Mild winter brings British asparagus to shops eight weeks early

Grower says quick crop is down to weather conditions as well as use of coconut fibre

British asparagus is landing on supermarket shelves eight weeks earlier than usual after the mild winter weather quickened the arrival of this year's first spears.

The traditional start to the season is 23 April but Waitrose will have homegrown asparagus in its shops from Saturday. It has been grown in polytunnels in Hampshire where the grower reported unseasonably warm" January temperatures.