Portugal : Pedro’s green asparagus
Pedro Martins Da Costa produces green asparagus with the organic label thanks to a very protected environment.
Based in the north-eastern Porto, Pedro Martins Da Costa is first and foremost a winegrower. But his desire to try a different crop led him to produce asparagus. “It’s a healthy product that’s different to grapes and high in both taste and economic value,” he says. Thus Martins Da Costa came to France, south of Bordeaux, to learn how to grow asparagus before starting his own plantation in 2018.
Make the harvest last as long as possible
Today, he has 5 ha of asparagus on several fields on his farm. He uses suitable areas at the bottom of a slope with very fertile soil or at the top of a hill with sandier soil. It’s the first time this crop has been grown on this land and the asparagus, mainly green and cultivated in a very protected environment, carries the organic label. “I planted three Planasa varieties with different degrees of precocity in order to space out my production period,” says Martins Da Costa. Placosesp is an early, hardy and very productive variety, while Darzilla and Darvador are vigorous and hardy. Martins Da Costa uses mini tunnels to obtain greater precocity (+15 days) and also white plastic to limit the heating of the mound for white asparagus in order to prolong his harvests as long as possible.
« Very rewarding work »
Martins Da Costa sees a long asparagus season as key to providing his customers with extended supply. On average, his yields are 7-8 tons/ha but up to 11 tons depending on the age of the asparagus plantation and the field. His asparagus is sold under the “Espargos verdes” brand and direct to restaurants, organic stores and private homes. “Since Covid, we have developed direct sales with the pos- sibility of delivering a bunch of asparagus anywhere in the country one day after the order is placed,” says Martins Da Costa. The young producer is very active in promoting his asparagus on social media and to restaurant chefs. “It’s both well-rewarded and very gratifying work,” he says. His objective is to expand these direct sales by slightly increasing his asparagus area and by diversifying with other crops, particularly berries.
