Fred Tyler wrote:To me, it doesn't make sense to cut out the whole photosynthesising stalk (just because it has berries) to help the plant put more energy into the root. Instead you can just remove the berries.
When the berries are just starting to form, you can strip them off pretty easily. Just run your hand up the plant from the base to the tip. Grasping tight enough that the berries won't pass through, buy not tight enough to pull all the leaves off.
Of course, in permaculture, the problem is the solution. If you have too many berries to plant in your own garden you can try selling the seeds to other people that want asparagus. You can gift or trade them with friends. Plant them somewhere you want to forage "wild" asparagus.
I think the spears from female plants taste just fine.
If you are determined to grow only male plants, just offer your female plants for free on Craigslist or whatever your local marketplace is. People will happily dig those plants up for you...saving you the work. If they are doing this when the plants are not dormant, have them cut off about 80 or 90 percent of the foliage so the plant will survive the shock of being moved.
Max Stadnyk wrote:Should i go to college is the wrong question; yes entirely the wrong question when there are so many better questions. Start with - Why should I go to college. And if your answer is to get a degree; that is the wrong answer. Now continue asking questions until you are exhausted.
The goal is self mastery, and the paths are myriad and personal. It is no more complicated than that.
Benjamin Abby wrote:A question for the hammer users: do you get quick enough with that method that would compete with a nut cracking tool
Cecile- did you try to make drink?
With the husks I always played; I took family and neighborhood kids and we'd throw them up against a brick way to break them.
Anne Logston wrote:Hey folks. My husband and I (60 each) are retiring to a place that belonged to my deceased parents in rural southern IN (6a). There are 11 mostly wooded acres, two .25-acre clear spots with decent sun, and a 2-acre lake. I’m setting up my first ever garden, with 3 permaculture guilds, one deep raised bed for annual root crops, a straw bale garden with trellis for annuals, and some containers. The property is on spring water and I will water from the lake. What I’m wondering is, are there any food crops I can plant at the water’s edge? I know Asian water spinach is an invasive in Asia, but it would die over the winter here, so is that feasible? Any other suggestions?
Thea Flurry wrote:Well color me inspired! Does anyone have a good resource for when different mushrooms fruit, and how mushrooms play well together? I know winecaps and oysters were mentioned earlier, and someone else was talking about successive harvests in the spring and fall. Is there a database I can use to plan such things?