Frankie Flowers

Every time I opened this book, the author managed to annoy me. Frequently it was by proffering chemical methods of fertilization or pest control. Sometimes it was just his attitude. "While you can grow asparagus from seed," he sneers, "why would you?" There are so many reasons why I would, that I have an entire asparagus patch to show for it. How about growing varieties of asparagus not readily available, locally, as crowns? How about the fact that for the price of one crown I can buy one or two packets of seeds and raise dozens if not hundreds of plants? I can choose to buy seeds of Viking which is all-male for heartier, more phallic spears; or a variety like Mary Washington (my choice) which has female plants yielding berries to feed the birds and propagate wild asparagus along local fencerows.

This book is not going on my wish list.… (mehr)