Asparagus grown under plastic in Ross-on-Wye was the first onto the market this week

Asparagus grown under plastic in Ross-on-Wye was the first onto the market this week

The first new season UK asparagus hit Sainsbury's shelves this week: four weeks ahead of the traditional start to the outdoor crop's season.

The store's supplier Flamingo has been trialling new production methods with its grower - the Chinn family - near Ross on Wye. Using a Dutch-bred variety Geinlim with the crowns kept under plastic cover throughout the winter, the Chinns are able to hit the market early. Gras is cut from these crowns only until May 10-20 so that production can start early again next season.

Tesco has also announced it started its asparagus season this week with early gras from Bomfords grown near Stratford-upon-Avon. In local stores this week, it is hoped cutting will build next week to supply up to 100 outlets.

Meanwhile, latest crop news from the Asparagus Growers Association (AGA) points to harvesting starting later than last year, but AGA chairman Victor Aveling remains cautious. "We could start cutting in Norfolk by April 26, but it is not certain," he said. Further south growers such as Barfoots are predicting they could be a week earlier.

Aveling is confident however that the crop will sell well because of increasing demand. AGA's 100 grower members - representing about 60 percent of the industry but a greater proportion by volume - are increasing plantings by about 10 per cent a year, but the effect on supply is long term as crowns take several years to come into full production.