One minute there's nothing and the next they're shooting out of the ground like nails in a James Bond torture sequence.
For the next few weeks we can enjoy one of the tastiest seasonal vegetables there are. It knocks the all year round imported stuff into a cocked hat.
To satisfy demand from an asparagus loving family I have planted a second bed, this time the early variety Ariane. Unfortunately we will have to wait a year before we can harvest it.