[harry]

There is a patch of fine green fern like foliage on my allotment and i've been told it could be an asparagus plot. I do know the previous tenant had asparagus. What should i do with it leave it or cut it back?

[DD.]

Asparagus (the bit you can see anyway) should be well dead at this time of the year. How tall is it?

[harry]

Its probably a couple of feet high

[DD.]

Fully formed ferns would be around 5' high, or more. Not sounding like asparagus at the moment.

[JayG]

Fully formed ferns would be around 5' high, or more.

You've obviously not seen some of my asparagus, DD!!

Hard to think that asparagus would still be green at this time of year; won't hurt to leave it as it is anyway.

[harry]

Just found a picture in a magazine, it looks as though it could, but it is very green

[RichardA]

We have a fern much used in flower arranging called an asparagus ferm and very similiar to the edible stuff. Still green now and about 6 foot tall. Not likely to be on an allotment in a big patch but if it is then it has value but not as a crop
R

[Goosegirl]

Not fennel is it?

[savbo]

Not fennel is it?

good thinking batman...

[DD.]

Ah - indeed.

What does the stem look like at the base? Is it bulbous?

[harry]

I'll have a look when i go down on Saturday. Perhaps i should take a picture

[DD.]

It'll paint a thousand words.

[noshed]

See what it smells like. Fennel is quite aniseedy.

[harry]

See what it smells like. Fennel is quite aniseedy.

I didn't notice a strong aniseed smell but i've just googled fennel and brought up a picture and it does look like the stuff i've got

[Goosegirl]

I'd say dig one up but, with the weather conditions, maybe wait until you can furtle around the base. If it has a large bulb then it's fennel; if it has finger-like projections then it's asparagus. Noshed has it - it should smell like aniseed. Bring some fern into the warm and try it then.