Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
        T              

(Best months for growing Asparagus in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Plant as crowns. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 16 inches apart
  • Harvest in 2-3 years. Plant 'crowns' to harvest earlier .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
  • Avoid growing close to: Garlic, Onions, and root vegetables

Your comments and tips

15 Dec 10, Trevor (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes Tim it will grow fronds from the lower half of the stem, as the same thing happened to me, good luck with the cats,
09 Oct 10, pete - north brisbane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i planted my asparagus about 4 years ago. it has not really performed well at all. it is well fed with rotted horse manure every year, and i cut the fronds back in late winter. this year about half the crowns died. would they have died because i cut them back or is it as i suspect just too warm here for asparagus? any advice welcomed
29 Sep 10, Glenn Tanti (Australia - temperate climate)
hello il like to more how to grow Asparagus pls thanks
20 Sep 10, Natalie (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Love to roast them in the oven, lightly tossed with olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper.
15 Jul 10, peter (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Seeing as asparagus takes so long to be ready to harvest, can any one give a guide as to how much room to devote to them? We need enough for two. Any ideas?
11 Jun 11, Margaret (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dear Peter, we live in Piccadilly in the cool Adelaide Hills (a bit like Tassie weather in winter) and have enjoyed the produce from the same asparagus bed for 31 years feeding our family of 6 (now only 2 members still here). Over the years we have removed parts of some of the 6 original crowns in a bed about 1 metre by half a metre, and the asparagus spears keep coming up. However, raspberry canes are beginning to infest the bed, so I am about to start another asparagus bed elsewhere in the garden. Good luck with yours!
16 Oct 11, Jen (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Dear Margaret, I just found your comment to Peter about Asparagus...... >This past week Ihave for the first time planted 2 seedlings of Asparagus with about 3 delicate fronds, but as I may be moving in the next year I planted them into a deep 420 cm HDPE pot with good potting mix, sheep and alpaca Dolomite and B&B... I did not know then that it takes 3 years till harvest!!! Do you know or have an opinion if I can transplat the seedlings into the ground at a later date, or should I just plant them out now and forget about taking them with me??? You seem to have had a lot of experience so I hope you don't mind my beginner question Kind regards Jen
22 May 10, Lizzy Battese (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I would like to know where to get asparagus seeds or crowns.
04 Jun 11, Pat. R (Australia - temperate climate)
you can buy online from diggers club: happy planting!
04 May 11, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lizzy - hope my reply (a year later!) is still useful: Diggers Club (google them to find their online shop) sells both seeds and crowns of several interesting varieties. I sowed some of their asparagus 'fat bastard' seeds (that's their real name!) into seed trays three weeks ago here in Melbourne, and they've just germinated. (April sowing doesn't look like it's recommended by this site, so I'll see how they go surviving the winter in their seed trays. Here's hoping!)
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