Greeks and Romans as a prized delicacy.

Botanically, it is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. It is closely related to Liliaceae plants which also include onion, garlic, tulip, daffodil…etc.

Plants can be started from seed about 4 weeks before the last expected frost. Seeds will add several years to your wait and asparagus is more commonly grown from crowns, which are the one year old base and roots of the plants. The crowns will need to be covered as they grow. Space plants about 12-15 in. apart, so they will have room to grow.

Put that asparagus on your list of grocery items for now, and let’s have it for Shabbat tonight on the grill! #growingintorah #ahhhsparagus