The Belgian asparagus season is slowly but surely starting to take off. "Asparagus grown in cold tunnels is now starting to be harvested and sold. The true outdoor varieties are yet to follow. However, we still expect them to be available in perfect time for Easter," says Katrien De Backer, part of the family-owned Amelinckx Fruit company in Hingene, Flanders.
© Amelinckx Fruit
"Strange as it may sound, 2024 was an earlier season than 2025," she continues. "The winter of 2024 was mild and wet, allowing us to plant the first asparagus in open ground on 12 March. This season, however, the first were only harvested last week. The winter was much colder but drier. That means we're later this year, but the quality outlook is better than last year."
According to Katrien, volumes are now expected to increase gradually. "For an orderly supply, prices have been fair in recent weeks. Demand has been reasonable, though a bit subdued. Most restaurants traditionally begin serving asparagus about a week before Easter, so I expect demand to pick up quickly. With supply increasing during that period, we'll also see rising consumption in mild, sunny spring weather."
Yet she also sounds a note of caution. "It remains to be seen how last year's wet season affected root development. Production might be down by just a few percentage points. Still, I'm looking forward to the season with a positive feeling—if the weather cooperates. Nature does not speak. She is unpredictable and full of surprises. It will be a beautiful season if the frost stays away. All I hope for is fairly sunny days with only occasional rain so we can keep disease pressure under control. That may well be the biggest challenge, especially with fewer approved crop protection products available."
Apple, pear, and cherry blossoms in bloom
Traditionally, the family farm has focused mainly on growing asparagus, but they now also cultivate apples, pears, and cherries. "In the province of Antwerp, and certainly here in Hingene, the fruit blossoms are already in full bloom. Apples, pears, and cherries are all dressed in white. It's the perfect time to walk or explore a blossom route in Limburg, the fruit region around Sint-Truiden and its surroundings, by bicycle or Vespa during the upcoming Easter holidays."
Compared to last year, the cherry blossoms are blooming at a similar time. "In 2024, the first blossoms appeared on 20 March—and that was exactly the same in our cold greenhouse this year. What's notably different, though, is the climate. Last year, we dealt with very humid air, which impacted fruiting. Even though we ventilated the greenhouses thoroughly, the outdoor air was also humid, which led to disease pressure at certain points."
© Amelinckx Fruit
"This year, however, the past few months have been extremely dry—perhaps even a bit too dry—which hasn't helped pollination. Pollen performs best when slightly moist, so it sticks to the legs of everything flying around and promotes cross-pollination. We've had to give pollination a helping hand using water. The sunny days have encouraged bees and bumblebees to emerge smoothly and start their decorating tour."
"As a result, the first small, round, green marbles of cherries can already be found on the trees. The CherryLou's have arrived—named after our son Lou, they are our house brand. In addition, the apricot trees were the first to bloom. The fruits have now thinned out, growing singly or in pairs on the branches, allowing them to reach a good size. This variety is known for its pink blush at harvest time in addition to its classic orange color. All in all, we're looking forward to a wonderful summer."
For more information:
Amelinckx Asperges & Fruit 
Koningin Astridlaan 171
2880 Hingene, Belgium
+32 (0) 475 26 99 15
info@topasperges.com
www.topasperges.com
https://www.facebook.com/topasperges