A new farming method is helping one Hampshire grower deliver asparagus to supermarket shelves much earlier than usual.
New Forest Fruit has begun harvesting commercial quantities of asparagus six weeks ahead of the traditional season using recycled coconut husk fibre and covered growing tunnels.
The business is using coir, a natural fibre extracted from coconut husks, to create a protected, heated environment that accelerates growth without artificial heating.
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Sandy Booth, owner of New Forest Fruit, said: "This week’s double-digit temperatures, both day and night, have made a real difference to our asparagus crop.
"In our tunnels, we’re able to capture and retain that warmth, creating a favourable microclimate that accelerates spear emergence and improves early-season quality.
"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."
Temperatures consistently above 10C have helped the asparagus break dormancy and begin active growth.
The use of coir enhances the flavour of the asparagus by raising its Brix levels - a measure of sweetness in plants.
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New Forest Fruit is supplying the early crop to Tesco.
Lisa Lawrence, asparagus buyer for Tesco, said: "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.
"As a result of this, early season asparagus we will have about 60 per cent more on our shelves this year."
Typically, UK asparagus is in season from late April to June, lasting just eight weeks.
The early harvest will extend the availability of English asparagus in stores, providing shoppers with more time to enjoy what many consider some of the best asparagus in the world.
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