The emergence of the first asparagus tip brings a degree of excitement unmatched in the gardening year. You can go looking for them every day, but its appearance still somehow comes as a surprise. It is s harbinger of spring, its rubbery pinky flesh contrasting with the brittle woody stumps of last year's ferns. But more than that, there is a nurturing aspect to asparagus growing that comes with no other vegetable. You have to provide the right environment and education in their infancy, make sure they not keeping undesirable company with the local weeds, and exercise immense patience. They will then mature into rewarding and undemanding adults. These spears are the result of my 2009 sowing when we didn't even have any land, or any chance of any and so this is their fourth season. I'm so proud that they have made it through to their graduation day. The key to the finest asparagus on the plate, is to boil the water before heading to the patch with the knife at breakneck speed . Remember and practise that and you can't go far wrong, served with a knob of butter and perhaps a poach egg. In retrospect, perhaps don't put the patch at the far reaches of your acreage like I have. Those valuable seconds lost could ruin the meal. But I had an excuse, the crowns had to go in and it was the first thing I planted back in March 2010 along with my rhubarb. Here's a photo from the archives.