DENVER (KDVR) – Did you know that the asparagus you can buy at the grocery store grows wild in Colorado?
“What we call wild asparagus is simply an escaped version of the crop plant,” Orion Aon, founder of Forage Colorado, explained to FOX31.
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Wild asparagus thrives in Colorado from late April to mid-June, so it’s not too late to get some this season.
Where do wild asparagus grow in Colorado?
Aon said asparagus is most common along the Front Range and Western Slope, but can be found throughout the Centennial State. He said asparagus tends to grow along fences and ditches, as well as along rivers and streams.
“I often see him driving on the country roads. “It’s very, very common along fences,” Aon said.
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He added that birds often move seeds, so asparagus is commonly found near areas where birds hang out.
How to identify asparagus in nature
Aon said some other plants may look similar and his best advice is to compare what you see in nature with what you would buy at the supermarket.
“When it is in its edible state, it looks like a supermarket product,” Aon said.
Bunch of wild asparagus in hand, collected in the forest during spring in Dalmatia (/Keynote USA/Getty Images)
After the initial spear of asparagus, the plant branches into a bright green feathery plant. Over time, it blooms and even produces berries.
What you need to know before looking for asparagus
Asparagus is best when harvested young. Aon explained that some of the spears that branch from the mature plant may be soft enough to eat. But as the plant grows, it becomes tougher and therefore more difficult to eat.
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Asparagus itself is not toxic, even in the mature stage, but the berries it eventually produces are mildly toxic.
In particular, the gathering of wild foods is not allowed everywhere. Places like national parks and forests, state parks, and natural and wildlife areas often prohibit collecting to protect nature.
Some natural areas offer permits for those who want to forage. Aon recommends checking with owners or agencies before cutting asparagus. Additionally, Aon said pickers should look for signs of treatments such as herbicides and insect repellents.
“If asparagus appears very healthy and is growing in an area with other types of healthy plants, that area probably hasn’t been treated because those plants probably don’t exist,” Aon said.
Signs of treatment include wilting, yellowing, and dry or dead plants.
“I would avoid any plants that look like they’ve been, you know, if they’re growing strangely, if they look wilted or damaged, or if other plants in the same area are turning yellow,” he said.
If you find a good spot for asparagus, Aon recommends taking note of where it is. Because asparagus are perennials, they will grow back each year, so return to the same spot for another harvest season after season.
Gardeners can also grow asparagus in their home garden, but it is a commitment. Aon explained that it takes two or three years before young plants become established and can produce asparagus worth harvesting and eating.
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