Local asparagus harvest slowly gaining momentum

At the beginning of March, the fine, white stems from heated fields were beginning to be marketed by direct marketing companies. These days, the asparagus harvest begins throughout Lower Saxony. According to current weather forecasts, the harvested yields will increase relatively quickly, reported the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture on Thursday (12 April). At the start of the season, less asparagus was available this year than in 2017. Nevertheless, the Chamber expects good earnings nationwide.

The wet winter in many places initially meant that fields were unusable. Thanks to the frosts and the dry weather in March, cultivation became possible again. Many areas could be processed in time.

According to the experts of the Chamber of Agriculture, there are two reasons why plenty of asparagus is likely to be harvested everywhere soon: On the one hand, more plants are expected to be harvested towards the end of April. Second, the winter was cold enough for a uniform budding. By the end of March, temperatures deep within the asparagus crowns were still in the single-digit range in many places. Only when, at a depth of about 20 centimeters, temperatures of twelve degrees and more prevail, asparagus will shoot up. And warm weather in the coming days will take care of that.

The fact that crop yields are expected to increase rapidly, is not only dependent on the weather but also on modern farming methods: many companies have invested in additional film technology in recent years. With their help, the growth of the precious vegetables can be accelerated whilst being controlled better.

In addition to covering the asparagus beds with a layer of foil, with the fields covered by additional transparent film tunnels, asparagus farmers increasingly choose a triple covering: In the tunnels, in which the beds are covered with black foil, yet another film will then be used. As a result, the paths between the tunnels are also heated somewhat, storing more heat as well. In the end, both tunnel and foil can now also be removed mechanically, saving time and ensuring better protection of the plants.

Around 400 businesses in Lower Saxony are relying on the cultivation of asparagus. According to the statistics office in Hanover, in 2017 exactly 29,962 tons (2016: 26,465 tons, +13.2 percent) of the seasonal vegetables were harvested on around 5,200 hectares (2016: 4,929 hectares, +5.2 percent). In addition, almost 1,000 hectares of asparagus new plantings were added last year. Among the centers of Niedersachsen asparagus cultivation are the regions around Nienburg, Lüneburg, Uelzen and Osnabrücker Land.

If the temperatures start to rise after the winter, the asparagus rhizomes drive out white shoots. From a temperature of twelve degrees Celsius upwards, the asparagus in the beds begin to grow. The black film gives farmers the best possible warming effect and ensures that growth accelerates. If it gets too warm in the beds, the foils are turned and the reflective, white side is used. This prevents overheating and slows the development speed, so that the asparagus can be harvested in a more measured way.

Most asparagus farms use all three foil-covering methods to extend the harvesting period as much as possible. Often, 50 percent of the acreage in the farm is prematurely accelerated - ie with technical assistance. Part of the surfaces is covered in three layers with perforated foil or fleece, mini-tunnel and black foil in order to start harvesting as early as possible. Then follow the double-covered areas, where mini tunnels and black foil is used. And finally the beds with the simple black foil surfaces are harvested. Towards the end of the season, which traditionally ends on St. John's Day (June 24), the areas which are simply covered with white foil finish off the season.

Source: Lwk Niedersachsen