Later will be sweeter for British asparagus crop

The "first taste of the British summer" – homegrown asparagus cultivated in open fields without the aid of poly tunnels or heaters – is going to be delayed until the first week of May because of the cold weather. The good news, though, is that gourmands are in for a treat. The harvest is expected to be all the sweeter for having been delayed a few days. Homegrown asparagus has been sighted on supermarket shelves as early as St George's Day – this Friday – a sign, some argue, of rising temperatures. But not this year, thanks to last winter's arctic conditions. "We're expecting to harvest about a week to 10 days later than normal," said Chris Kitchen, a commercial asparagus grower in Lincolnshire. "But by the first week of May we expect there will be quite an abundance." British asparagus is highly prized by chefs, and the start of the season is one of the highlights of the culinary calendar. Food writer Sarah Raven describes the British crop as "the caviar of the plant world". Britain's climate means the plant matures more slowly than it does in countries like Peru and Spain, both major exporters. This helps to develop the uniquely delicate flavour that is so prized by gastronomes. Ten years ago just 3% of the Britons ate it. Now the figure has risen to 14%.