This is purple asparagus. I grew it because it was different, though it turns green when it's cooked. It grows different, too, producing fatter stalks and more of them.
You can see in this picture that some stalks are visible. I think I'm supposed to cut them below dirt level in case of fungal growth? Like I said, I randomly do different things.
Here's a look at my potato bed for this year. I planted my potatoes late, only about three weeks ago. This is the amount of straw I put over each potato piece, basically just a little hill. You can find more details of how I plant potatoes with this straw-planting method by reading this post, but basically I make sure to loosen the straw (it comes off the bale in flakes that sometimes take some effort to get apart) so the new growth can push it's way up.
Here's my one little new growth, though I did pull back some hills to see if the others were growing (yes, they are!).
I went ahead and pushed the straw closer around the growth. I will put more straw around/over it when it gets about 10 inches to a foot tall. I might put a little more on them as they grow, but usually not, so each plant has maybe a foot and a half of straw around it's base. The straw is used to keep the sunlight from turning the potatoes green, but some tubers grow in the soil, too, just not deep enough to need a shovel to harvest.
Since then I just buy it at the feed store to make sure I get the right stuff. And I've not had that same experience again, so I feel comfortable recommending it to others. Anyone else have experience with this method?
And thanks for the questions! Keep 'em coming, I'm happy to answer (as best I can...).
-Jami