Stone wall planter next to a public sidewalk and a stair entering the private garden. The planter contains purple stocked fern, and a tape measure showing that the taller ferns are 7 feet tall. Looking closely at the fern, it's light with tiny green buds where it will bloom and then set seed. This is a female plant. There is a coffeeberry tree in full bloom and blue sky in the background.
Looking carefully inside the planter at the base of the tall stocks, we can see that asparagus spears are continuing to emerge. These spears are what will turn into the fern if they are not harvested. When they get to be about 6 to 8 inches long, cutting them at an angle just below the surface of the ground is the way they are harvested. This plant will continue to produce probably another 10 to 15 chubby spears, even while it is putting on the fern with the seed. The deeper the plant the chubbier the spears. This plant is around 12 inches deep and has a 1 gallon clay olla deep next to it on the drip system.
Deep-rooted female purple asparagus for #SavedSeed is 7' tall and still growing.
#EdibleGardens eye-candy for folks walking by, many first time seeing the fern. Goal is stories for #LifelongLearning for all ages and skill, cooking and eating is a common lifelong concern for all in the 'hood.
