The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Asparagus harvest delayed
Growers says poor weather has made it one of latest seasons yet
Poor weather has delayed Scotland’s first farmcrop of the season appearing for sale.
Asparagus grower Sandy Pattullo, of Eassie, Glamis, near Forfar, expects some spears from his 10 acres to be harvested this weekend.
However, he doubts harvesting will start in earnest for another week.
Growers in England are also suffering from the impact of drought, cold weatherandnowtorrential rain. There is a warning from south of the border of a crop shortage, with prices responding and soaring to a 15-year high of £8.50 a kg (£3.85 a lb).
Mr Pattullo, who has been growing asparagus for a quarter of a century, said this season wasamong the latest he had seen and was in stark contrast to 2011.
He added: “Last year was totally different. We started harvesting on April 20 and then had 10 days of beautiful weather followed by a wet and cold May. It became a pretty average season.
“We’ve had late seasons before, but this is now one of the latest ever. Wemight cut a few spears at the end of the weekend, but I cannot see there being anything there in the rest of it for a week or more – and that’s only if we get good weather.”
Mr Pattullo said the poor weather would likely result in a shorter season. Traditionally, he has started to harvest on May 5 and finished mid-june.
Rory and Karinmcquistan have 7.5 acres of asparagus, all of which they sell through their farm shop at Charleton, Montrose.
Mr Mcquistan said the couple faced the same issues as Mr Pattullo, with just the odd spear showing through.
He added: “Givemeheat. I’ve been doing sun dances all through April, but it doesn’t seem to have worked so far.”
The Vale of Evesham is one of main asparagusgrowing regions in the UK. Crowns there appeared earlier than normal after the warm weather of March, but have been lying dormant since and arenow in waterlogged fields.
The dearth of spears has caused problems for the British Asparagus Festival, which runs through May.
Organiser Angela Tidmarsh has cancelled today’s opening event as the River Avon burst its banks and left the venue under several inches of water.
The festival is due to end with an asparagus auction on May 27 which attracts visitors from around the world.
English growers say this year’s harvest is likely to be short but intense as plants whose growth has been held backmake the most of warm weather when it comes.