A north Queensland melon and pumpkin grower is turning to new crops rarely grown in the tropics to recover from a biosecurity outbreak.

Anthony Caleo and his father Jon lost about $1 million through an outbreak of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), detected on their farm near Charters Towers in 2015.

The virus affects all cucurbit species, which includes melons and pumpkin plants.

Facing quarantine restrictions and aware of a need to diversify from their narrow crop focus, Mr Caleo is turning to crops more commonly grown in southern Australia.

"We've been looking at other crops to sort of hedge our bets, so all our eggs aren't in one basket," he said.

"We're looking at not only utilising land that's being spelled, but also different crops."

The asparagus will be mown in about 12 months, before sprigs like this one re-shoot and are harvested for sale. ( ABC Rural: Tom Major )

Asparagus plans for local markets

The idea to grow asparagus came from a meeting where Japanese interest in importing Australian asparagus out of season was discussed.

While that plan failed due to seasonal clashes, Mr Caleo pressed on with a trial to supply local markets over winter.

"From my knowledge, the southern fellas can't do it, it's too cold, and most of it is imported from southern America," he said.

With just 2 hectares of plants grown from seed at father Jon Caleo's Black River nursery, Mr Caleo is enthusiastic about the crop development.

"It's a drier climate here than on the coast, which is a great benefit to it. We've got lovely well drained soils, which it appreciates," he said.

While the crop could potentially be harvested this winter, the farmer plans to allow the roots to develop further before an initial 2019 harvest in about 12 months.

A ratoon crop, asparagus can be mown off, re-shoot and be harvested as many as 11 times before it must be replanted.

"We'll leave it now until about May, June next year, to get a nice established root stock," Mr Caleo said.

"The new spears that come up will be the edible stuff."

Using water to control temperature

The asparagus needs a cool temperature to provide a dormant period each year, but Mr Caleo believes cutting off the water supply could have a similar effect.

Asparagus has been grown before in the nearby Burdekin and parts of the Ord River district in Western Australia, giving hope the crop will be successful.

"It is a work in progress. It's one thing to grow the plant, it's another thing to actually harvest it," Mr Caleo said.

As a long-term crop with many seasons of production, the asparagus is not an ideal break crop for the melon and pumpkin production.

But if next year's harvest proves there is a future for the crop, Mr Caleo said production could be expanded.

"It could turn into a great thing and keep a few of our workers employed in the watermelon off-season," he said.

Regularly burning off paddocks is part of the Caleos' efforts to rid their farm of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus. ( ABC Rural: Tom Major )

Healthy greens

As well as the asparagus, the farm is planting a broccolini crop this year in another attempt at diversification.

The shorter growing season of broccolini will fit in with a crop rotation plan.

"We haven't got any in the ground yet. We're hoping to have it in the next two months," Mr Caleo said.

"They're a growing market for their health food, and people are looking for that so that's where we've got to go."