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

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10 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The 'fern' begins as the edible spear as it emerges from the ground. It is too late to harvest spears this year. Cut the 'ferns' off when they begin to yellow. The spears will emerge in the spring. They sre like 'buds' for the ferns. Cut them off with a knife below ground level. Clear a bit of soil so you don't damage any new tips still under the ground. Enjoy! Trust this helps.
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19 Jan 17, Karleena (Australia - temperate climate)
I am new to gardening - I got a small patch with asparagus growing - no asparagus but only ferns - can I cut it down or should I let it grow?
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03 Apr 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Let the asparagus grow until July, then cut it all off just under the ground level. Buy some horse/cow manure (two bags) and grass clippings and start mulching it now. Add some dirt to it and a handful of fertilizer. Wet it regularly and turn it over each two weeks - it will make compost in a couple of months. After you cut the fern down in July put the compost on the plants about 6" thick. When the new spears come out of the ground and grow to 8-10" cut them and enjoy. Give them a good watering each second day. The 3rd year after starting from seed you should be able to cut the spears from Aug to end of Nov. I put about a 1/2 a cup of all round fert in 9 L of water (leave it over night and give a good stir) and put this on the plants each month.
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23 Jan 17, Tom (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Asparagus needs time, lots of time. You will not get much for the first few years. Just let it die down in winter and cover with lots of compost.
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21 Dec 16, Pam Neasham (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where can I buy asparagus crowns.. My late husband grew such large crops we used to give them away. I have down-sized since his death leaving my plants behind and would now like to grow some again.
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24 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
In Australia asparagus crowns are normally available from nurseries in the winter months as bare-rooted crowns. berry plants, rhubarb and fruit trees are available at the same time. It is not difficult to grow from seed, you will just have to wait another season before you can harvest the spears. Trust this helps.
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17 Dec 16, Mike Hattingh (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can you please assist me with a list of suppliers from whom I can source asparagus crowns?
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24 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
In Australia asparagus crowns are normally available from nurseries in winter. Thet are sold 'bare rooted, ssometimes loose and sometimes in damp sawdust. Other plants that are sold the saame way include - strawberries bramble berries, currants and fruit trees such as apples, pears, peaches, apricots and plums. You could also grow them from seed but would have to wait another seaaon before harvesting those delicious spers. Trust this helps.
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25 Nov 16, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Has anybody tried to grow asparagus from seed. I have tried this year. Live around Bundaberg Qld. In total I have planted out approx. 30 little seedlings. Very delicate little things. A bit of heavy rain and they snap off. A little hit up with fertilizer killed a couple. Even over watering has killed a few I feel. I have 8 plants left. Any tips on whether to grow them out of the direct sunlight and rain. Some plants have grown to 10-12" high, some are struggling at 2-3", although sprouted a couple of weeks later than the bigger one. Last year my 1 yr old crowns up grew and grew. Finding it hard to get these seedlings powering along.
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25 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Years ago I worked at a wholesale nursey where we propagated asparagus crowns for sale. The soil was sandy and we did not have any irrigation, only the rain. Our germination rate was very high. Maybe the seedlings are rotting if the soil is too wet. We sowed the seed in the Spring and sold the crowns the following winter. We did not thin or transplant the seedlings. Retry sowing with slightly raised soil to ensure good drainage. Trust this helps. John
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The transplanted ones will depend on how they were treated last year - whether they were left to build up energy reserves for this year. If you had plenty of spears grow into ferns then they should produce this year. Probably also depends how old the old crowns are. Last year while I was growing mine from 12 mth crowns to 24 mths I use to put about half a cup of fert in 9 L of water and feed them each month - only had 3 crowns. I also put manure/compost on in august. I have crowns that are coming up to 3 years old - that is from when seeds were planted - they have been shooting spears for a few weeks now - I have cut them back and manured and watered them. My seedlings which will be 12 mths old in Sept - I have not cut them back yet or put manure on them yet - will probably do that in about two weeks time. I have not watered them for the last month - they are not growing at the moment. As for manure - chicken is the richest in N followed by cow and then horse manure. I read the other day horse is about 1.75% N. Whatever manure you can get and add some fert if you like. We have had only one week of cool weather so far this winter - that is night temps down to 6-8 degrees.

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