Introducing myself. Need some guidance - Fruit, leaf or root crop?

An Ohio welcome to you, Betty!

Check out this page with good descriptions of the Fruit, Root, and Leaf crops:

The Leaf, Root & Fruit Philosophy of Edible Gardening

Thank you for your reply and the link to the website.  Added to my favorite bookmarks.  To my surprise celery is classified as a root crop.  So that tells me I have a lot to learn.  No information on asparagus.  Still researching online but cannot find the solution.  I believe this is a difficult question.  Open to any suggestions, corrections or explanations.  Thanks again.

Interesting that it isn't listed.  I would consider it a Leaf since it does not produce edible fruit - we just eat the stem of it before it flowers.  The common definition of a root crop is something like this:

"THE CULINARY DEFINITION For good cooks and good eaters, a root vegetable is the underground, edible portion of a plant."

Betty, Welcome to the Forum! You have some interesting research going on.

Please help me on my road to Texas Master Gardener. My presentation titled Square Foot Gardener – crop rotation.  Most gardeners know leaf crops - lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard.  Are there other less known leaf crops?  I love asparagus.  I agree with Ohio Gardener (thank you, thank you, thank you). Asparagus is a leaf crop.  What about celery?  Is this an above-ground edible plant?  So why is it categorized as a root crop?  Thank you for letting me share my confusion.  I am open to present another leaf crop that is less debated. WOW, this is an interesting topic! I think I am in trouble at my presentation.   HHHHEEELLLPPP!!!!  Appreciate your help and suggestions :-!

Betty, I am not sure how asparagus is getting categorized as a leaf crop,or celery... nor any of this honestly, but I’m glad you asked!  

Who is your audience?  For your presentation?  Asparagus is a permanent situ.  It takes years for it to get established.

What is your experience with SFG?  Would live to hear more about you!

Hi Betty. I'm not an asparagus person, so can't help you there.... But welcome from Atlanta, GA!

Hi Betty, welcome. I hope you are enjoying the course. There is a width and breadth of knowledge that will come your way that maybe overwhelming but relax and welcome to a lifetime of learning. Although I am a master gardener here in Ct., I will always consider myself a student. Asparagus is a fern botanically speaking and has fronds not leaves. Ferns are older than most plants and they are non-flowering so have their own reproductive system. I would have to do more research before I could definitively say that asparagus is a leaf crop but was totally surprised when I saw asparagus totally unfurled later in the season and had to have it identified. Asparagus is also a perennial one of the few in a vegetable garden.

Cabbage is a leaf crop you didn't mention but don't know if they are grown in Texas. 

Are you confusing celeriac with celery? Celeriac is grown for its celery tasting root and is a relative to celery which I would think is a leaf vegetable.

I would just relax and when giving your presentation know you are talking to fellow gardeners and enjoy sharing of knowledge. As part of my community outreach I started giving Garden Talks at local Grange last year and had my first one for 2019, last night. I had a blast. It was the first in a series of 10 - 1 hour talks. It ends at the end of May and hopefully I shared some bit of information that contributes to a slightly more bountiful harvest.