UK asparagus could be grown into November

The much-anticipated local season traditionally runs from late April to late June, but Herefordshire farmer John Chinn claims to have planted a new, late variety that produces crops until November, the Fresh Produce Journal reported.

Marks & Spencer, which has an exclusive agreement with Mr Chinn, trialled a limited number of packs of the asparagus in 10 London stores this month.

The packs, which carried a reference to the retailer's website giving full details of the history and production methods of Mr Chinn's Cobrey Farms, sold at twice the price of imported Peruvian asparagus.