<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%"> Petosky, MI</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">4.22.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Michigan growers usually start harvesting asparagus about the first week in May. This year's late snowfall, however, has set the harvest back.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl-michigan-asparagus-april-2013_BODY.jpg" alt="images042213" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Richard Friske, owner of Friske Orchards said that he typically starts picking asparagus at the beginning of May and picks for a month. Last year, even with early warm weather, asparagus picking at Friske's farm didn't start until May 11, because temperatures fluctuated. When it is cold, asparagus stops growing. When soil is about 50 degrees, it grows. A frost once spears are above ground, could mean a delay of a week or more, according to Friske, as reported by Petoskey News.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"There is no way, we'll be picking asparagus by May 1 this year," Friske said. "Looking at the forecasts, we'll be at the 20th of April with still cool temperatures. The soil needs to warm up over 50 degrees for a length of time. But, I can't give you a specific date. It seems likely that when the weather changes, things will move rapidly."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>According to the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, Michigan ranks third in the nation for asparagus production, annually producing 25 million pounds. The total value of the Michigan asparagus crop is estimated at $15 million annually.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"When it is warm and moist, we may pick twice a day," Friske said. "Asparagus is very temperature dependent. Rainfall is little factor also."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.petoskeynews.com/news/featured/pnr-asparagus-season-is-soon-20130419,0,5103904.story"target="_new">Asparagus Report</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
