Evaluation of asparagus yield performance after two years' harvesting

Abstract In seven replicated cultivar assessment trials of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) carried out at Levin, Lincoln, and Hastings, and harvested for 4–6 years, accumulated saleable yield from the first two seasons was highly correlated with accumulated saleable yield for the remainder of each trial. Yield ranking of cultivars after two years and at the end of each trial was nearly the same. Yield correlation coefficients and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were high in all trials, and significant when a large number of cultivars were tested. Two years of harvesting is considered to give a reliable evaluation of yield performance of new cultivars in New Zealand conditions.