I love Samuel Thayer's books, and his video as well. It's nice because we're both from WI and it's nice to be able to go out and see what's in season. He's won awards for gourmet wild edibles as well. Anyhoo... love your channel, and filming style!
I have pickled them, which is delicious. It's a way to get some of my kids who don't like asparagus to eat it! I am going to try my hand at fermenting it in the next few days.
Asparagus is delicious raw. And the bottoms of the stalks--if they seem tough, here's something that works for any that are big enough to handle: take a vegetable peeler and peel off the outer skin and eat the white part inside. It will often be more tender than the outside.
My wife and I love asparagus but she's never had wild. The best tip in this video, for me, was knowing to look for the dead growth from the previous year(s). Thank you so much for making this video!!
Enjoy your videos. The kids and I planted a large asparagus bed by the garden so we wouldn't have to drive to all our spots in SE WI anymore. Now we have our own but we pick the wild stuff yet because it's more fun!
Some varieties of asparagus fern are toxic lookalikes. The foliage looks different, but when the stalk first emerges from the ground it looks very similar!
Funny, asparagus is one of those things I figured grew wild somewhere, but not in North America. Checked that link. Would you believe that of the the 100 North Carolina counties, we live in one where it doesn't grow wild, but are surrounded by counties where it does. Any way - thanks! Another great video. Hope you guys are well!
Great and informative video Eric. And a great bit of advice as to where to look for those young shoots. I was able to find some usual spring fare this year....ramps .....wild onion....and some pheasant back mushrooms in my local woods. Thanks for sharing and we'll catch you on the next one. ATB Mike
Luckily I try to find them when they are around 4-6 inches in diameter. Try to stay away from the dinner plate size as they can taste very woody and tough
Great job. We have a few patches of wild asparagus on our property. I was finally able to broadcast some of the seeds to a location where it seems to be doing well in. Now, I have to go check on it to see if they are ready to pick.
Cool, I've seen those full growth plants once in a while and didn't realize what they were. Holee miserable weather in which to look for them though; one to two inches of rain per day last 4 out of 5 here, so a lot of fields where I have seen them are under water.
Once you know what you’re looking for it’s super easy to find it in the fall (autumn). Those big ‘tree-looking’ bushy plants turn a beautiful yellow color and that is when I drive around and mark it with my gps.
Late summer or all autumn long is a good time to find it and mark it on the gps. It turns a distinct yellowish color and is easy to spot once you know what it looks like.
Very informative video. We are planning on planting an asparagus bed this fall and was wondering if you could tell me why you can't eat it the first couple years that it comes up.
Just to get the root system nice and strong. I have heard a lot of people wait several years before harvesting or at least harvesting hard. The shoots last year were pretty skinny. This year looking much better. We will probably start harvesting next year.
Kim Adkins they recommend waiting 3-5 years. Also harvesting lightly. If you are getting nice thick and a lot coming up could harvest a little quicker. I think for us the three year mark will be about right. If you haven't planted any yet. The sooner the better. Like planting an apple tree. The waiting games is just not as long. 😀
Do you feel OK about eating things from along the edge of the road? Considering the cars and road salt and everything? I know it's a lot easier to hunt for things along the side of the road.
Good information, thanks for taking us along! we've been subbers for a while now. Not sure if yall have seen our channel yer but weve been vlogging for about 7 weeks now, check us out if you get a chance. Thanks
