Do you have to peel white asparagus? The short answer is no, you don’t have to peel white asparagus, but peeling it is highly recommended for the best eating experience.   White asparagus has a much tougher, more fibrous skin than the green variety, and that thick exterior can be stringy and unpleasant to chew. … Read more

You don’t have to plant asparagus every year because it’s a perennial vegetable that comes back on its own season after season.   Instead of replanting annually, you plant asparagus once and then harvest from the same crowns for many years.   If you’ve been asking yourself “do you have to plant asparagus every year,” … Read more

You do not have to peel purple asparagus.   Purple asparagus is perfectly edible with its skin on, and many people actually prefer it that way because the peel holds a lot of the flavor and nutrients.   If you’ve been wondering whether you have to peel purple asparagus before cooking, the short answer is … Read more

You don’t have to peel green asparagus, and many cooks actually prefer not to.   The peel on green asparagus is thin, tender, and completely edible, especially when the spears are fresh and young.   So if you’ve been standing in your kitchen wondering whether you have to peel green asparagus before cooking, the short … Read more

You don’t have to boil asparagus before grilling, and in fact, many chefs and home cooks skip this step entirely for perfectly tender, flavorful results.   While boiling asparagus before grilling is a common technique, it’s not a mandatory step for great grilled asparagus.   The truth is, whether you boil asparagus before grilling depends … Read more

You don’t have to peel asparagus, and in most cases, you actually shouldn’t.   The tender tips and spears are perfectly edible with the peel left on, especially when the asparagus is fresh and young.   But here’s the thing—there are a few situations where peeling asparagus makes sense, and understanding when to peel and … Read more

You do not have to boil asparagus before frying it.   In fact, skipping the boiling step is often the best way to get that crisp-tender texture with a nice char on the outside.   If you have been wondering whether you have to boil asparagus before frying, the short answer is no.   You … Read more

You don’t have to blanch asparagus before pickling, but many experienced picklers choose to do it for better texture and color.   If you’ve been wondering whether blanching asparagus before pickling is a necessary step, the short answer is no, it’s optional.   That said, blanching asparagus before pickling does offer some real benefits that … Read more

You can fertilize asparagus in the fall, but it depends on what kind of fertilizer you’re using and why you’re applying it.   If you’ve been wondering whether you should fertilize asparagus in the fall, the short answer is yes, a light fall feeding can help prepare your asparagus crowns for the next growing season. … Read more

You don’t have to blanch asparagus, but doing so can improve its color, texture, and overall appeal in certain dishes.   If you’ve been wondering whether blanching asparagus is a necessary step, the short answer is no—it’s optional.   However, blanching asparagus does offer some real benefits that might make you want to keep it … Read more