Warmer temperatures and new production techniques have enabled one grower to bring forward start of season by six weeks
The UK’s largest food retailer Tesco says it has secured “gourmet-quality”, British-grown asparagus a month-and-a-half earlier than it did last year, thanks to a combination of new growing techniques and recent warmer weather.
According to the company, Hampshire-based grower New Forest Fruit is using recycled coconut husk fibre – also known as coir – at its farm near Brockenhurst to deliver commercial quantities of the vegetable six weeks sooner than it did in the spring of 2025.
“Double-digit temperatures, both day and night, have made a real difference to our asparagus crop,” says New Forest Fruit owner Sandy Booth. “Once conditions consistently rise above 10°C, the plants break dormancy and begin active growth.”
In its tunnels, the company has apparently been able to capture and retain that warmth, creating a favourable microclimate that accelerates spear emergence and improves early-season quality.
“The recent mild spell in the South of England has helped us move the season forward naturally and sustainably,” Booth continues. “In addition to the use of recycled coir, the asparagus crop in our tunnels is covered with fleece, trapping warmth from the sun and resulting in a natural increase in soil temperatures helping spears emerge without artificial heating.”
As a result, purple and green asparagus is already on the way to customers – among them celebrity chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder, who feature the vegetables on their menu at the nearby Lime Wood Hotel.
As for Tesco, its early-season gourmet asparagus will be further supplemented by grower Cobrey Farms, based near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire.
The regular British asparagus season starts in April, around St George’s Day on 23 April 23, and lasts until June.
“The British-grown asparagus season is relatively short so to get the absolute highest quality variety six weeks earlier than usual is a real coup and bonus for shoppers,” says the supermarket’s asparagus buyer, Lisa Lawrence.
“English asparagus is generally considered by foodies to be the best in the world because of the UK’s almost perfect growing conditions. But because the traditional English season is so short, running roughly for around eight weeks, it’s an incredibly coveted food. As a result of this early season asparagus we will have about 60 per cent more on our shelves this year.”
