White Asparagus – How to Grow

Q: I just visited Germany and I fell in love with white asparagus. What is needed to grow my own here in Georgia?

A: White asparagus is simply an asparagus spear that has been shielded from light after it emerged from the ground. White asparagus is considered to be slightly milder in flavor and a bit more tender than green asparagus. Europeans pack sand carefully over the developing spears. Soil or straw could also be used. Another technique is to cover the spears with opaque plastic as soon as the tips emerge in spring. Gardeners have also experimented with sawing a black plastic barrel in half lengthwise and covering the spears with that.